The Savant
Jessica Chastain stars as an investigator tasked with infiltrating online spaces of far-right extremists as she attempts to balance her homelife in Apple TV+ series The Savant. While its exploration of white nationalism, toxic masculinity and the dangers of the internet are appropriately timely, this thriller often struggles to make the dramatic impact it aims for. Despite its engaging premise, sluggish pacing and unnatural dialogue result in a largely underwhelming outing.
The most notable aspect of this show is its focus on far-right online culture. Throughout the series, Jodi (Chastain) combs through message boards and spends time on Discord groups under the username “Fleshy AF” to talk with angry white men with similarly edgy names. They boast about being proud, heavily armed nationalists who want to take their country back. Their words echo sentiments seen across social media today to a chilling degree, but some of those she monitors are doing more than just talking. They’re planning something big, and Jodi finds herself increasingly entangled in their scheme as she works to gain their trust.
Alongside the political parallels, the series also highlights other perils of online culture. In one episode, for instance, Jodi’s colleague is forced to leave their home in fear for their life after they are doxed. In another, Jodi’s young son (Toussaint Francois Battiste) is shown disturbing videos. While not crucial to the main plot, their inclusion does address other issues that arise from extremist spaces.
Chastain switches between undercover agent and caring parent with ease. The main issue is the script is unable to strike a balance between being a gritty thriller and a family drama, with the latter often getting most of the focus. The dialogue is also overly upbeat in stark contrast to its serious subject matter. Especially in the early episodes, seeing the characters constantly grin at each other makes them come across as unnatural, with no distinct personalities of their own.
Chastain gives a solid performance in The Savant as Apple TV+’s latest offering shines a light on far-right extremism. Although it arrives at an appropriate time, its lacklustre thrills and bland characters prohibit this drama from hitting as hard as it wants to.
Andrew Murray
The Savant is released on Apple TV+ on 26th September 2025.
Watch the trailer for The Savant here:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
RSS