Director Michael Francis Williams Explains Episode 7 of The Changeling

The Changeling on Apple TV+ is generating a lot of online buzz due to its captivating blend of psychological, thriller, and fantasy elements. Since its debut last month, viewers have been captivated, eagerly trying to discern the nature of what they are witnessing. The series depicts the love story between Apollo, played by LaKeith Stanfield, and Emma, played by Clark Backo. At first, their unexpected meeting appears to be the start of a beautiful love story between two individuals who are destined to be together. However, shortly after Emma’s return from her trip to South America, their relationship takes on the characteristics of star-crossed lovers.

Every episode of the show takes you on a thrilling rollercoaster ride, leaving you constantly questioning what is real, what is made up, and what are simply distorted memories from each character. The climax of this occurred in episode seven, shifting the focus away from Apollo, Emma, and their immediate concerns to Apollo’s mother, Lillian, played by Adina Porter. This episode was the highlight of the series because it skillfully incorporated elements of history, socio-culture, race, and nationalism into her story.

Michael Francis Williams stated that instead of attempting to handle everything, his role was to assist in facilitating her emotional journey through her past. This included her experiences of immigrating from Uganda, navigating life in New York, finding love, becoming a parent, as well as acknowledging mistakes, regrets, and circumstances beyond her control. Michael directed the seventh episode out of the eight episodes. In this episode, he expanded on the strengths and built upon what was established in the previous episodes.

He approached this episode with the intention of breaking some rules, as he explained, because it was not primarily about Lilian’s relationship with Apollo, but rather about her own identity. Michael expressed that it is uncommon for us to come across a show that provides a comprehensive portrayal of a black woman’s life, including her depth, richness, and intricacies. He accomplished this by integrating magical and musical elements, which enhanced the scenes with depth and elegance.

Williams described it as a five-dimensional puzzle. He described breaking down the architecture of this episode for Lilian, bringing life to her backstory. It was reminiscent of a scene from the movie Minority Report. There were moments that reminded me of the movie Inception, as I found myself questioning whether we were witnessing Lilian’s past or immersed in her dream or nightmare.

I asked Michael to provide a more detailed explanation of the musical element and its connection to the episode. Williams stated that it is indicative of a growing sense of strangeness, delusion, and magic. The beauty of it lies in Lilian’s unraveling. Through her story, we not only comprehend the reasons behind her actions but also witness how it affected her ability to safeguard her own mental well-being. This parallel can be observed in Apollo’s recollection of a significant moment with his father, Brian, as well.

Michael’s performance in this episode was exceptional as he brought Lilian’s character to life and created a memorable moment. By doing so, he provided us with answers and greater clarity regarding the topics that left us wondering in the previous episodes.