51 reviews
Slow Burning, Edge of Your Seat With a Twist
Though, I was in fact hoping to find a 'secret Sherlock' episode, I was happy with Apple Tree Yard as a whole.
I see some complaints it was TOO SLOW. It only has 4 episodes, give it a chance, lol. Have a bit of patience.
It had intrigue, lust, complicated family and marital relations. Humans that make poor choices and a question as to who is the villain.
I loved the sets from just the Apple Tree Yard SW1 Alley to the chapel of the Commons.
If people wanted Sherlock and didn't get it, they got a good mystery at least. On top of being a thriller and a damn good drama.
You get an insanely intense and mind blowing finale.
Emily Watson was great and the rest of the cast were certainly very good. Creepy ending...I hope for another series of this! 8/10
I see some complaints it was TOO SLOW. It only has 4 episodes, give it a chance, lol. Have a bit of patience.
It had intrigue, lust, complicated family and marital relations. Humans that make poor choices and a question as to who is the villain.
I loved the sets from just the Apple Tree Yard SW1 Alley to the chapel of the Commons.
If people wanted Sherlock and didn't get it, they got a good mystery at least. On top of being a thriller and a damn good drama.
You get an insanely intense and mind blowing finale.
Emily Watson was great and the rest of the cast were certainly very good. Creepy ending...I hope for another series of this! 8/10
Not everything has to all out action & fast pace
So yes it's a slow slow burn , but very deliberate Why do people think everything has to be all out action & fast paced drama. This is not meant to be Line of Duty. Overall a strong powerful storyline and Superb performances from the lead actors. Also thought the courtroom scenes were excellent. Maybe a few holes throughout the plot but nothing that took too much away from the end result. Has you riveted from start to finish even if the pace is somewhat pedestrian at times.
A slow burner that ignites at the end.
Scientist Yvonne falls for a mystery man whilst answering questions at a Commons Select committee, the stranger would have a big impact on Yvonne's life.
It's starts off very well, and gets better and better, the fourth episode is brilliant, the best of the four.
It's an interesting story, that goes in the most unusual and unexpected directions, you are taken on Yvonne's rollercoaster ride. You will be curious about Yvonne until the last.
The acting is the show's primary strength, Bonnar and Chaplin are brilliant, however Emily Watson deserved awards for her portrayal of Yvonne, she is one of the best, and this highlights how awesome she is.
I would highly recommend this drama. 8/10.
It's starts off very well, and gets better and better, the fourth episode is brilliant, the best of the four.
It's an interesting story, that goes in the most unusual and unexpected directions, you are taken on Yvonne's rollercoaster ride. You will be curious about Yvonne until the last.
The acting is the show's primary strength, Bonnar and Chaplin are brilliant, however Emily Watson deserved awards for her portrayal of Yvonne, she is one of the best, and this highlights how awesome she is.
I would highly recommend this drama. 8/10.
- Sleepin_Dragon
- Sep 26, 2020
- Permalink
Apple Tree Yard is one of the rarest drama on TV which gives a sensible message which makes it worth watching.
- shobanchittuprolu
- Oct 29, 2017
- Permalink
Magnificent Emily Watson
Ms. Emily Watson gives the performance of a lifetime in this raw, jagged story of a middle-aged woman who discovers her fiery sexuality with a stranger and suffers a trauma of incredible profundity. Watson sets the screen on fire with her presence and her smoldering sexual power. Her beauty is mesmerizing and her eyes speak more than a thousand pages of intricate dialog. This a showcase for a truly great actress and all that she brings to the part she plays with such passion. Watson is a treasure and one of the finest actors Britain has ever produced. Apple Tree Yard is a fine piece and what Emily Watson achieves in it will leave you gasping for breath and stunned with wonder.
- jlthornb51
- Oct 2, 2017
- Permalink
Humourless but gripping thriller
- ComptonSpencer
- Feb 18, 2017
- Permalink
Great acting
I really enjoyed this. It tugged on my heart strings at times. It had some good twists and turns. Didn't go too long with only four episodes. There was some really good acting, and nothing was far-fetched. Recommend if you're in the mood for a good drama/thriller.
