The newly released trailer for Say Nothing has been criticized over its “absolutely wild” tone.
Based on Patrick Radden Keefe’s acclaimed non-fiction book, Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, the upcoming historical drama — created by Josh Zetumer — will delve into the lives of individuals who have lived during The Troubles as well as the story of the “Disappeared.”
“Say Nothing is a gripping story of murder and memory in Northern Ireland during The Troubles,” reads the synopsis. “Spanning four decades, the series opens with the shocking disappearance of Jean McConville, a single mother of ten who was abducted from her home in 1972 and never seen alive again.”
You can watch the trailer down below (watch more trailers):
Why are people upset over the Say Nothing trailer?
In a r/northernireland subreddit, viewers are expressing their opinions over the Say Nothing trailer.
“This actually looks like a parody. wtf is this. Completely wrong tone considering the book’s subject and tone this more looks like a f—ing action flick ffs,” a redditor wrote, with one replying to the thread, “I cringed the whole way through that. It’s a very serious subject and as you say the book was a very serious and somber tone. Has Derry Girls now poisoned anything Northern Irish to be seen as something quirky and “oh funny accents haha”. Even when car bombs are going off.”
One user even said that the trailer “was like an advert for the IRA!”
“This looks absolutely disgusting. What the actual f—? The book was excellently written and researched (apart from the speculative ending), but never glorified the IRA, and always had the upmost sympathy and respect for the McConville family,” one user wrote.
A comment from YouTube also pointed out that the trailer looks “offensive,” saying, “So you’re making a high gloss, MTV-cut series that shows terrorists, murderers as cool, witty, righteous glamour girls… At least that’s how the trailer presents it. That poor guilt-ridden little girl Dolours, oh my! I liked the book, the trailer looks just offensive. Not one second victim perspective. Only glamourizing violence.”
Say Nothing stars Lola Petticrew as Dolours Price, Hazel Doupe as Marian Price, Anthony Boyle as Brendan Hughes, and Josh Finan as Gerry Adams. It will be available to stream on Hulu starting November 14.