“Say Nothing” is a docuseries adapted from the 2018 book of the same title by American journalist Patrick Radden Keefe. It was produced by FX and created by Joshua Zetumer, then released on Hulu in November 2024.
The series focuses on the time in Irish and British history known as the Troubles. This period unfolded during the 1970s, 80s and 90s. It was characterized by conflict in Northern Ireland between the Catholic Irish Republican Army, Protestant Ulster Volunteer Force, and British security forces. 19 people, now referred to as the Disappeared, are believed to have been abducted, murdered and buried during this period.
One of those people was Jean McConville, a widow and mother of ten. The book and series investigate her disappearance and the involvement of the Irish Republican Army in her death.
Alongside this mystery unfold the lives of several Irish Republican Army members. Sisters Dolours and Marian Price, two of the first women to fight with the IRA, become the centerpiece.
The story explores the highs and lows of the Troubles, as well as the conflicting feelings about the IRA from both members and non-members.
Highs
Masterful acting creates and maintains a compelling scene. Characters show visible emotion that edges into their voices.
The story is told so that the audience remains curious until the very end. Jean McConville is introduced in the first episode when the audience is shown a haunting depiction of her kidnapping. However, before they know anything about who she is or why she is being abducted, they are introduced to Dolours and Marian Price.
The series then bounces between Dolours and Marian Price’s story of joining and fighting with the IRA and the story of Jean McConville.
The audience sees the changes in attitudes of IRA members and the way their actions affect not only themselves but everyone around them. This is done through skillful silent acting as well as outright statements of changing feelings in the script.
It is not until the final episode that the story comes together. The full story wraps up as Jean McConville’s children seek justice for her murder, Dolours Price passes away, Marian Price is arrested, and a treaty between Northern Ireland and Britain is reached.
This incomplete story keeps the audience curious and on-edge until the very last episode. However, the show does not tell the audience how to feel. It shows all sides of the story, justifying the actions of the IRA while also examining the negative consequences of those actions. Moreover, constant changes in perspective, sometimes reexamining events that the audience has already been shown, help strengthen the story and allow the audience to create their own opinions.
The series also takes real historical events, such as the 1973 Old Bailey bombing, and presents them in an interesting way. The show is engaging as well as factual because it provides viewers with the true context of historical events, showing what led up to them and what happened as a result.
Moreover, there is no romanticization of the Irish Republican Army or the Troubles period as can often be found in historical dramas. "Say Nothing" shows the pain of the hunger strike conducted by the Price sisters, the terror of McConville’s children as she is abducted, and the dread of Seamus Wright and 17-year-old Kevin McKee as they dig their own graves.
Furthermore, the accents in the show are well done. The Irish accents are seamless between the Irish and non-Irish actors. For instance, it is hard to tell Irish actress Lola Petticrew’s accent from English actress Maxine Peake’s.
Finally, in 2025, “Say Nothing” won a Peabody Award in the entertainment category, further cementing its excellence.
Lows
While the Irish accents in the show are well done, they can be difficult to understand at times. Since "Say Nothing" requires close listening and attention to the story, it is not a good background noise show.
Additionally, the show is based on Patrick Radden Keefe’s book and interviews from the Belfast Project, an oral history project covering the Troubles completed at Boston College from 2000 to 2006. While these are credible and verified sources, the overall nature of them is still speculative. No human is free from bias, and these projects were completed by humans with human testimonials.
Thus, at the end of almost every episode, there are disclaimers about people discussed in the show denying involvement with the IRA and IRA-related crimes. One such person is Irish politician Gerry Adams, who denies any involvement with the IRA as a whole and with specific crimes covered more in-depth, such as the disappearances of Seamus and Kevin.
Furthermore, Marian Price filed a lawsuit against Disney Plus for her depiction in the show, specifically regarding how the show presents her involvement in the murder of Jean McConville.
Jean McConville’s son Michael McConville was also critical of the show and expressed distaste over the show using his mother’s murder for entertainment.
While "Say Nothing" presents a compelling story, it is important to remember that forming an opinion on the Troubles, McConville's murder or the IRA based on the show alone is not a good idea.
Verdict
“Say Nothing” is a good introduction to the intense history of conflict between Britain and Ireland. It presents an intriguing story that allows viewers to think for themselves. For entertainment alone, the show tells a story and tells it well.
However, viewers should avoid forming an opinion on the Troubles or the people involved without first doing more research.
Content note: “Say Nothing” shows depictions of disordered eating, murder, the murder of a child, and other graphic content that may be disturbing to some viewers. Discretion is advised to viewers who may be impacted by these depictions.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Gabriella Payeur is the Marketing Director for The Eastern Echo. She has worked for The Echo since summer of 2024. She has written news stories, and this is her first review.
