Clean Sheets – As the second episode of Apple Cider Vinegar begins, Milla (Alycia Debnam-Carey) speaks to Arlo (Chai Hansen) about The Hirsch Institute. Alma Hirsch (Robyn Nevin) speaks about her father Walter who started to heal when he was starving. Alma claims Walter managed to cure people of cancer just through diet. The American Medical Association shut down his practice. Alma claims that 90% of oncologists would refuse chemotherapy. Lucy (Tilda Cobham-Hervey) goes through therapy while keeping an eye on Belle Gibson’s social media. Dr. Chidiac (Doris Younane) checks in with her about her shortness of breath. The doctor believes they may have blown off a bit of an artery so she’s ordered an ECG.
Melbourne 2014 – Chanelle (Aisha Dee) speaks to Justin (Mark Coles Smith) and Sean (Richard Davies) about Belle (Kaitlyn Dever). Chanelle tells them that Belle has hosts and not friends. She attaches herself to people who may be valuable to her. In the present, Belle tries to work her magic on Hek (Phoenix Raei).
Beverly Hills 2015 – Hek drives Belle home and tells her he has girls. She invites him in for a drink. Hek refuses at first, but he ends up going inside with her. He gets drunk and tells Belle how she could potentially repair her reputation. Belle rambles forever while Hek eats and drinks. Chanelle tells Justin and Sean that she’ll go on the record. Sean says they can’t publish allegations about someone’s health when it’s not corroborated by facts. Their lawyers will say they need medical records. Chanelle admits that she didn’t bother checking. She believes Belle is killing people with her lies. Justin says she is. Sean agrees to test it out. He finds two businesses registered to Belle, The Whole Pantry and Organic Baby.
In the past, Belle attends a seminar about social media. When Luke (Max Brown) has problems, Clive (Ashley Zukerman) helps him. After the speech, Belle approaches Clive to ask him about portals and protecting them from Google changing its algorithm whenever it wants. Clive says you can’t. Belle introduces herself and mentions she’s developing an e-commerce store, Organic Baby. She wants his help with it. Once Belle leaves, she messages Belle to say the conference was a dud because no one knew anything. At home, Belle argues with Nathan (Julian Weeks) for not changing the baby’s diaper. During a mother’s group, Belle complains that she feels like she has two children. She tells the other mothers about her site, Organic Baby. Belle says she needs a warehouse to import products. She speaks to another mother in private about having to work and being 23. Belle tells her that her son has a flat head and she has to turn him.
Beverly Hills 2015 – Belle talks to Hek about his kids and who stayed home with them. Hek says his wife said he should’ve done more in therapy. Belle went back to work three weeks postpartum. She claims she was trapped in a bad relationship and a bad life. Belle believes she and Milla just got each other even though they didn’t live close. Milla gets into The Hirsch Institute. At work, Belle speaks to a coworker about Milla getting into the Hirsch. Belle talks about going. Margaret (Maude Davey) says she doesn’t need to go that far for a health spa. Belle reminds her it’s a cancer clinic. She says she’s taking lunch since she has treatment at five. Margaret says she’s missing stock. Belle claims she took them home to photograph them for the site she’s making for Margaret’s store. At home, Nathan asks Belle if she stole them or not. They continue arguing. Belle takes the baby into the bathroom and locks the door.
Nathan calls his mom to tell her that Belle is mental. Belle messages Milla who wrote back 15 days later. Milla talks to Arlo, Joe (Matt Nable), and Tamara (Susie Porter) about the clinic which costs $8,000. Joe argues that they should use proper doctors this time. Milla doesn’t want to hear it. Tamara checks in with Milla in her room. Milla talks to her mom about making her own decision. Later, Joe tells Tamara he’s not going to let Milla bully them into this. He wants to speak to Xiu about Hirsch. Tamara rushes outside to clean the driveway. When Joe and Milla come out, Tamara says she’s going to use Nana’s money because she’d like that. She’s never been to Mexico before. Belle learns more about The Hirsch Institute. Tamara and Milla arrive. Tamara helps her and hopes Milla will do it for her when she’s old.
In 2015, Belle keeps giving Hek more alcohol. He notices that she’s not drinking. Clive arrives home with their kid. He’s introduced to Hek before taking the baby to bed. Hek learns that Clive lives there and he’s the one who saved Belle.
Past – Nathan yells for Belle to open the door. She calls Clive Rothwell. Belle invites herself over to Clive’s place. She begins crying in front of him. Belle tells him she has some health issues. Clive ends up letting her stay. Belle wakes him in the middle of the night to ask if she can show him what she’s built so far. Clive looks at her website and calls it great. They begin making out. Clive stops to ask her how old she is because he might be too old for her. Belle says she’s an old soul. Belle mentions their sex becoming a threesome.
Beverly Hills 2015 – Belle makes out with Clive in front of Hek. Hek offers to call a friend who does home deliveries. The friend brings over drugs and they continue partying. Clive cleans up inside while Belle and Hek hit the pool.
Past – Belle asks Clive if she’s heard of Instagram. She creates an account using the username BelleinMelbourne. Belle begins using Instagram and finding success on the platform. However, she notices that Milla is doing even better. One day, Clive drops off Belle who claims she’s getting her port out. Belle snaps a picture of her shirt suggesting she has cancer. Milla’s journey is featured on G’Day Today. During her appearance, she talks about the Hirsch therapy which is supposed to starve the cancer cells of anything they need to grow and nourish them with anything they need to die. Milla says she’s never felt better.
