TV Review: Apple Tree Yard, Episode 2 (BBC1)

“There are no more refuges for me, no places of safety”

If last week was all about the fantasy then episode two serves as heavy doses of reality crashing to the floor. Yvonne goes from flaunting it in public spaces to hiding in her own home. The tone shifts drastically to one of creeping suspense and the music almost has a hammer horror feel as the tension builds. The world starts falling around Yvonne. Her husband admits to cheating,  their bipolar son is distant, she looks set to quit the job in order to stay away from her attacker but unfortunately  George Selway can’t stay away from her. He stalks the streets she walks and the house she lives.

The flashbacks of the rape do feel unnecessary. It’s repainting a garish picture we’ve already seen and don’t need to keep seeing. The act of rape doesn’t need to be repeated with stylish editing to for us to get the message that its harrowing. That aside, it’s good to hear the harshness, and in places somewhat unjust aspects of the legal system laid bare. If she wants to go to the police, she’s told that every aspect of her private life would be examined. Her marriage, online activities, sexual interests and any extra marital activities which, of course would implicate ‘X’. Or Mark Costley as we now know him.

There’s not much in the way of light relief but for a visit to a dinner party at the house of friend Marcia. The host goes on a diatribe about certain girls claiming rape to be liars. Naturally it’s a subject that jars and Yvonne responds firmly with “It’s bad enough men peddling crap like that without women making it worse” before giving the worlds’s worst apology. “I’m sorry, you’re lovely. And your house is lovely and you give lovely dinner parties and everything in your world is lovely so you don’t really have the imagination to see what it’s like when bad things happen, just randomly. Great torrents of shit descending on ordinary people. So you’re looking for whose to blame because that’s less scary than facing up to the fact that awful things can happen, even to someone as lovely as you”. It’s a “HELL YEAH” moment similar to that famous Doctor Foster scene. She really was a Wolf tonight! Better than being eaten by one for sure.

By the end 007 wants to come to the rescue. They conspire to take the creepy grin off Selway’s face but where Yvonne assumes it’s going to be a jolly good talking to and some stern finger wagging, it seems our fake Bond has other ideas. We don’t see or hear what happens in the house but it’s highly likely Mark shouted “No Mr Selway, I want you to die!” Probably. 8/10

Blind Alleys

Mark seemed a lot less sinister this week, coming across as compassionate and genuinely in love with Yvonne.

Though compassion may be out the window if his definition of “free style” is murder.

Maybe Costley was just handing over some takeout to Selway’s house? Perhaps his big secret is that he really works for Deliveroo?

TV Review: Apple Tree Yard, Episode 1 (BBC1)

“I can’t plead biology. Sex may be an animal pleasure but adultery, I’m discovering, is a human one” 

Westminster is a place that has seen many historic speeches, political scandals and let’s be honest, a few extra marital quickies too. It is in these famous halls that Yvonne (Emily Watson) meets a confident stranger determined to be her tour guide with benefits and in a broom cupboard where feminist icon Emily Wilding Davison once stowed away, they are soon in the throes of passion. You can interpret your own patriarchal message at play on that one. Thankfully though, Ed the Duck doesn’t intrude on them and nor do they feel the urge for a post-coital rendition of the Newsround theme tune. Missed opportunities there.

From the outside Yvonne leads a comfortable life as a respected scientist with a nice house, husband and daughter but a niggling suspicion that her spouse Gary (Mark Bonnar) is sleeping with a younger model is perhaps just one of the motives of her affair. In order to let her feelings out, she spews her thoughts onto her computer declaring “Sex with you is like being eaten by a wolf” which, despite its odd imagery, shows how she’s been taken over by an animalistic desire.

Before long, they are conducting more naughty tours of London’s public spaces. Despite the claustrophobic places favoured by our dark, handsome stranger, the look of Apple Tree Yard is in complete contrast with vivid colours and open spaces. It all looks beautiful except for the love scenes which seem purposefully unsexy. The fact that he’s barely seen her body during these sessions understandably gives her paranoia” (I’m middle aged and my body looks like a Jelly Baby”) However, Jelly Babies contain lots of sugar and he seems to need the rush.

There does seem a lack of connection to the protaganists but maybe that’s because they are playing a game, putting on characters and not being themselves. Neither is there an understanding of exactly why Yvonne is falling for ‘X’ as Chaplin’s character feels incredibly straight laced. It is still a magnificent performance by Watson, caught as she is between passion and guilt. How refreshing it is too for a woman over the age of forty to be portrayed as a sexual being. 7/10

Blind Alleys

There are lots of foot shots. Is this appealing to a niche fetish or does it serve as some sort of hidden message or metaphor?

Is ‘X’ really a spook or is there something more sinister at play?

Was he looking at himself in the mirror more than he was looking at Yvonne?

And does that mean he’s actually choosing to perform in front of cameras that are working?

Why doesn’t Yvonne ever ask for his name?

Apple Tree Yard is an actual place.  How long before there are copycat fumblings?

The shocking end to the episode poses more questions than answers. Is Yvonne in court for retaliating against the assaulter? Or will ‘X’ indirectly pay for her creepy workmate’s actions?