TV Review: Apple Tree Yard, Episode 4 (BBC1)

“Courts aren’t about the truth. They’re about who tells the best story”

The sex in public, the family politics and the vagaries of the legal system have pushed us to this conclusion where the fate of Yvonne Carmichael is in the hands of twelve strangers in the jury rather than the one stranger who led her here.

The court proceedings are wonderfully done and charge forward purposefully with brisk powerful punches of all the information we need. At no stage does it drag or feel like ‘Series Two Broadchurch Syndrome’ (now a recognised television disease).

The more he sits silently in court, the more Mark Costley’s aura of mystique is taken away from him. The flesh of his lies reduced to mere bone. We learn more about his past – the time he was inappropriate with a former work colleague and his previous conviction. There are even two conflicting accounts on whether he has a personality disorder. One doubting Thomas declaring “his pursuit of extramarital sex and a tendency to embroider the facts do not mean he’s mentally unwell .Otherwise half the men in the country would be seeking treatment” Touche! However, a Doctor claims he does suffer from one and Likens his behaviour to acting like a movie star in his own movie. 007 has truly lost his shine.

The knife twists further as Yvonne takes to the stand and has to relive the assault and the the day of the murder. If that wasn’t tormenting enough the big reveal is to follow, the big reveal to Gary at least, when the question “Are you familiar, Doctor Carmichael, with the small alley way called Apple Tree yard?” comes crashing in like a wrecking ball. And no, Miley Cyrus wasn’t called as a witness.

As if emotions haven’t been shredded enough there’s one last twirl of the dramatic blender as the twist kicks in. We get a flashback, yes that devious old trick, but this one is worth it. As they lay together in romantic clinches she jokingly says “I want you to kill him” and perhaps with more serious intent “I want you to smash his face in”. Costley proudly declaring he never told anyone this information is a bit like a cat bringing home a dead mouse wanting some applause. Her steady response of “People can say anything. You really can’t tell the difference can you?” may mask an agenda we’ve never seen before.

It’s a belting end to a show that’s been all about the issues of trust and people living false narratives. As for Costley, on the plus side he now has a confined space all to himself where he can create many filthy stories with that vivid imagination. 9/10

Blind alleys

Full marks for the healthy discussion of mental health issues. Very refreshing to hear.

It’s up for debate if Yvonne knew what she was doing when asking Mark to kill. Was she much less innocent than we thought? Did she know Mark was a bit of a fantasist who would take it literally? Or were they really just throwaway comments?

The look to camera at the end suggests it wasn’t the latter.

He could be out in five years on good behaviour. Which alley would the sequel be set? Answers on a postcard.

We’re all googling for places with rude names now aren’t we?

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?