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Say Nothing (TV series)

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Say Nothing
GenreDrama
Created byJoshua Zetumer
Based onSay Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languagesEnglish
Irish
No. of series1
No. of episodes9
Production
Executive producers
Producer
Production companies
Original release
NetworkFX on Hulu/Hulu on Disney+ (United States)
Disney+ (Internationally)
ReleaseNovember 14, 2024 (2024-11-14)

Say Nothing is a 2024 historical drama limited series created by Joshua Zetumer for the American streaming service Hulu and produced by FX Productions. The series is an adaptation of the 2018 book by Patrick Radden Keefe.[1] It details four generations in Northern Ireland during The Troubles.[2] Say Nothing received generally positive reviews from critics.[3]

Synopsis

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The series follows the lives of people growing up in Belfast in the 1970s, 80s and 90s during the Troubles, as well as their involvement in the Provisional Irish Republican Army, and inquiries into the Disappeared and particularly the murder of Jean McConville.[4]

Cast

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Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"The Cause"Michael LennoxJoshua ZetumerNovember 14, 2024 (2024-11-14)
2"Land of Password, Wink, and Nod"Michael LennoxJoshua ZetumerNovember 14, 2024 (2024-11-14)
3"I'll Be Seeing You"Mary NighyClare BarronNovember 14, 2024 (2024-11-14)
4"Tout"Mary NighyJoe MurtaghNovember 14, 2024 (2024-11-14)
5"Evil Little Maniacs"Anthony ByrneStory by : Joe Murtagh & Kirsten Sheridan & Joshua Zetumer
Teleplay by : Joe Murtagh		November 14, 2024 (2024-11-14)
6"Do No Harm"Alice SeabrightClare BarronNovember 14, 2024 (2024-11-14)
7"Theater People"Anthony ByrneClare Barron & Joshua ZetumerNovember 14, 2024 (2024-11-14)
8"I Lay Waiting"Michael LennoxStory by : Kirsten Sheridan
Teleplay by : Kirsten Sheridan & Joshua Zetumer		November 14, 2024 (2024-11-14)
9"The People in the Dirt"Michael LennoxJoshua ZetumerNovember 14, 2024 (2024-11-14)

Production

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The production is an adaptation of the Patrick Radden Keefe best-selling book Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, which detailed the abduction and murder of widowed mother-of-ten Jean McConville.[5] Edward McDonnell, Monica Levinson, Joshua Zetumer and Michael Lennox are executive producers with Zetumer also serving as showrunner and Lennox directing the nine-part series. Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson's Color Force are producing.[6]

In February 2024, Lola Petticrew, Hazel Doupe, Anthony Boyle, Josh Finan and Maxine Peake were confirmed as the lead cast.[7] The cast also includes Michael Colgan, Kerri Quinn, Stuart Graham, Laura Donnelly, Rory Kinnear, Amy Molloy, Helen Behan, Damien Molony and Judith Roddy.[8][9][10][11]

Filming took place in the Walton area of Liverpool in May 2023. Filming locations also include Belfast, London, Sheffield,[12] and Shepton Mallet Prison, near Bath in Somerset in August and September 2023.[13]

Broadcast

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The series was released internationally on 14 November, 2024, on Disney+ in the UK and elsewhere[14] and on Hulu in the United States.[15]

The series portrays Gerry Adams as being a senior IRA commander. Adams has always denied any involvement in the IRA. Each episode contains an endnote stating "Gerry Adams has always denied being a member of the IRA or participating in any IRA-related violence."[16] At the end of episodes 7 to 9 there is an additional disclaimer that "He further denies any involvement in the abduction of Jean McConville."

Episode 9 depicts Marian shooting Jean McConville. Marian Price has denied any involvement in the death of McConville.[16][17] The episode contains an endnote stating "Marian Price also denies any involvement in the murder of Jean McConville." In December 2024, she initiated legal action against the makers of the show for the depiction.[18]

Reception

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Viewership

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The streaming aggregator Reelgood, which tracks 20 million monthly viewing decisions across all streaming platforms in the U.S., calculated that Say Nothing was the seventh most-streamed series in the U.S. from November 14—20.[19][20] It moved to ninth place for the week ending November 27.[21][22]

Critical response

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Say Nothing has 91% positive reviews from 33 critics and an average rating of 8.3/10 on Rotten Tomatoes. The critics consensus on the website states, "All the more powerful for its moral and political ambiguity, Say Nothing is a haunting depiction of The Troubles."[23] On Metacritic, the series has a "generally favorable" reception based on a weighted average score of 77 out of 100 from 19 critics.[24]

