The Changeling Season 1 Episode 6 Review: Aftermath
The Changeling Season 1 Episode 6, “Aftermath,” finally sheds light on Emma’s perspective as she pieces together a mystery. Clark Backo delivers a stellar performance. Jonathan van Tulleken provides beautiful direction from Kelly Marcel’s solid script.
We only see Apollo for a minute in this outing (and LaKeith Stanfield is missed here); however, Emma’s story is so engrossing that it doesn’t matter. Of course, Backo’s compelling, layered work also grabs you and doesn’t let you go until the credits roll.
“Aftermath” feels like the first time we really see what The Changeling has advertised to us from the jump. Before the show premiered, we were promised a New York City we didn’t know existed.
Not only do we spend more time with The Wise Ones, but we meet the mole people dwelling in the NYC underground. The mole community, in particular, is framed through a magical, whimsical lens.
While this series has emitted fairytale vibes since the pilot, it’s always possessed a dark edge. “Aftermath” shows us the other side of that, a more hopeful, magical place that falls in line with children’s fairytales. It’s a breath of fresh air that renews the narrative and switches things up. Wheels (Steve Zissis) initially sticks out like a glaring sore thumb, especially considering the tone of this show.
However, you quickly fall prey to Zissis’s charming performance. Plus, it’s nice to see Emma find a faithful ally who doesn’t, you know, drug her and lock her up.
On another note, “Aftermath” propels the story in a way we haven’t seen yet. The narrative seems to move a little more quickly this time around. It feels like a loving homage to tenacious mothers who never break at the sign of an obstacle. Well, that and a woman’s predilection for getting sh*t done. The Changeling would probably be a different series if we got more of Emma’s perspective. Her story is just as, if not more crucial, than Apollo’s.
Dan Deacon’s score has never been more otherworldly than in “Aftermath.” That scene when the Norway maple leaf falls on Emma, and she discovers the towering tree before her? Ethereal. Deacon’s lush score punctuates Emma’s excitement as she stumbles upon a revelation in her search. Tulleken’s direction and the stunning cinematography are the cherries on top of a magic-filled scene. It feels wholly cinematic.
Additionally, “Aftermath” cleverly links Emma’s and Apollo’s stories as we fill in the blanks following Brian’s death. It makes the narrative feel more fleshed out and fully realized. It’s also fun to examine the arc from varying perspectives — that of Emma and Apollo, who have vastly different experiences in the aftermath of it all.
Overall, “Aftermath” is one of the show’s strongest outings thus far. In this slow-burn puzzle box mystery, we discover some answers (and perhaps more in Little Norway).
At the same time, Marcel leaves a few loose threads ripe for exploration in the coming installments. While there might be too much to answer with only two episodes remaining, The Changeling is heading in the right direction (and finally picking up the pace).
Stray Observations:
- In that final shot, the color blue appears again when Emma declares she’ll find her son. What an interesting palette choice.
- [In Jerry Seinfeld’s voice] So, what’s the deal with Norway? As of now, we’ve got the Norwegian photographer Emma met on her trip, the 19th-century Norwegian ship from the pilot, William Wheeler, who’s Norwegian, and the Norway maple tree.
- I want to live in Wheels’ bus home. It’s so stylish.
- As cool as the mole community is, I can’t help but worry about their undoubtedly dangerously below-average Vitamin D levels.
- How long until the library realizes someone’s stealing their books? Would they even consider Emma as the thief?
- Emma floats in those seconds before the opening credits, and it’s eerie as hell. It’s such a subtle detail, too, but a nice touch. Is she a witch now? Perhaps she picked up some tricks from The Wise Ones.
What did you think of this episode of The Changeling? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Changeling streams new episodes every Friday on Apple TV+.
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Melody McCune
Melody loves TV. Maybe too much. Besides being a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV, she's the Managing Editor for Geek Girl Authority, an Independent Contractor for Sideshow Collectibles, and a Senior Writer for Eulalie Magazine. Additionally, she has bylines in Culturess, Widget, and inkMend on Medium. To top it all off, she's a critic for Rotten Tomatoes and CherryPicks.