Tom Holland Photo: Apple TV+In addition to its subtleties, subversions and some very red herrings, “The Crowded Room” presents a paradox: If you are aware of “The Minds of Billy Milligan ,” and know that the Daniel Keyes book was the basis of this 10-part Apple series, you will be aware how deliciously roundabout this very loose adaptation is—without, sadly, becoming a blissfully ignorant “victim” of creator Akiva Goldsman ’s devious storytelling strategy. If you don’t know the book, you won’t appreciate in real time how deftly you’re being navigated from point A to Z, though you will want to get there. Call it a win-win, with trade-offs.

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Persons: Tom Holland, Billy Milligan, ”, Daniel Keyes, Akiva Goldsman ’ Organizations: Apple