- gallagherkellie
- Aug 23, 2021
- Permalink
Emily Watson is Reason Enough to Watch THis
'Apple Tree Yard' is far from perfect. But Emily Watson as the story's protagonist Yvonne is as close to perfect in that role as one could imagine. And, trust me, she alone is reason enough to watch this four episode drama. Perhaps it is her face, specifically her doleful eyes, but we care about Yvonne. We want the best for her. And we will not stop watching until the series' final moment.
Or final second. Because this film asks that you do just that. Stay with it right up to the final credits.
Yvonne is a brilliant scientist who has an affair with a British Civil Servant (Ben Chaplin). She is married to a seemingly wonderful man but the affair - sex with a stranger, sex in public spaces - is so thrilling, she cannot quit it. But soon enough she is the victim of an event that causes her to re-evaluate her life, in full. Yvonne makes choices that not each of us would make. Even so, we can understand how someone might make those decisions; they are not uncommon.
There is one major problem with the plot. And without giving anything away, that problem is this. Yvonne keeps her affair a secret. From her friends and family. That we understand. But when she keeps it a secret from those whose mission it is to help her, that, for me, was a problem. And a big one.
Ben Chaplin is appropriately creepy as her secret lover. But the film belongs to Ms. Watson. And Ms. Watson delivers.
Or final second. Because this film asks that you do just that. Stay with it right up to the final credits.
Yvonne is a brilliant scientist who has an affair with a British Civil Servant (Ben Chaplin). She is married to a seemingly wonderful man but the affair - sex with a stranger, sex in public spaces - is so thrilling, she cannot quit it. But soon enough she is the victim of an event that causes her to re-evaluate her life, in full. Yvonne makes choices that not each of us would make. Even so, we can understand how someone might make those decisions; they are not uncommon.
There is one major problem with the plot. And without giving anything away, that problem is this. Yvonne keeps her affair a secret. From her friends and family. That we understand. But when she keeps it a secret from those whose mission it is to help her, that, for me, was a problem. And a big one.
Ben Chaplin is appropriately creepy as her secret lover. But the film belongs to Ms. Watson. And Ms. Watson delivers.
I find myself watching and being intrigued and gripped by it.
I wish one could respond to specific reviews here. Some (many) are so judgmental you'd think we were watching news reports. Yes, sometimes people are illogical and naive. Yes, sometimes people (men AND women) aren't as intelligent as they should be ... People. Soon as someone (a male) talks about intelligent women or naive women ... I just shake my head and generally try to ignore it.
But the criticisms I'm seeing are about some mythical perfect story about perfect people and apparently the reviewers know it all! I find it a good story, keeps me interested. Yes, I'm sorry people make bad choices and get themselves into very sticky, stupid situations. But again ... human. And if the human race didn't act irrationally and out of form and all the rest .. wow, lots of boring shows to watch and we'd all know the end from the beginning (as some reviewers claim they did). I'm really tired of these know-it-all reviews that are so condescending and rude. Gosh, if I enjoy it or like it or can empathize, surely something must be wrong with me. It's drama. It's not the news. We can let people make unwise choices. We can find comfort in our humanity.
But the criticisms I'm seeing are about some mythical perfect story about perfect people and apparently the reviewers know it all! I find it a good story, keeps me interested. Yes, I'm sorry people make bad choices and get themselves into very sticky, stupid situations. But again ... human. And if the human race didn't act irrationally and out of form and all the rest .. wow, lots of boring shows to watch and we'd all know the end from the beginning (as some reviewers claim they did). I'm really tired of these know-it-all reviews that are so condescending and rude. Gosh, if I enjoy it or like it or can empathize, surely something must be wrong with me. It's drama. It's not the news. We can let people make unwise choices. We can find comfort in our humanity.
Not bad but..
Ok after reading some of the reviews I am compelled to write my own. I see many reviews calling her this sexual prowess with all this power? Are we watching the same woman?!? Tying so hard to keep the affair a secret. Lol. Ok. She made so many ridiculous mistakes and seemed so desperate for attention it was ridiculous. Mind blowing finale ? Were we watching the same series? Bonner was the highlight of this. Was it aweful, no but this meek woman with zero emotion was boring as heck to watch. It wasn't awful but in no way was she some sexual powerful goddess and the ending was not mind blowing. Carry on.
- Headturner1
- Dec 28, 2019
- Permalink
juxtaposition of an ordinary life and suddenly risky behavior
The main thing to know is that Emily Watson is playing the main character. It is a top notch BBC production and a script from a novel that is engaging ,dramatic , suspenseful, unpredictable and well conceived. This 4 part TV series is one of THEE best, if not the best, things I have streamed on TV in the last two years. It is not easy and rare indeed to watch a production that is flawless at every turn in the telling of the story and the acting delivered. I loved it.
