Ivanna (played by Siobhan Finneran) is a protagonist in Apostasy.
A devout Jehovah's Witness mother who strictly adheres to her congregation's rules. She condemns her daughter Luisa for premarital sex, enforces the shunning policy, and initially supports the elders' demands to cut contact with Luisa. After Alex's death, her rigid beliefs are challenged, leading her to visit Luisa postpartum and ultimately attempt to take Luisa's newborn granddaughter to raise her in the faith. Luisa (played by Sacha Parkinson) is a protagonist in Apostasy.
Ivanna's older daughter and a former Jehovah's Witness. She is disfellowshipped and shunned after becoming pregnant with a Muslim man's child. Despite years of isolation and strict scrutiny from elders demanding proof of repentance, she raises her daughter Leanne independently. Her relationship with her mother fractures over religious dogma, culminating in a confrontation when Ivanna tries to seize the baby. Alex (played by Molly Wright) appears in Apostasy.
Ivanna's younger daughter, an 18-year-old gardener who suffers from anemia. Bound by her religious convictions, she refuses life-saving blood transfusions. Her sudden collapse and subsequent death serve as a pivotal tragedy that deeply affects her family and forces Ivanna to confront the harsh realities of their faith's doctrines. Steven (played by Robert Emms) appears in Apostasy.
A newly assigned elder who visits the Whitling household. While initially presenting himself as a religious shepherd, he secretly attempts to court Alex. Later, he enforces the congregation's shunning rules, advising Ivanna to strictly limit contact with Luisa and warning her that doing so would risk his own standing.
Apostasy (2017) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
Ivanna
(played by Siobhan Finneran) — protagonist
A devout Jehovah's Witness mother who strictly adheres to her congregation's rules. She condemns her daughter Luisa for premarital sex, enforces the shunning policy, and initially supports the elders'...
Luisa
(played by Sacha Parkinson) — protagonist
Ivanna's older daughter and a former Jehovah's Witness. She is disfellowshipped and shunned after becoming pregnant with a Muslim man's child. Despite years of isolation and strict scrutiny from elder...
Alex
(played by Molly Wright) — supporting
Ivanna's younger daughter, an 18-year-old gardener who suffers from anemia. Bound by her religious convictions, she refuses life-saving blood transfusions. Her sudden collapse and subsequent death ser...
Steven
(played by Robert Emms) — supporting
A newly assigned elder who visits the Whitling household. While initially presenting himself as a religious shepherd, he secretly attempts to court Alex. Later, he enforces the congregation's shunning...
Canonical Relationships
Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.
Steven → Alex
(Romantic Courtship)
Steven introduces himself as an elder and visits Alex at home, but his actual intention is to begin a courtship with her.
Luisa → Alex
(Family Sisters)
Luisa and Alex live together with Ivanna and participate in door-knocking activities before Alex's death.
Ivanna → Alex
(Family Mother)
Ivanna lives with Alex, responds to her medical crisis, and is shown in despair outside the hospital after Alex collapses.
Ivanna → Luisa
(Family Mother)
Ivanna lives with Luisa, condemns her pregnancy outside marriage, and later visits her flat and helps clean it.
Story Dynamics
Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.
Ivanna → Steven
(Conflict Doctrinal Dispute)
Ivanna asks Steven whether Luisa is ready for reinstatement, but disputes his insistence that she further reduce contact with Luisa.
Luisa → Steven
(Conflict Opposition)
Steven tells Ivanna to minimize contact with Luisa and later participates in the elders' judgment that Luisa has not shown sufficient repentance.
Story Analysis
A grieving mother struggles between religious obedience and her instinct to protect a daughter and granddaughter excluded by her faith community.
