Say Nothing (TV series)

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

Say Nothing is a 2024 historical drama limited series created by Josh Zetumer for the American streaming service Disney+ and produced by FX Productions. Detailing four generations in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, it is an adaptation of the 2018 book by Patrick Radden Keefe.

Synopsis

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.[1]

Cast

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"The Cause"Michael LennoxJosh ZetumerNovember 14, 2024 (2024-11-14)
2"Land of Password, Wink, and Nod"Michael LennoxJosh 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 & Josh 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 & Josh ZetumerNovember 14, 2024 (2024-11-14)
8"I Lay Waiting"Michael LennoxStory by : Kirsten Sheridan
Teleplay by : Kirsten Sheridan & Josh Zetumer		November 14, 2024 (2024-11-14)
9"The People in the Dirt"Michael LennoxJosh ZetumerNovember 14, 2024 (2024-11-14)

Production

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.[2] Edward McDonnell, Monica Levinson, Josh 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.[3]

In February 2024, Lola Petticrew, Hazel Doupe, Anthony Boyle, Josh Finan and Maxine Peake were confirmed as the lead cast.[4] The cast also includes Michael Colgan, Kerri Quinn, Stuart Graham, Laura Donnelly, Rory Kinnear, Amy Molloy, Helen Behan, Damien Molony and Judith Roddy.[5][6][7][8]

Filming took place in the Walton area of Liverpool in May 2023. Filming locations also include Belfast, London, Sheffield,[9] and Shepton Mallet Prison, near Bath in Somerset in August and September 2023.[10]

Broadcast

The series was released internationally on 14 November on Disney+ in the UK and elsewhere[11] and on Hulu in the United States.[12]

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."[13] 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.[13][14] The episode contains an endnote stating "Marian Price also denies any involvement in the murder of Jean McConville."

Reception

Say Nothing has 91% positive reviews from 33 critics and an average rating of 8.3 out of 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."[15] On Metacritic, the series has a "generally favorable" reception based on a weighted average score of 77 out of 100 from 19 critics.[16]

Benji Wilson in The Daily Telegraph awarded the series five stars.[17] Phil Harrison in The Guardian described it as a "gripping drama".[18]

References

  1. ^ "Liverpool street transformed". Liverpool Echo. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  2. ^ Breslin, John (18 July 2023). "Disney begins filming 10-part drama on Jean McConville's abduction and murder". Irish News. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Reid, Kurtis (2 February 2024). "Cast revealed for TV adaptation of book about Troubles and Jean McConville disappearance". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Sepinwall, Alan (14 November 2024). "THE TROUBLES ARE TOO BIG FOR 'SAY NOTHING' TO CONTAIN". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  8. ^ Herman, Alison (14 November 2024). "FX's 'Say Nothing' Is a Moving, Empathetic Assessment of the Troubles: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  9. ^ Williams, Olivia (25 May 2023). "Beaumont: Troubles era Belfast drama films in Liverpool ahead of Disney Plus release". Belfast Live. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ Blackburn, Alix (14 November 2024). "Hulu's new drama thriller just dropped". Tom's Guide. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  13. ^ a b Emma Fraser (15 November 2024). "Say Nothing: Who Were the Real Dolours and Marian Price?". Elle. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  14. ^ Morris, Allison (1 November 2018). "Marian Price denies murder of Jean McConville". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Say Nothing: Limited Series". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Say Nothing Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Harrison, Phil (8 November 2024). "Bad Sisters to Say Nothing: the seven best shows to stream this week". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 November 2024.