Benji Wilson of The Daily Telegraph gave Say Nothing a grade of five stars out of five, describing it as a powerful blend of history, tragedy, and thriller, effectively weaving together multiple narratives that span four decades of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. He praised the series for its compelling portrayal of key figures like Gerry Adams, Jean McConville, Dolours Price, and Brendan Hughes, noting their strong performances and well-developed storylines. Wilson acknowledged the challenge of adapting Patrick Radden Keefe's 2018 book but commended the show for capturing its essence. He pointed out that the series initially romanticizes the IRA but later shifts to a more profound reflection on the past, with the inclusion of interviews from the Belfast Tapes. He highlighted the theme of the need for reconciliation and the tension between silence and truth, particularly through the character of Gerry Adams.[8] Lucy Mangan of The Guardian rated Say Nothing three stars out of five, saying it could have easily become chaotic, given its multiple narratives and time shifts, but it maintains clarity by firmly grounding its characters and their stories in history. She praised the series for its gripping portrayal of the Troubles, particularly focusing on the abduction of Jean McConville and the story of Dolours Price, an IRA volunteer. Mangan highlighted the performances, especially from Maxine Peake as Dolours in later years and Lola Petticrew as her younger self. She noted that while the series is emotionally engaging, it sometimes feels overly sympathetic to its main characters, particularly the Price sisters, Gerry Adams, and Brendan Hughes, and fails to fully address the consequences of their actions. Despite its darkening tone, Mangan felt that the show did not sufficiently reckon with the suffering caused by its protagonists.[25]

Reactions

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McConville's son was critical of the adaption, saying that "[u]sing what happened to our mother for entertainment is sickening. To make money out of her murder and the pain that has been in our lives ever since is cruel and obscene. I doubt they even think of us as real people."[26] On 4 December 2024, Marian Price announced, through her solicitor, that she would be taking legal action against Disney+ over the series depicting her killing Jean McConville.[27][28][29]

References

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  1. ^ O'Reilly, Séamas (12 November 2024). "'No Americans putting on bad Belfast accents!' How Disney drama Say Nothing brings the Troubles to life". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Say Nothing premiere date and more to know about the upcoming FX series". Show Snob. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  3. ^ "Say Nothing: critics react to Disney Plus and Hulu series with 93% on Rotten Tomatoes". The Irish News. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Liverpool street transformed". Liverpool Echo. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  5. ^ Breslin, John (18 July 2023). "Disney begins filming 10-part drama on Jean McConville's abduction and murder". Irish News. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  6. ^ Kroll, Justin (1 February 2024). "Lola Petticrew, Hazel Doupe, Anthony Boyle, Josh Finan and Maxine Peake To Star In FX Limited Series 'Say Nothing'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  7. ^ Reid, Kurtis (2 February 2024). "Cast revealed for TV adaptation of book about Troubles and Jean McConville disappearance". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  8. ^ a b Wilson, Benji (7 November 2024). "Say Nothing, review: superb drama captures both the tragedy – and the thrills – of the Troubles". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  9. ^ Fienberg, Daniel (13 November 2024). "'Say Nothing' Review: FX/Hulu's Tale of the Troubles Is Powerful, Ambitious and a Little Too Scattered". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  10. ^ Sepinwall, Alan (14 November 2024). "The Troubles Are Too Big For 'Say Nothing' To Contain". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  11. ^ Herman, Alison (14 November 2024). "FX's 'Say Nothing' Is a Moving, Empathetic Assessment of the Troubles: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  12. ^ Williams, Olivia (25 May 2023). "Beaumont: Troubles era Belfast drama films in Liverpool ahead of Disney Plus release". Belfast Live. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  13. ^ Linham, Laura (29 August 2023). "All you need to know about 'Beaumont', the new drama filming at Shepton Mallet Prison". sheptonmallet.nub. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  14. ^ Cumber, Robert (4 June 2023). "Beaumont TV series: New 10-part drama being filmed in Sheffield is set in Belfast during the Troubles". Thestar.co.uk.
  15. ^ Blackburn, Alix (14 November 2024). "Hulu's new drama thriller just dropped". Tom's Guide. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  16. ^ a b Emma Fraser (15 November 2024). "Say Nothing: Who Were the Real Dolours and Marian Price?". Elle.com. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  17. ^ Morris, Allison (1 November 2018). "Marian Price denies murder of Jean McConville". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Marian Price suing Disney+ over 'Say Nothing' scene". RTÉ. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  19. ^ Al-Ghamdi, Abdullah (25 November 2024). "Historical Drama With 92% RT Score Becomes Streaming Hit". Screen Rant. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  20. ^ Meek, Andy (23 November 2024). "TV you can't skip: The 10 hottest shows right now on Paramount+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, HBO, Netflix and more". Boy Genius Report. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  21. ^ Al-Ghamdi, Abdullah (29 November 2024). "Taylor Sheridan's New Show Beats Yellowstone For Top Streaming Spot". Screen Rant. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  22. ^ Meek, Andy (30 November 2024). "Landman, Yellowstone, and the Rest of This Week's Biggest Streaming TV Hits". Boy Genius Report. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  23. ^ "Say Nothing: Limited Series". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  24. ^ "Say Nothing Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  25. ^ Mangan, Lucy (14 November 2024). "Say Nothing review – a compelling but fatally flawed account of the Troubles". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  26. ^ Moore, Paul (11 March 2019). "New TV show to document one of the most infamous murders during The Troubles". JOE. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  27. ^ O'Neill, Julian (4 December 2024). "Say Nothing: Marian Price to sue Disney over murder scene". BBC News. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  28. ^ "Marian Price suing Disney+ over 'Say Nothing' scene". RTÉ News. 4 December 2024. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  29. ^ McCurry, Cate (4 December 2024). "Veteran republican suing Disney over IRA murder scene". The Independent. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
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