Louis Partridge, the British actor once known for his gentle charm as Tewkesbury in Enola Holmes, has stepped into darker, more demanding territory. His latest role in Apple TV’s Disclaimer is a haunting, emotional showcase that proves the young star’s range and depth.
After embodying the punk spirit of Sid Vicious in Danny Boyle’s Pistol and the aristocratic complexity of the Guinness family in House of Guinness, Partridge delivers one of his most nuanced performances yet, a blend of innocence, mystery, and tragedy. Directed and written by Alfonso Cuarón, Disclaimer is not just a psychological thriller; it’s a deep dive into guilt, truth, and the destructive weight of secrets.
Released in October 2024, Disclaimer quickly gained critical attention for its atmospheric storytelling, layered performances, and chilling themes of obsession and revenge.
“It’s one of the most sophisticated thrillers Apple TV has ever produced,” says film critic Laura Kim, noting the “Cuarón signature of beauty wrapped in dread.”
What Is Apple TV’s Disclaimer About?
At its core, Disclaimer follows Catherine Ravenscroft (Cate Blanchett), a celebrated journalist and documentary filmmaker whose world unravels after she receives an anonymous book. The book recounts in startling detail an affair she had two decades earlier during a trip to Italy with a young British man named Jonathan Brigstocke (Louis Partridge).
As the story unfolds, Catherine’s idyllic present, complete with a devoted husband (Sacha Baron Cohen) and a drifting son (Kodi Smit-McPhee), collides with her buried past. The book’s author is revealed to be Stephen Brigstocke (Kevin Kline), Jonathan’s grieving father, who seeks revenge and exposure.
| Key Character | Actor | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| Catherine Ravenscroft | Cate Blanchett | Journalist hiding a devastating secret |
| Jonathan Brigstocke | Louis Partridge | Young man from Catherine’s past, whose memory haunts her |
| Stephen Brigstocke | Kevin Kline | Jonathan’s father seeking vengeance |
| Robert Ravenscroft | Sacha Baron Cohen | Catherine’s husband, caught in the fallout |
| Nicholas Ravenscroft | Kodi Smit-McPhee | Catherine’s son, emotionally estranged |
The premise is deceptively simple: a secret affair exposed, but Disclaimer turns it into a labyrinth of guilt, power, and grief.
Alfonso Cuarón’s Vision: A Masterclass in Psychological Tension
Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuarón (Roma, Gravity, Children of Men) brings his signature visual storytelling to the small screen with haunting precision. His direction merges past and present timelines, shifting perspectives, and unreliable narration, forcing the viewer to question what and who to believe.
Cuarón’s Italy scenes pulse with romantic nostalgia, while the modern-day sequences in London drip with dread. The director’s meticulous colour palette, golden warmth versus cold grays, makes it instantly clear which timeline the audience is inhabiting.
“Cuarón uses memory like a weapon,” says film scholar Thomas Rivera. “Every flashback is beautiful, but every beauty hides something rotten.”
The series’ cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki (another frequent Cuarón collaborator) earned an Emmy nomination, praised for its painterly use of shadow and texture. The original score by Finneas O’Connell amplifies the tension, giving even silence a palpable emotional weight.
A Story Told Through Shifting Timelines and Perspectives
One of the most captivating aspects of Disclaimer is its nonlinear structure. The show alternates between Catherine’s sun-drenched Italian memories and her tense, unraveling present-day life. Each episode adds new layers to the mystery, revealing conflicting accounts of the same events.
The series also plays with subjective narration; viewers hear snippets of each character’s inner voice, exposing contradictions and hidden motives. The effect is disorienting and deeply immersive, drawing the audience into Catherine’s paranoia.
| Narrative Technique | Purpose | Effect on Viewer |
|---|---|---|
| Dual timelines | Contrast past innocence with present guilt | Builds suspense |
| Multiple POV narration | Exposes bias and emotional truth | Enhances psychological realism |
| Visual color shifts | Distinguishes eras and emotions | Clarifies tone and mood |
The result is a haunting psychological mosaic one that demands attention and rewards careful viewing.
Louis Partridge’s Breakthrough as Jonathan Brigstocke
Though Disclaimer features established stars like Blanchett and Kline, it’s Louis Partridge’s portrayal of Jonathan that anchors the emotional heart of the story.
Through flashbacks, Jonathan appears as a charming, idealistic young man swept up in the allure of an older woman. But beneath the sun-soaked romance lies a loneliness and vulnerability that Partridge captures with haunting precision.
“Partridge brings rare emotional intelligence to the role,” says Cuarón in an Apple TV press interview. “He’s both fragile and magnetic, you understand why Catherine was drawn to him, even as you sense the danger in their connection.”
Jonathan’s eventual fate, revealed midway through the series, reframes everything we thought we knew about Catherine. His ghost lingers in every scene, shaping the guilt that consumes her.
By the final episode, the viewer sees Jonathan not just as a memory but as a symbol of lost innocence, a performance that critics have described as “career-defining.”
The Powerhouse Supporting Cast
Cate Blanchett delivers a masterclass in repression and unravelling. Her Catherine is both victim and perpetrator, a woman whose success cannot protect her from her past. Kevin Kline, in a chilling departure from his usual comedic roles, channels a grief-stricken father consumed by vengeance.
Lesley Manville plays Stephen’s wife with heartbreaking restraint, her quiet despair reflecting the collateral damage of trauma. Sacha Baron Cohen brings understated compassion to the role of Robert, the husband caught in the crossfire of truth and betrayal.
“Every character in Disclaimer is haunted,” notes critic Mara Jenkins. “No one is innocent — that’s what makes it so devastating.”
Themes of Memory, Guilt, and Power
At its core, Disclaimer is about storytelling, who gets to tell the truth and who gets silenced. The show explores how memories morph over time, especially when shame and grief are involved.
Catherine’s “disclaimer”, her attempt to control the narrative of her own life, becomes a metaphor for the lies we tell ourselves.
The series also tackles gender and power, highlighting the consequences of age and status differences in relationships. It’s not simply a thriller; it’s a moral inquiry into the nature of consent, secrecy, and legacy.
Why ‘Disclaimer’ Deserves a Wider Audience?
Despite strong critical praise and two Emmy nominations, Disclaimer remains one of Apple TV’s most under-seen gems. Its quiet rollout was overshadowed by larger franchise releases, but word-of-mouth is slowly bringing it new viewers.
Cuarón’s direction, Blanchett’s control, and Partridge’s aching vulnerability combine to create something rare: a psychological thriller that’s as emotionally devastating as it is intellectually satisfying.
“It’s a slow burn that leaves a mark,” says IndieWire’s Peter Hammond. “By the final episode, you realize you’ve been watching not just a mystery, but a confession.”
Conclusion
In Disclaimer, Louis Partridge proves that he’s more than a rising star, he’s a fully formed actor capable of extraordinary depth. Alfonso Cuarón’s haunting adaptation turns guilt into poetry and memory into suspense.
This is not a show about villains or heroes. It’s about flawed people trying to live with what they’ve done and what they’ve lost. For viewers ready for something complex, emotionally rich, and deeply human, Disclaimer is one of Apple TV’s most unforgettable achievements.
FAQs
The series premiered on October 11, 2024, exclusively on Apple TV+.
Yes, it’s adapted from Renée Knight’s 2015 novel of the same name.
There are seven episodes, each running about 50 minutes.
It’s a psychological thriller and drama, exploring guilt, memory, and revenge.
It was written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón, known for Roma and Gravity.
He portrays a character whose story unfolds through others’ memories, requiring subtle shifts in tone and emotion across timelines.
