First Comes Love – As the opening episode of The Changeling begins, viewers learn that 52 men and women sailed out of Norway on July 5, 1825. They fled to America because they sought religious freedom from persecution. Although the journey was impossible, they made it because they had help. This fairy tale begins in a Queens library in 2010. Apollo (LaKeith Stanfield) overhears Emma (Clark Backo) dealing with a man at the library. Emma and the man negotiate until he is finally allowed to use the bathroom. Apollo tells Emma he was going to help her with that guy, but she’s already got it figured out.

He tries to convince Emma to go to dinner with him. The narrator says Emma was mistaken if she thought he’d give up that easily. To understand why, we have to go back to 1968. It was during the great garbage strike when Brian West (Jared Abrahamson) met Lillian Kagwa (Adina Porter). Brian arrives to see Mr. Pavel Arsenyev. He tells Lillian that he is Pavel’s parole officer. Brian returns multiple times to speak to Lillian who says she doesn’t date white men. Mr. Asenyev (Ariel Eliaz) tells Lillian that Brian is bad for business and that makes her bad for business. Before long, Pavel is arrested again. When Brian shows up with a gift for Lillian, she complains that he got her fired and her new job doesn’t pay as much.

She refuses to give him a chance. In 1977, Lillian finally agrees to go on a date with Brian. Apollo was persistent in asking Emma out as well until she finally says yes. While having dinner, Emma tells Apollo that her parents died when she was five. Her sister Kim, who is 13 years old, adopted her after that. The local librarian, Ms. Rook, would look after her when her sister couldn’t. Emma talks about watching movies with her best friend Michelle (Rasheda Crockett). One day, she picked up the movie Quilombo and it made her realize how big the world really is. When Emma asks about Apollo’s people, we see a monster of sorts briefly.

Apollo thinks one sad story is enough for a first date. When they leave, Apollo says he just wants to be a good father to the kid he ends up having. Emma reveals she said no to him previously because she is moving to Brazil. Apollo jokingly commands her to stay before they kiss. Emma goes to Brazil later. In 1977, Lillian and Brian go out to dinner. Brian tells her about his parents and how they drank a lot. When he asks about her, Lillian remembers something traumatic before saying one sad story is enough for a first date. Brian wants children. He wants a chance to be a great father and good husband. Later, Lillian gets a job at Lubbick, Weiss, and Blackwood. Lillian’s first and only child was born in the beautiful blur of 1977.

In a flashback, Lillian and her cousin sing in the car before they get stopped by members of the General Service Unit. They ask for petrol and identifications. Lillian’s cousin ends up getting shot so she speeds away. Once they get away, Lillian begins checking on Arthur. Later, Lillian and Brian have a child that they name Apollo. By Apollo’s fourth birthday, Brian West was gone. One day, Apollo receives a visit from a man wearing a mask. The man growls at him. He removes the mask and blows black smoke. Emma checks on Apollo when he wakes up from a nightmare. He explains it was the dream he used to have all the time when he was little.

Apollo says it is about his dad who left when he was four. In the dream, he comes back although he doesn’t know if he stays. In real life, Brian never came back. Next, Apollo finds The Sorcerers of Dobu and a picture inside. He is told that granny and pops died in each other’s arms. They left behind this collection. He buys the books from the surviving family members. In 1988, Lillian continues working and bringing books home to Apollo. In 1992, Apollo walks into a bookstore and gets sent away so he tries another one. He eventually begins wondering if he is frightening and that is why his father left him. While he is reading the book about Sorcerers, Apollo finds a postcard that mentions Aleister Crowley.

While Emma is in Brazil, she sees a mysterious woman. A young Apollo hears his dad at the door. When he opens it, he finds a box on the floor. Inside the box, he finds stuff about Lillian. Apollo opens a book that is different. Lillian comes in and tells him that the box belonged to his father. In the present, Apollo gets a message from Emma saying she is coming home. He waits for her at the airport until she finally gets there. Emma tells Apollo about a lake in Salvador. They told her not to go, but she didn’t listen to them. She approaches the woman who reminds her they told her not to come. Emma tells her she isn’t frightened.

The woman says she should be before saying three wishes for her life. Emma is surprised that the woman knows her name. She is told there will be three wishes before the three knots are tied. The woman ties a string around her wrist. Emma tells Apollo that the three wishes will come true when the string falls from her wrist. Apollo cuts it and it falls to the floor. Apollo insists all three of her wishes will come true with him. They get married. Before long, Emma surprises Apollo by telling him she is pregnant. Apollo meets Michelle and Emma for dinner. Michelle tries to talk Emma out of having her baby at home without drugs.

When they’re alone, Michelle tells Apollo there is a nude photo of Emma in an art gallery in Norway. They talk about the string as Michelle insists he made a bold move. Then, she says he already made two of those wishes come two. They were a good husband and a healthy child. Emma met a Norwegian photographer in Salvador and found a decayed factory. Emma took his camera when he needed to pee and took a nude photo with it. A gallery owner displayed the photo and never took it down. Michelle says it is frightening that Emma was looking into the lens like a sorceress.

She is trying to tell him the third wish. Apollo is told that his wife needs him. He helps her outside and gets on the subway. Some rowdy guys join them with loud music and begin dancing. The lights blink and the train stops. Apollo and Emma ask the dancers to get the conductor because she is having the baby. Cowboy helps Apollo move her around. Apollo helps Emma give birth to a baby boy. They agree to name him Brian. A flashback shows Brian taking Apollo with him.

 

The Changeling Review

The opening episode of The Changeling was okay although it didn’t do a lot to build a story that will force viewers to stick around for the remainder of the season. In fact, it is somewhat difficult to know exactly what the series is about after the first episode. Instead, the pilot episode primarily focused on the relationships of Brian and Lillian and Apollo and Emma.

Based only on the first episode, it is difficult to know what the show is all about although it probably has something to do with sorcery. The relationship drama was done well though. Some of the performances were unconvincing near the end of the episode although they didn’t really stick out too much.

The story will more likely get more interesting as it develops and digs deeper into the substance, but it may take a lot of patience from viewers to stick with it that long. After all, the opening episode was just okay and didn’t sink its hooks in. The potential is there although the story will need to move faster to avoid losing viewer interest.

The opening episode scores a 6 out of 10. Recaps of The Changeling can be found on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Learn more about advertising on Reel Mockery here.