"Apple Cider Vinegar," a Netflix series, explores the story of Belle Gibson, an Australian wellness influencer who manipulated the internet with stories of battling diseases she never had, including heart problems, seizures, and Stage 4 brain cancer. The narrative of this limited series focuses on Gibson's rise to fame, her fraudulent activities, her fall from grace, and the impact of her deceitful actions on close ones and followers who believed in her wellness advice.
The series highlights the performance of American actress Kaitlyn Dever who features as Gibson, portraying the influencer's character with an impressive level of authenticity. Despite its prime depiction of Gibson's fallacious journey, the series tends to lose focus due to its narrative structure. Enjoyable moments contrast with elements of confusion over timelines and unresolved plot threads.
"Apple Cider Vinegar" aims to shed light on the darker aspects of the wellness culture, which has been further amplified by social media and celebrities. The series includes fictional characters and settings to reveal the real-life ramifications of Gibson's lies and deceit. Yet, the series struggles with presenting a clear message, often due to its many distracting characters and narratives.
It presents noteworthy relationships, such as that between Gibson and one of her followers, Lucy, who left conventional treatment and proceeded with alternative medicine inspired by Gibson's posts. This narrative gives the viewer an in-depth look at the human cost of Gibson's fraudulent activities.
Despite certain pitfalls, "Apple Cider Vinegar" delivers an important critique of a pervasive wellness culture that can sometimes be grounded more in commercialism and empty promises rather than proven medical science. The series is available for streaming on Netflix in its entirety.
