Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar isn’t just another scammer story – it’s a deeply unsettling character study of Belle Gibson, a woman who turned a web of lies into a personal empire.
The show’s finale brings everything crashing down, leaving audiences wondering: Can someone like Belle ever truly change?
Let’s dive into that haunting ending.
Did Belle Gibson Finally Face the Truth?
The final moments of Apple Cider Vinegar mirror reality in a chilling way. Just like in real life, Belle’s fraudulent empire collapses in a disastrous 60 Minutes interview, where she scrambles to evade questions about her fake cancer diagnosis.
But while the real-life fallout left Belle defiant, the show’s ending leans into something different – regret. Belle, played masterfully by Kaitlyn Dever, is seen with her son and Clive (Ashley Zukerman), taking a quiet moment at a swimming pool.
It’s a seemingly peaceful scene, but it carries a weight that’s impossible to ignore. She’s trying to be present, trying to be a good mother, but there’s an unshakable truth hanging over her – no amount of family time can erase what she’s done.
The show doesn’t offer her an easy redemption arc, but it does force her to sit with the consequences of her choices.
Is Belle Gibson a Villain or a Victim of Her Own Lies?
One of the most unsettling things about Apple Cider Vinegar is how it refuses to give a simple answer to that question. Throughout the series, Belle is portrayed as someone who manipulated thousands, pushing fake cancer treatments for profit.
And yet, there are moments that suggest she might have actually convinced herself of her own lies. Her regret feels real, but so does her self-delusion. The show doesn’t try to make her likable or forgivable, but it does make her human.
That’s what makes the ending so impactful – Belle isn’t just a scammer who got caught. She’s someone who, even in the face of truth, struggles to fully accept what she’s done.
Why Does the Show Leave Room for Sympathy?
Despite the devastating impact of her deception, Apple Cider Vinegar doesn’t portray Belle as pure evil. This is what makes the finale so layered. She isn’t absolved, and she certainly isn’t redeemed, but the show acknowledges that guilt and regret are complicated emotions.
When she sits by the pool with her son, there’s a part of her that genuinely wants to be better. But the tragedy of Apple Cider Vinegar is that no matter how much she regrets her actions, the damage is irreversible.
The show doesn’t let her off the hook as we can see, but it does show the weight of her choices pressing down on her.
What Does the Ending Really Mean?
At its core, Apple Cider Vinegar is about the blurred lines between self-deception and outright manipulation. Belle’s story isn’t one of redemption, but of reckoning. She’s lost everything – her reputation, her business, and any chance at rebuilding the fraudulent empire she once had.
The final scene isn’t meant to provide closure but to emphasize that some actions have consequences that can’t be undone.
Belle may continue to live her life, but she will forever be defined by the harm she caused. The show leaves us with a lingering question: Is living with that guilt punishment enough? Or does fate something more hurtful?
“Quite Unexpected, but Fitting Indeed”
The brilliance of Apple Cider Vinegar lies in its refusal to give a neatly packaged ending. Belle Gibson’s story is one of deception, but also of self-delusion, making her downfall all the more fascinating and disturbing.
The final scene, quiet yet heavy, forces us to confront an uncomfortable truth – regret doesn’t always lead to redemption, and some actions can never be undone.
About Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar cuts through the pretense of modern wellness trends to reveal the raw truths of human nature. Directed by Emily Carter and Raj Patel, and produced by Sunset Media and Vinegar Productions, the plot follows the lives of a diverse group of characters whose fates intertwine over a centuries-old apple cider vinegar recipe rumored to cure more than just physical ailments.
At its core is protagonist Alex Monroe (portrayed by Liam Rodriguez), a disillusioned entrepreneur who inherits the family business and is forced to confront buried secrets. Alongside him are savvy businesswoman Mara Singh (Aisha Patel) and eccentric herbalist Dr. Benjamin Green (Oliver Thompson).
Apple Cider Vinegar released on February 6, 2025 and is available to stream on Netflix.
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