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Chronology
Covering four turbulent decades during the Troubles in Northern Ireland
The real Dolours Price was married to Irish actor Stephen Rea for two decades (1983-2003). During that time, Rea appeared in the film for which he is probably best known in the US: the 1992 romantic thriller The Crying Game. In that film, Rea plays Fergus, an extremely reluctant and ambivalent member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), the same organisation Price has been involved with for many years. First off, I’ll say that the production value of this series is excellent, the acting is fantastic and the story is overall compelling.
I’m pleased to say that’s not the case with Say Nothing
As someone from Northern Ireland, it’s always great to see something from here on TV or in the cinema, but usually you get the feeling it’s a B production at best. This series has been done so well that I can imagine it being watched and enjoyed by people all over the world. This kind of thing usually only interests people on the island, those directly involved or history buffs. But I think this will appeal to a wider audience as it is a drama series where the characters are the focus.
I haven’t read the book, although I imagine it is more history and fact-based, dealing with what happened during the Troubles
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched something and heard the Northern Irish accents butchered to such an extent that I had to cringe. I always thought to myself, “If only we had some top-notch actors (other than Liam Neeson) to play these roles.” I don’t know where they’ve been hiding but they’ve finally found them! The acting was superb throughout the show and it’s great to see some local talent getting some much needed and deserved recognition. I didn’t know most of the cast members in this series but if at least one or two don’t become household names in the UK I’d be surprised (especially the actors who played the Price sisters).
The series certainly keeps that historical and cultural influence in mind, even if it is largely character-driven
It does a great job of developing the characters, showing all sides of the characters involved, and showing a wide range of emotions for people we would probably prefer to see as one-dimensional in real life. My only reservation about this series is that I found the narrative of the Troubles to be a bit one-sided. The focus is obviously on the IRA/Republican movement, so it’s not surprising that they are seen as protagonists. However, there are two sides to the Belfast conflict and it seems that the Protestant/Unionist side has been left out entirely.
I expect this will be difficult for many people to watch, particularly those directly affected and possibly still grieving the loss of loved ones
Despite this, I think they did a good job of showing just how bad things have become and how the lines between right and wrong are blurred, even in wartime and even when you’re convinced that the only correct opinion is your own. I hope people can enjoy it for what it is: an excellent piece of television on a subject that most of the world may have forgotten or never heard of, and I hope prejudice doesn’t get in the way of enjoying a good show.
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