For seven captivating episodes, Apples Never Fall drew viewers into the intricate world of the Delaney family. The series, adapted from Liane Moriarty’s novel, masterfully presented the Delaneys’ unique dynamics, simmering tensions, and long-held resentments, all while posing a central, gripping question: What happened to Joy Delaney, the family matriarch? Was she alive, or had something more sinister occurred?
Episode 7, aptly titled “Joy,” provided the much-anticipated answers. Annette Bening’s portrayal of Joy Delaney revealed a woman very much alive, but deeply affected by her family dynamics. Feeling overlooked and underappreciated amidst the ongoing family dramas, Joy’s disappearance was a deliberate act. Seeking to be missed “for once,” she chose to leave with Savannah (Georgia Flood). Savannah, as it turns out, had a secluded cabin in the Georgia mountains, offering them a refuge completely off the grid. In this isolated setting, Savannah unveiled her true identity: the forgotten sister of tennis star Harry Haddad, sharing her side of a long-complicated story.
However, news of a hurricane approaching home prompted Joy’s insistence on returning. A confrontation ensued in the car, where Savannah voiced her resentment, claiming Joy had given half her family reasons to leave and that she wanted to inflict on the Delaneys the same familial destruction she felt her own family had suffered. The argument culminated in Savannah crashing the car before fleeing, but not before expressing forgiveness to an unconscious Joy, hoping for reciprocal understanding. Ultimately, Joy returned to her family, and a fragile reconciliation began, while Savannah remained at large.
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The finale was densely packed with revelations, resolving the immediate mystery but also leaving viewers contemplating the deeper implications for the Delaney family. This episode, while staying true to the spirit of Liane Moriarty’s novel, also carved its own path with certain narrative deviations. To dissect these crucial moments and understand the creative choices behind the finale, Entertainment Weekly spoke with showrunner Melanie Marnich, offering insights into the making of this pivotal episode of Apples Never Fall.
Crafting Joy’s Monologue: The Heart of the Finale
One of the most impactful moments in the finale was Joy’s poignant monologue, which seemed to encapsulate the reasons behind her departure. Melanie Marnich revealed that this powerful scene was a late addition, born from a significant rewrite of the finale. The disruption caused by the writers’ strike provided an unexpected opportunity to revisit and refine the episode. Marnich explained, “I rewrote a lot of it. I would say 60 percent of it, and it was something I knew I needed to land, the moment in which Joy explains where her life went wrong for her.”
This rewrite allowed for a deeper exploration of Joy’s internal struggles as a wife and mother. The monologue became a critical juncture where Joy reflects on her life’s sacrifices and confronts feelings of invisibility and lack of appreciation. Marnich elaborated that Joy’s retirement, initially anticipated as a period of reward and deeper family connection, instead brought a stark realization of emotional disconnect. This sense of being “unseen, unloved, unappreciated” fueled her breaking point and her decision to leave. The time away from production due to the strike proved invaluable, offering Marnich a fresh perspective to enhance the emotional resonance and honesty of Joy’s character arc in this crucial episode of Apples Never Fall.
Radical Changes to the Finale’s Ending
Marnich confirmed that the finale underwent substantial changes, particularly the ending. She stated, “The whole end. Yeah. It’s a completely different end than I originally had. Completely.” This significant shift was attributed to the extended period of reflection afforded by the production hiatus. Living with the characters and performances for months, and then stepping away, allowed for a re-evaluation of the narrative’s trajectory.
Upon returning to the finale, Marnich focused on identifying the most authentic and impactful conclusion for each character’s journey, especially Joy’s. This involved considering what felt “most alive” and “most true” to the essence of the Delaney family. The result was a revised ending that aimed for a deeper emotional honesty and a more resonant conclusion to the Apples Never Fall saga, diverging significantly from the initial plans.
Why Killing Joy Was Never an Option
Despite the suspense surrounding Joy’s disappearance, Marnich clarified that killing off Joy Delaney was never a narrative consideration. This decision was rooted in a deep appreciation for the book’s ironic twist: assumptions of foul play contrasted with the reality of Joy’s voluntary departure. The core of the story, as Marnich emphasized, lies in this very irony. Stan’s arrest for his wife’s supposed murder and the subsequent revelation of her choice to leave creates a “brutal indictment of his character.”
The narrative tension hinges on Stan facing the consequences of perceived guilt for a crime he didn’t commit, forcing him to confront his flaws and failures as a husband and father. Joy’s return is essential to unlock the deeper themes of the story: the hidden complexities within each family member and Stan’s necessary transformation. Killing Joy would have undermined these crucial elements, shifting the focus away from the intended exploration of family dynamics and personal accountability within Apples Never Fall. Therefore, Joy’s survival was paramount to achieving the intended narrative and thematic depth of the series.
Savannah’s Story: Choices in Adaptation
Savannah’s character, while central to the finale’s events, is unique in not having a dedicated episode focusing solely on her backstory. Marnich explained that adapting a novel for television necessitates making “brutal choices” regarding which storylines and character arcs to fully develop. While the writers’ room explored Savannah’s history and motivations extensively, some elements, despite their quality, were ultimately cut to maintain the narrative’s momentum and focus.
The decision to streamline Savannah’s backstory was driven by the need to keep the Delaney family at the heart of the narrative. Information about Savannah is revealed strategically through Harry and as the mystery of Joy’s disappearance unfolds. Dedicating significant screen time to a separate Savannah-centric storyline risked diluting the central conflict and disrupting the show’s pacing. Marnich emphasized that while valuable, these sidelined elements “derailed that forward momentum of the show.” Ultimately, the narrative choices prioritized the energy of Apples Never Fall and ensured Savannah’s role served to enhance, rather than detract from, the Delaney family’s story.
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The Future for Savannah and the Delaneys
Addressing Savannah’s ambiguous fate, Marnich suggested a resilient future for the character: “Oh, she’s a nimble one. I think she’s going to land on her feet. I think she’s going to lay low for a little bit.” Despite her manipulative actions, Marnich hinted at a transformative impact from Savannah’s interactions with the Delaneys. Joy’s poignant statement, “You deserve to be loved,” is seen as a potentially “healing” moment for Savannah, suggesting a possible softening of her character. However, Marnich tempered this with realism, noting, “a leopard can’t change her spots,” implying Savannah’s inherently “troubling” nature will likely persist.
Regarding the Delaney family’s trajectory, Marnich offered an optimistic outlook. She posited that Savannah’s disruptive actions, paradoxically, were “necessary if the family was ever going to have a shot” at genuine healing. The finale sets the stage for the Delaneys to redefine their familial dynamics, moving towards a healthier model “in which love isn’t a point of competition, and that family is a safe place.” This experience is expected to transform relationships, particularly between the parents and children, and individually, allowing characters like Logan, and potentially the other siblings, to pursue love and connection in a more authentic way. The chaotic events of Apples Never Fall’s finale, therefore, serve as a catalyst for profound personal and familial growth.
All episodes of Apples Never Fall are available for streaming on Peacock.
