Two Years Ago, You Missed the Best Irish Historical Drama, Which Scored 94% on RT

Two years ago, amidst the high-profile premieres, the Hulu show Say Nothing quietly slipped by – a project that can rightfully be called one of the most accurate and meticulous studies of the Irish Troubles in recent memory.

Say Nothing is a multilayered portrait of people who made sacrifices, committed immoral acts, and crossed all boundaries for the sake of a free Ireland.

What Is 'Say Nothing' About?

Dolours Price is interviewed by a Boston University researcher as part of the Belfast Project, which aimed to preserve the memories of individuals involved in civil resistance in Northern Ireland.

Question after question, Dolours delves into her past, recounting her childhood in a Republican family and her youth among protesters and radicals. Dolours and her younger sister, Marian, grew up in a family of IRA members.

Rather than telling them fairy tales, their father taught them how to make explosives and their mother was surprised that her daughters didn't fight back at a peaceful march. Disillusioned with pacifist methods, the girls join the IRA, becoming the revolutionaries who changed the rules of the game.

Unlike Other Projects on the Same Topic, 'Say Nothing' Puts the Female Experience at the Forefront

Say Nothing prioritizes the female experience, setting it apart from many other stories about The Troubles. Dolours and Marian aren't just participants in the movement – they are its driving force.

Rather than justifying their actions, the writers show how their environment and family values shaped their fates. Ambitious Dolours could have become anything, but becoming an activist was her only option.

At the same time, the writers emphasize the genuine tenderness between the sisters – they work together, can't imagine life without each other, and maintain a strong bond until the end. It is this human warmth amidst the brutality that makes their story particularly poignant.

One of the series' strongest elements is its shift in tone – while the show begins as a fast-paced action story, the plot veers toward emotional drama by the second half.

'Say Nothing' Is Both an Educational Piece and a Heartbreaking Drama

The title of the series, Say Nothing, alludes to the greatest fear of IRA members: revealing the organization's secrets by letting something slip – but it also becomes a metaphor for the entire story.

The show explores a generation of traumatized Irishmen who are beginning to question whether the war was worthwhile. Dolours has lost her rebellious spirit – she replays past events in her mind, drowns her guilt in alcohol, and longs for confession.

The creators emphasize the price of a bright idea, forcing viewers and characters alike to consider whether the ends justified the means.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Say Nothing'?

• Say Nothing has 94% from critics and 87% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 8.2/10.

Where to Watch 'Say Nothing'?

Say Nothing is available to stream on Hulu and Disney+.