Apple Cider Vinegar

Netflix's 2025 miniseries Apple Cider Vinegar offers a gripping portrayal of the real-life scandal surrounding Australian wellness influencer Belle Gibson. The series delves into the murky waters of social media influence, health misinformation, and the consequences of deceit.

Watching this series was a deeply personal experience. We've often turned to social media for health advice, trusting influencers who promote alternative treatments and lifestyles. Apple Cider Vinegar served as a stark reminder of the potential dangers lurking behind seemingly inspirational stories. It made me question how often I've taken such advice at face value without seeking professional medical opinions.

Positive Aspects:

• Stellar Performances: Kaitlyn Dever delivers a chilling and nuanced portrayal of Belle Gibson, capturing the character's manipulative charm and underlying insecurities. Alycia Debnam-Carey brings depth to Milla Blake, embodying the desperation and hope of someone grappling with a life-threatening illness.

• Thought-Provoking Narrative: The series adeptly critiques the wellness industry's darker side, highlighting how easily misinformation can spread in the digital age and the real-world consequences of such deceit.

• High Production Quality: From its sharp cinematography to a haunting musical score, the series maintains high production standards that enhance the storytelling experience.

Negative Aspects:

• Pacing Issues: Some viewers might find the series' pacing uneven, with certain episodes delving deeply into subplots that, while enriching, may detract from the central narrative.

• Emotional Intensity: Given its heavy themes, the series can be emotionally taxing, potentially making it challenging for viewers seeking lighter entertainment.

Conclusion: Apple Cider Vinegar is a compelling miniseries that sheds light on the perils of health misinformation and the ethical responsibilities of influencers. While it demands an emotional investment from its audience, the series rewards with powerful performances and a narrative that resonates in today's digital landscape.

Enthralling recap of a story many of us Aussies know well, but made none the less enticing, I was totally gripped from start to finish.

I'm Australian and didn't even realise the actress playing Belle was American!!

Even if you know the story, there's still plenty of detail and character building that really builds on the nuances of those involved.

Great acting, great cast, loved the direction and cinematography. Also really great depiction of the so-called wellness industry, the slow build of Instagram and influencer culture. Part of you wonders if it had been successful without the lies.

Really proud the Aussie TV industry did the story so well - I binged it in a day!!

All true stories have different versions depending on the teller. Apple Cider Vinegar clearly states at the start of each episode that certain characters & events have been changed or fictionalised. And all that is true in this series, was best told in this provocative manner. This account is a reminder of how some swindles are driven by a need for recognition and greed but may also be driven by deep rooted trauma and mental illness. Fantastic screenplay and editing. The characters are thorny and convincing. This poignant story is about deception, delusion, desperation, relationships and hope. It hits hard leaving you choked with a sour taste in your mouth. Bravo production team and Netflix. You done a great job with this one. Time to google the actual true story.

Like many others have said this is a frustrating watch. The whole point of this show is what seems to be a growing trend of calling out the total fakes all around us that are representing themselves as having one of the worst diagnoses imaginable and turning it into a sinister, monetizing hoax.

The problem I have with this is even the other reviewers stating they have had cancer or are currently going through it... do I believe them???

I mean of course I do... but how do we REALLY know?!?!?

I absolutely agree this needs to be talked about because there are SO many fakes out there that are playing this evil game of monetizing a very serious medical diagnosis and using it to their benefit because they are sociopaths.

Overall I thought this was a great show and something I didn't want to watch at first but ended up watching and found it very well done. The lead actress is believable as Australian, wow. The rest of the cast knew their assignment. The pace was great and I wasn't bored at all but felt a lot of compassion.

Great set up, great acting, necessary story-it's good to see a portrayal of influencing that accurately captures how horrific it can be instead of glamorising it. I found the switching timeline a bit confusing but I do think that was intentional. The whole show was a good blend of not so serious and very serious which I feel like is very hard to do. I liked how one of the characters spoke to the camera/audience at the beginning of each episode, it was original and really humanised them!

I'm mainly writing this to express how amazed I am at Kaitlyn Dever's Australian accent. I hated (this TV version of) Belle so much and I feel like only exceptional actors can make you truly hate the characters they portray. As a bonus it was lovely to see some of the other actors be able to use their natural accents :)