‘The Changeling’ Recap: ‘The Wise Ones’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

LaKeith Stanfield and Malcolm Barrett as Apollo and Patrice in Episode Four of ‘The Changeling’ – ‘The Wise Ones’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘The Changeling’. To revisit the Series Premiere, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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When we last settled in to discuss the phenomenal new Apple TV+ series, The Changeling, we talked at length about the unconventional nature of this story. Since it has no qualms about exposing the horrors and the ugliness of life, and how we try desperately to use fairy tale thoughts and concepts to cope with the realities of the world and how painful life can be and well… this week’s episode of the show made it clear… that it won’t be letting up regarding this fascinating style of storytelling. For ‘The Wise Ones’ offered up a story that once again explored the horrors of life while toying with the strange mythos the first three episodes created, regarding Emma’s downward spiral, one that seemingly came forth from mystical roots and people with an understanding of something more. 
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A feat this accomplished by immediately plunging us into one of the greatest horrors of all, what comes next when we suffer through great trauma. For life goes on, and the world keeps on turning, and we are forced to rejoin it regardless of how much healing and quiet time we would like to take part in, instead. Which was why… we saw Apollo… back at work if you will. Wherein he and Patrice were working to sell that incredibly rare edition of To Kill a Mockingbird to William Wheeler. Simply because Apollo needed the money to do something as simple as survive and well, that interaction and what followed… made for some uncomfortable storytelling. The kind that chronicled a man that had no desire to be near small talk and emotion, and also came to realize how ugly the world can be when one is suffering deeply. 

Simply because after William poured out his guts regarding his own pain in front of these men, Apollo was made aware of the group that was created to honor his late son. Where people left terrible comments and commentary, giving rise to fresh and pained feelings for Apollo, and this really was a powerful way to explore the horrors of the world and how hard it is to move forward when we hurt. Courtesy of a cold world that cares little about us, and kudos to the show for showing this in the raw and for reminding us of how people are quick to be nasty when bad things don’t impact them. And while this could have carried the story from beginning to end since it was so compelling and well-acted, and so visceral, there was mention of the fact that the fantastical came into play, and that was handled by way of a surprise from dear William.

Because despite their business being concluded, he wanted to offer up a bonus to Apollo. One that was quite stunning in nature. For he had CCTV footage that indicated, Emma was alive, and was wandering around the city and that she also had a home base. An island in the midst of the harbor and of course… Apollo went with William out there and found it in a mystical manner and on this island… were the Wise Ones. That mysterious group of women that seemingly demanded blood of Emma and were led by an equally as mysterious woman named Cal, who was deep in her convictions regarding all that has transpired and who also… had it in for William. For he, it turned out, was lying, and did not tell Apollo the whole truth about his past, and that… brought Apollo to a tough position, one where he must decide to either help a liar and evoke pain or wait and let a man die in the name of the truth and a chance at revenge.

Which made for one stunning and ugly ending to this episode, one that was as brilliant as everything that came before it. Because truly… it did a wonderful job of exploring the hollow and horrific nature of life when we are recovering from a tough time in our lives, while finding a way to lean into the fantastical in a supremely unique manner. As though Apollo and William could only see what they needed to when they became open to healing, instead of thriving within fantasy, and that’s a powerful metaphor from a powerful and engaging episode. Because all depth aside, there’s real trouble on the horizon now, and real questions in our mind regarding the Wise Ones, and that will make the wait for next week’s episode as excruciating as can be. Since we are now dying to know all there is to now about the Wise Ones and their ties to the pain that Apollo has endured. Until next time.

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