Ep 1. Episode 1

Apple Tree Yard is a four-part British television miniseries that premiered on BBC One on January 22, 2017. It is based on the novel of the same name by Louise Doughty. The show revolves around Yvonne Carmichael, a married scientist who begins a passionate affair with a mysterious stranger.

In Episode 1, viewers are introduced to our protagonist Yvonne Carmichael, played by Emily Watson. Yvonne is a brilliant geneticist and happily married mother of two. She's the kind of woman who's always busy with work, child-rearing, and volunteer work for the local community. One day Yvonne is called to speak before a Parliamentary committee. This seemingly mundane task will change her life in drastic ways.

As she makes her way through the throngs of journalists on her way in to Parliament, she bumps into a handsome stranger. Their eyes lock and there's an instant connection between them. Yvonne is momentarily flustered but carries on with her meeting.

Later that evening, Yvonne and her husband Gary (played by Mark Bonnar) attend a work function where Yvonne sees the stranger again. He approaches her and introduces himself as Mark Costley (played by Ben Chaplin). Mark is charming, intelligent, and mysterious. He seems to know everything about Yvonne despite them having only met briefly earlier that day. They share a drink and flirtatious banter and Yvonne begins to feel a spark of excitement.

Yvonne and Mark begin a passionate affair and Yvonne is exposed to a side of herself that she has never explored before. She becomes more daring, more reckless, and more in tune with her own body and desires. However, the affair is not without its risks. Yvonne is not only jeopardizing her professional reputation and her marriage but her personal safety as well. Mark is not who he seems to be, and Yvonne finds herself drawn into a web of lies, deceit, and violence.

Throughout the episode, Yvonne's family life is explored. We see her loving relationship with her husband and children and how it's threatened by her infidelity. Her career, which is respected and impressive in the field of science, becomes vulnerable. Yvonne begins to feel restless and unfulfilled in her life, and the affair with Mark seems to be a way for her to escape this mundanity. At the same time, she's worried and paranoid about being caught and is filled with guilt about lying to her family and betraying her vows.

The episode ends with a shocking event that leaves Yvonne in a state of shock and throws her life into turmoil. This event sets the stage for the next three episodes, as Yvonne tries to navigate her way through this dangerous new world she's found herself in.

In conclusion, Apple Tree Yard season 1 episode 1 does an excellent job of setting the scene and introducing us to the characters and their motivations. Emily Watson's portrayal of Yvonne is nuanced and complex, and she manages to convey both the excitement and guilt that comes with an affair. The chemistry between her and Ben Chaplin is palpable, and the tension of the episode is amplified by the sense of danger that we sense throughout. Fans of psychological thrillers and character-driven dramas will find much to enjoy in this first episode.