The Delaneys – As the episode opens, Joy Delaney (Annette Bening) rides her bike through the city to the supermarket. A short time later, her apples are scattered out on the street with her broken bike is covered in blood. Later, Amy Delaney (Alison Brie) voices concern about Joy who has not been in contact with them. Brooke Delaney (Essie Randles) tells her that she is exaggerating. Troy Delaney (Jake Lacy) agrees with her but believes Joy is busy. Logan Delaney (Conor Merrigan Turner) suggests Joy’s phone is broken and urges everyone to breathe. Amy asks if they should check to see if Joy has been in contact with any of her friends and call the local hospitals. Logan sarcastically tells her to file a missing persons report. She repeats what the police told her when she reported Joy missing. Brooke says Joy may be intentionally ignoring their calls because of their bad attitude as of late. Logan says Stan Delaney (Sam Neill) said Joy was on an errand when he spoke to him yesterday. Brook calls Stan to check on Joy. He claims she went to the mall and her phone is acting up before hurriedly ending the call. Troy questions if Stan is telling the truth.
In the past, Joy and Stan watch a video of Logan, Brooke, Amy, and Troy congratulating them on their retirement. The City Commissioner’s office presents them with a plaque for their contributions to the tennis community. During a speech, Joy contributes success of the Delaney Tennis Academy success to the students. She thanks Michael Garces (Andy De Oliveira) for taking ownership of the academy. Joy volunteers to help Gina Solis (Paula Andrea Placido) and Brooke plan their wedding and urges Logan to propose to Indira Chaundry (Pooja Shah). Stan gets teary-eyed when he talks about Joy. The children join their parents for a family photo.
Back to the present in a group Zoom call, Troy tells his siblings that Joy’s financial statements show a transaction two days ago at a local supermarket which provides Stan lied the mall. Amy reminds him that she warned them. Logan assures him that people visit the mall all the time without buying anything. Simon Barrington (Nate Mann) urges Amy to put on her headphones. She asks for some privacy. After a brief disagreement, Logan mentions a woman who caused them problems in the past and all goes quiet.
In the past, Stan complains about Garces taking down the Delaney sign. Logan assures him that it is normal. During dinner, Joy invites her children to stay for S’mores. They decline with the promise of doing it some other time. Joy tells Troy that his ex, Claire is dating the same guy. He claims to be okay with it before informing them of his new relationship. Stan blames Troy for his split with Claire. Amy announces she stopped working at Manatee Village which pleases Stan. Logan and Brooke know she was a volunteer, not an employee. Brooke tells them about her “The Post” fitness column to advertise her PT services. Joy and Stan share their different opinions of Wimbledon which ends in a verbal disagreement.
A short time later, Logan, Stan, Amy, and Brooke hit the tennis court. Troy questions Stan’s moodiness. Joy denies telling Stan that Troy is paying for the trip. When Brooke’s ball hits the net a third time, Stan strongly urges her to show she belongs there. Troy continues to push Joy for an explanation for Stan’s behavior. Stan rags Amy when her ball hits the net. As Amy walks away, Stan accuses them of getting soft. Troy and Stan go head-to-head. Stan fights through an old knee injury until Joy demands they stop.
In the past, Joy is cleaning up and Stan looking for his iPad when a distraught and battered Savannah Pagonis (Georgia Flood) arrives. She explains how she and Dereck got furloughed and relocated to Miami. She says he got upset when she urged him to look for another job. Stan asks how she got the abrasion on her forehead. She claims to have jumped out of the car and ran to their house. He urges her to call the police but she refuses.
Brooke is taking a bubble bath when Gina comes home from work. She denies telling Joy and Stan about her struggling business. Gina recalls seeing a violent tendency in the Delaney family on their first encounter.
In the past, Joy cleans Savannah’s wound while talking about her children. Savannah claims her relationship with her mother was rocky before she died. Joy admits to having too much time to think. Savannah explains how bad it feels to be ignored. Later, Stan scolds Joy for inviting Savannah to stay the night because they know nothing about her. She says Savannah is a victim of domestic violence. Frustrated, he turns on the TV to see a news report about Harry Haddad (Giles Matthey) returning to tennis after a three-year hiatus. She switches off the TV. He claims Harry betrayed him. Elsewhere, Troy tells Claire (Madeleine Jones) that it is nice to have her there. She stops him from speaking further and says it is time for her to go. He tries to convince her to stay but she refuses. A text about Harry’s return to tennis pops up on his phone. Elsewhere, Stan wakes up to find Joy and Savannah happily preparing breakfast. She asks about the tennis trophies. He downplays his success.
