Peacock’s Miniseries ‘Apples Never Fall’ Switches Things Up From the Bestselling Liane Moriarty Book

Change is the name of the game when it comes to adapting books to the screen, but how much will change depends on the series. We read Apples never fall from the mighty Liana Moriarty and all seven episodes of the new Peacock miniseries starring Sam Neill and Annette Bening to see how faithful the TV version is to the bestselling thriller. All seven episodes are available to stream starting today.

Change screen version setting from Australia to Florida? Or the suspect’s scratch from an agave plant instead of a lily bush? You can probably live with that.

Throwing in new characters, changing established characters and changing the trajectory of the story? That might be more controversial in the eyes of the reader. Read on, but beware of mild spoilers for those who haven’t read the book first.

In the center of the plot are former tennis professionals Stan (Neill) and Joy Delaney (Bening). The power couple has just retired after decades of running their tennis academy in a posh beach community. But the competitive spirit lives on with them and their children.

Feeling ignored by her four grown children, Joy welcomes an unusual young woman named Savannah (Georgia Flood) into her household. Soon, Joy mysteriously disappears, and Stan is suspected of his wife’s murder by the neighbors, the police, and even his own children.

Location changed for TV

The cast of ‘Apples Never Fall’.

Vince Valitutti/PAUN via Getty

Based on an Australian story by an Australian author, the series has changed location to sunny Florida – but was filmed entirely in Australia.

“The big change we made was moving the story from Australia to South Florida, West Palm Beach, which is home to so many professional tennis practices. That was a really fun change,” executive producer Melanie Marnich told TV writers in February. tour.

“We changed some of the characters, some of their intentions, some of the relationships, but we really stayed pretty true to her beautiful book.”

Some characters have also received subtle changes

Jake Lacy as Troy, Essie Randles as Brooke, Alison Brie as Amy, Conor Merrigan-Turner as Logan.

Vince Valitutti/PEACOCK

Ditzy eldest child Amy (Alison Brie) no longer has her signature blonde hair. “I also felt that it would be like that Sonic the Hedgehog, Brie said at the press tour panel. Her character is also an aspiring life coach, not a “taste tester” as she was in the book.

Younger son Logan (Conor Merrigan Turner) now works in a marina instead of a college professor. And girlfriend Indira (Pooja Shah) didn’t completely shut the door on their relationship.

And then you have the main character messing around going on with the other two Delaney siblings.

Youngest daughter Brooke (Essie Randles) was going through a painful divorce from her philanderer husband Grant in the book version. In the miniseries, she experiences doubts as she progresses in her marriage to her chef girlfriend Gina (Paula Andrea Placido). The change of sexual orientation opens another plot development.

A new subplot shakes things up

Conor Merrigan-Turner as Logan, Annette Bening as Joy, Jake Lacy as Troy, Essie Randles as Brooke.

PEACOCK

The main departure from the novel is a subplot that never appeared in the book. High-powered venture capitalist Troy (Jake Lacy) is embroiled in a stormy affair with the sullen wife (Katrina Lenk) of his boorish boss (Timm Sharp), who treats him like a son.

The central secrets of the books fall out, but not in the same way. The main story about Stan’s former protégé Harry Haddad (Giles Matthey) is mostly left aside.

And devoted readers might raise an eyebrow at Marnich’s statement that they “stayed pretty true to the book” as the final two episodes approach.

Did Stan kill her? Has Savannah done something dark and wrong? Are viewers still getting that controversial ending to the book?

You’ll have to watch to find out.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education