My review of ‘The Savant’ was submitted Tuesday morning. By Tuesday afternoon, Apple TV+ had unexpectedly pulled the show from its release schedule. It seems we’re now in an era where discussing why a show disappears is more relevant than critiquing its content.
Apple has remained silent regarding this decision. However, speculation points to the recent public outrage following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, an event that briefly led to the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night program on ABC. ‘The Savant’ mini-series was originally slated for a Friday premiere.
The company’s official statement vaguely cited ‘careful consideration’ for the postponement, affirming plans for a future release. Notably, lead actress Jessica Chastain publicly expressed her disagreement, stating a lack of alignment with Apple’s decision to halt ‘The Savant’s’ release. Previously, the series had already been delayed from a September 12th debut, reportedly due to its proximity to September 11th.
The series features Chastain as Jodi Goodwin, an analyst who monitors online hate groups to detect individuals planning violent acts. This character draws inspiration from an anonymous woman, known as K, highlighted in a 2019 Cosmopolitan article exploring the prevention of mass shootings. The original reporting focused on escalating threats against women, with experts linking the surge to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Curiously, the show itself steers clear of adopting any explicit political stance. It’s challenging to recall another drama about domestic terrorism that contains so few political markers. Across its eight episodes, there’s hardly any mention of real-world figures or political parties, nor specific historical acts of violence. While viewers witness the racist, misogynistic rhetoric posted by the men Jodi tracks, these sentiments are never attributed to or associated with any particular organized group.
‘The Savant’ portrays white supremacists, as dictated by its original inspiration. Yet, it meticulously avoids overtly political statements, striving for topicality without partisan alignment.
There’s nothing in the series that appears intentionally disrespectful, inflammatory, or biased. Apple’s decision to pull it could stem from excessive caution, or perhaps a thoughtful desire to avoid showing violence immediately after a real-world tragedy. If the latter is true, however, the lack of transparency is puzzling.
The most concerning interpretation is that Apple might be hesitant to acknowledge the reality of numerous young men engaging in hateful online discourse, sometimes leading to violent actions. Historical data from organizations like the Cato Institute indicate that while politically motivated violence occurs across the spectrum, a notable majority in recent decades has originated from the right.
Created by Melissa James Gibson, known for ‘House of Cards,’ the mini-series loosely adapts K’s story, taking considerable dramatic liberties. It transforms a journalistic account of a challenging job into a blend of family drama and psychological action-thriller.
While such adaptations are common in television and streaming, what truly stands out about ‘The Savant’—especially given Apple’s reluctance—is its surprisingly old-fashioned feel.
The series feels oddly out of step with rapidly evolving American realities. The angry rhetoric that Jodi monitors is now disturbingly similar to mainstream public discourse. Furthermore, the portrayal of federal agents’ unwavering competence in preventing terrorism feels less convincing given recent reports of decreased recruitment standards and experienced agents being pushed out of the F.B.I. The classic episodic drama trope of the hero saving the day now rings hollow, a shift that perhaps Apple itself recognized.
It’s unsettling to think that a seemingly innocuous series like ‘The Savant’ could cause apprehension for one of the world’s wealthiest corporations. It begs the question: how much financial success is needed for a company to simply stand by its creative content?