Brisbane 2011 – Belle watches her interview. Clive asks her if she wants to see Milla while they’re there. Belle says she was just invited to her mother’s wedding and she knows it’ll be a mess. Clive claims he’s excited about it. Andrew (Kieran Darcy-Smith) and Natalie (Essie Davis) rush outside as soon as they arrive. Belle goes with her mother and says she’s come to serve. Belle wants to wash the sheets because she’s allergic to cat fur. During lunch, Natalie says her daughter is a born actress. She recalls the time Belle talked her way into the musical theater troupe. Natalie is impressed with Clive. She reveals she was in the travel business and also played tennis. Natalie mentions her MS. She asks Belle about her business. Belle asks her mom if she’s interested in her health. She claims she has brain cancer. Clive tells them about Organic Baby.
Natalie mentions that Belle was very ambitious in high school, but Belle claims she ran away at 12 and wasn’t there in high school. Natalie claims Belle would harass people with a microphone and say he was going to be on television. She’s never seen her daughter so happy. Later, Belle changes the sheets. Clive asks her about running away from home when she was 12. Belle complains about her mom letting her sleep on dirty sheets and not being ordinary. She thinks she’s extraordinary because she had to be. Belle learns that Milla Blake is going to be signing books in the area. She messages Milla to let her know that she’s coming. Belle joins the others just before Milla comes out and begins speaking to everyone. Milla talks about the stone given to her and how much magic there is in the world. She explains she started feeling with her body.
Past – Alma speaks about experiencing two fractures in her pelvic bone and recovering at her age. When she asks about the book, Milla says she bought it but it didn’t arrive today. Alma wants her to buy it. Tamara finds out that Milla lied about reading it. Later, Tamara talks to Alma in private. She asks about the book and why she recommends having no scans for eight to twelve months. Alma claims they become vulnerable every time they are scanned because of the toxins spread by the machines. Alma suggests Milla can become a brand ambassador for Hirsch. She asks Tamara if she knows why she’s there. Tamara says her mom had bowel cancer and hated chemo. Tamara nursed her mother when she lived with them. Alma thinks Tamara knows the chemo doesn’t work from that experience. She tells her about her father Walter.
Belle approaches Milla at the book signing. She interrupts Milla’s conversation with another visitor, Maureen. Milla doesn’t seem to remember Belle Gibson. Belle asks her about going for a walk and talking privately. Milla refuses because she has to go home and juice. The experience seems to upset Belle. She sees a boy from her past. Natalie complains about her daughter not wanting to come to her wedding. Although Clive offers to speak to her, Natalie insists Belle won’t listen to him. Natalie mentions her daughter’s acting abilities. She says Belle faked a heart attack when she was dumped by her first boyfriend. It was so convincing that they called an ambulance. They hear a horn outside. Belle drives Clive and the baby home. Belle asks what her mom said. Clive claims she said nothing, but Belle doesn’t believe that. Belle says her mom finds it hard to share the attention.
At another time, Belle snaps pictures of her cancer shirt. Clive notices that she forgot her laptop when he drives away. He goes back to the clinic to find her and learns that the clinic doesn’t do chemotherapy. In the car, Clive tells Belle that they never have to go back there. He says he’d like to try for a baby if she wanted. Belle says she’s going to stop treatment because she can’t get anything done with the brain fog. She also wants to pull down Organic Baby because it’s too small. Belle wants to do an app like a food diary. She says you’ll always know what’s in your pantry and what you’re putting in your body. Her username changes to healing.belle. Lucy looks at the recipes in the app. Justin checks in on her as she’s receiving treatment. He tells her that Belle is fake. Lucy refuses to believe that since she’s met Belle. She goes on to say Belle is doing something good.
Justin claims Belle is preying on her. He visits Lucy’s daughter to tell her about Belle’s claims. The doctor insists you can’t heal cancer by eating healthy, but she doubts Lucy will listen to her. Dr. Chidiac wants to help because she hates people like that.
Beverly Hills 2015 – Hek pukes outside of Belle’s house. She invites him to stay over but he refuses. He tells Belle that she’ll need to do exactly what he tells her. Hek leaves moments later.
Apple Cider Vinegar Review
The second episode of Apple Cider Vinegar was a bit less messy than the first, but the script could still be tightened up a lot. There are going to be moments when viewers don’t know whether the show is in the past, the present, or somewhere in between. It’s also becoming more difficult to accept this version of the story as fact because it’s farfetched in certain areas.
At this point, it’s hard to know exactly what the show is trying to achieve because it hasn’t created a single sympathetic character yet. Who are we supposed to be cheering for her? At times, it feels like the show wants us to actually feel sympathy for Belle Gibson, but it’s afraid to fully commit to this idea.
It’s also baffling that the series tried so hard to find an actress to match Belle’s likeness only to completely change other characters and create others. It’s a shame and feels like it’s only putting in half of the effort here. Australian television can be a lot better than this, but it seems to have sunk in quality since the peak days of Underbelly, Glitch, and others.
The primary good point of the series is that it may encourage viewers to learn the actual truth and form their own opinions instead of listening to influencers who tell them what they want to hear. Unfortunately, they’re not going to get the truth here. They may not even get the basics of the story because the show is so badly written and edited.
This episode scores a 4.5 out of 10. Recaps of Apple Cider Vinegar can be found here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Learn more about advertising with us here. Join the discussion here.
Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.