In the present, Brooke asks Debbie Christos (Jane Hall) and Sulin Hope (Ling Cooper Tang) when they last had contact with Joy. Sulin claims Stan notified them that Joy would not be able to play tennis this week because she was ill. Troy arrives at the Delaney home to find Stan with a laceration on his face. He voices concern about Joy’s sudden disappearance. Stan assures him that she is just busy when he sees Barb McMahon (Claire Weller Price) carrying a bag. Stan claims to have fallen on the agave plant. Troy accuses him of lying. Stan says Joy left after they had a roll but has no idea where she went. Barb is folding clothes when she hears a phone ringing. She answers the phone to hear Brooke’s voice. She tells her that Joy is not at home.
Logan encounters Savannah in the backyard. She tells him that Stan and Joy went on an errand and explains what led up to her being there. He asks if she is wearing Amy’s shirt. She claims to be borrowing it until she can get some of her own. Stan returns wearing a new pair of prescription sunglasses. Joy invites Logan to stay for dinner but he declines. Elsewhere, Gina offers to help Brooke financially. Brooke declines the offer but finally relents. Gina is outside when she receives a text that reads, “Wish you were here.” Brooke sees the text from Tarin who also included her photo. She receives a call from Logan about Savannah staying with Stan and Joy.
In the present, Stan is practicing when Detective Elena Camacho (Jeanine Serralles) and Detective Ethan Remy (Dylan Thuraisingham) arrive to question him about Joy’s disappearance. He claims Joy left four days ago without her phone to avoid talking to him. He assures them that she is safe and will return when she forgives him.
Brooke defends Stan while Troy and Amy believe he is involved in Joy’s disappearance. When Stan calls Brooke, Troy grabs her phone and ignores the call. Joy called each of her children on the day she disappeared but they did not answer. Elsewhere, Stan takes his frustration out on his tennis racket.
In the past, Savannah voices concern about causing problems for Joy and Stan. They invite her to stay as long as she likes. Back to the present, Logan visits the police station to speak with Comacho and Remy about Savannah. Elsewhere, a man and woman put Joy’s broken bike in the bed of their Dodge truck. The episode ends.
Apples Never Fall Synopsis
Joy’s retirement dream is to spend more time with her children who have different plans. Stan’s competitive nature makes him difficult to get along with, especially when tennis is involved. While he and Brooke have the strongest tie, Troy, Logan, and Amy only tolerate him. Brooke refuses to tell him that her PT practice is failing for fear of his reaction.
Joy goes missing after a visit to the local supermarket. Amy’s concerns are brushed off by her siblings. As time goes on, Troy begins to suspect Stan is involved. He digs into the Delaney’s finances to learn there has been no activity on Joy’s bank account. Amy files a missing persons report several days later. Detectives, Camacho and Remy question Stan who assures them that Joy is safe.
Joy and Stan take in Savannah when she unexpectedly shows up on their doorstep after a fight with her boyfriend. Logan grows suspicious of her.
Apples Never Fall Review
A good concept, gone terribly wrong. The show lacks substance, oomph, intrigue, and depth, all the much-needed qualities of a good mystery drama. It is just the average run-of-the-mill story that checks all the agenda boxes.
Sam Neill and Annette Bening are outstanding in their roles. Georgia Flood looks out of place with her forced American accent. For the remaining cast, the lack of confidence and/or experience prevents them from owning their lines.
The script is packed with dull/cringeworthy dialogue, no scenery, and no action, other than a game of tennis once in a while. The story is boring and slow with mostly unlikeable characters. The pilot episode fails to entice viewers to stick around.
The episode deserves a 5 out of 10. Get more Apples Never Fall recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with us can help build your brand awareness. Join our newly established forum to discuss the latest TV show releases, scams, movies, and sports.
