Having finished Say Nothing today, I think I disagree that the legal disclaimer about Gerry Adams after every episode undermined the story. For me it worked as more than just an obligatory bit of legalese. By consistently reminding me that one of the characters continues to deny participating in any IRA-related violence, it forced me as …
Having finished Say Nothing today, I think I disagree that the legal disclaimer about Gerry Adams after every episode undermined the story. For me it worked as more than just an obligatory bit of legalese. By consistently reminding me that one of the characters continues to deny participating in any IRA-related violence, it forced me as a viewer to process the story as something relevant not just in the past but in the present as well. It also contributed to the looming tension of the story's depiction of a time in which the threat of that violence was lingering around every corner, and added texture to the narrative's overarching themes of when/how people engage with activism and political violence, how they either regret or don't regret their past actions, and how they grapple with, justify, or avoid/deny them in the present. Not to mention the inherent instability of historical record when people who gain power have the ability to control, erase, or mitigate that record. So even if it wasn't legally required I think the disclaimer still might have had narrative and thematic value. Just my two cents.
That being said, I do agree that Rory Kinnear's disappearance from the show was super unfortunate. I don't even remember what his last scene was. The show should have sent him off with more of a punch given how strong a presence his performance had in those early episodes.
The way I look at it is, the show treats the moment where Gerry publicly denies involvement in the IRA as shocking. Yes, a lot of people who watch the show will go in knowing that he did this (and continues to do this). But even if you do, the way the show works makes it easy to fall into the worldview of Dolours and Brendan and others, so in theory it would still pack a punch when he claims otherwise on TV. But ending every episode with that — while I understand the legal necessity of it — means it's always top of mind, and plays like the audience is ahead of the characters.
It also undercuts, at least a bit, the tension the show wants to create about whether he might actually get into legal trouble over the Jean McConville matter.
Having finished Say Nothing today, I think I disagree that the legal disclaimer about Gerry Adams after every episode undermined the story. For me it worked as more than just an obligatory bit of legalese. By consistently reminding me that one of the characters continues to deny participating in any IRA-related violence, it forced me as a viewer to process the story as something relevant not just in the past but in the present as well. It also contributed to the looming tension of the story's depiction of a time in which the threat of that violence was lingering around every corner, and added texture to the narrative's overarching themes of when/how people engage with activism and political violence, how they either regret or don't regret their past actions, and how they grapple with, justify, or avoid/deny them in the present. Not to mention the inherent instability of historical record when people who gain power have the ability to control, erase, or mitigate that record. So even if it wasn't legally required I think the disclaimer still might have had narrative and thematic value. Just my two cents.
That being said, I do agree that Rory Kinnear's disappearance from the show was super unfortunate. I don't even remember what his last scene was. The show should have sent him off with more of a punch given how strong a presence his performance had in those early episodes.
The way I look at it is, the show treats the moment where Gerry publicly denies involvement in the IRA as shocking. Yes, a lot of people who watch the show will go in knowing that he did this (and continues to do this). But even if you do, the way the show works makes it easy to fall into the worldview of Dolours and Brendan and others, so in theory it would still pack a punch when he claims otherwise on TV. But ending every episode with that — while I understand the legal necessity of it — means it's always top of mind, and plays like the audience is ahead of the characters.
It also undercuts, at least a bit, the tension the show wants to create about whether he might actually get into legal trouble over the Jean McConville matter.