- jmccrmck-65172
- Dec 11, 2020
- Permalink
Drink it in
You will not regret taking time to watch this series. Great acting, script, plot. Easy to get into the characters and although it gets personal you still feel connected to them.
- Poster-Boy
- Jun 30, 2021
- Permalink
Big build up to nothing
Excellent acting, high quality production but a dud storyline.
What, really?
- kevinroche
- Feb 1, 2017
- Permalink
Don't waste your time
Don't waste your time. A show like this makes a mockery of female intelligence. And the action is as slow as molasses to make matters worse. Who would believe a woman (and she's a highly educated scientist) could be so naive. The story is totally wrong implausible. However I m glad to see Emily Watson come out from all the frumpy roles I've seen her in. She looked quite attractive in Appletree Yard.
Protracted and generally predictable story elevated by a strong performance
I was referred to this miniseries via IMDB links, I had not heard of the novel of the same name and did not delve into its synopsis (usually I try to avoid creations with strong court session elements and/or affair-based troubles). The beginning was promising, particularly sequent recognition of Emily Watson´s talent, but the the events and some twists began to take the turn usually created by sensitive female authors, and the follow-up of "bad stuff" in court did not impress me much either. Sometimes it seemed that even the small number of episodes (4) was excessive, and then a thought came to me that it was Mrs. Watson only whom I focused on... Other performances, incl. Ben Chaplin´s, were just pleasant, but nothing special.
Often enough, but not this time, having in mind a British series - so 7 points from me, and I might recommend it to Mrs. Watson´s admirers only.
Often enough, but not this time, having in mind a British series - so 7 points from me, and I might recommend it to Mrs. Watson´s admirers only.
One word...
Brilliant. Absolutely one of the best series l have seen in ages. Trouble with watching these high caliber shows is that other shows l watch after doesn't compare. Very few far and between. I just loved it. Excellent writing, extremely talented cast. Highly recommend.
- donflavianos
- Oct 20, 2018
- Permalink
Excellent Acting, Weak Script
- dfales-87700
- May 4, 2021
- Permalink
Much better than I expected
I was just looking for something to kill some time. This was much more engrossing than I expected. Well acted with enough twists to keep it interesting. Have a whole new appreciation for Emily Watson. She is good.
- wade-jeffords
- Jan 17, 2021
- Permalink
A tale to ensure you never embark on an affair ....ever!
Acting masterclass Emily Watson
I can hardly find words to describe the level A acting in this show. Number one is of course Emily Watson, but the other actors are also stunning.
There is no slow or dull moment and the build up towards the ending is breath taking with a jaw dropping 180 degrees spin at the end. A lot of people think the Male lead is narcissistic. He's not. Watch closely. The last minutes will tell all. Listen closely to her words to him in the last bed scene.
Good Actors bring more horsepower than necessary to the inadequate story
The 4 part series got off to a bracing start, then sagged and continued to sag by bringing in many story elements which indicated they may impact on the plot, then ultimately did not. Detailed but overdone legal niceties considering the amount of time they sucked out of the 4 episodes. The ultimate payoff at the very end was likewise inadequate. Felt sorry for pretty much all the characters, barring one, but ultimately most sorry for myself.
- robbotnik2000
- Jan 16, 2019
- Permalink
Deliberate and intense
This is not your usual thriller. This is a deliberate psychological drama about how easily one can go down the wrong path. Main character falls into what is a pile of crap and doesn't know it until too late. She is homely and vulnerable. Bad things can happen to good people and one mistake could be too many. The very end is a social study in the human id.
Well crafted British high drama
- robertemerald
- Jul 3, 2018
- Permalink
If art is defined by its ability to change, however slightly, the way we see the world
...then this is art, and perhaps great art. This is an extraordinary piece of work. On a superficial level, the casting and acting are pitch perfect and the snapshots of a marriage and an affair are compelling. But the greater strength here lies in the story's ability to convey the unavoidable ambiguities of real life. America has flooded the world with the cultural equivalents of Disney and Coca Cola and we all expect simple questions and simpler answers. Apple Tree Yard gives the lie to that. Watch it from beginning to end and be changed.