Three Families

I find myself wanting to thank the writer of this heart wrenching programme for creating something as bold and unflinching as 'Three Families'.

The empathy with which this often contested issue is handled is a real testament to its direction and the wonderful actors. I would advise everyone with a uterus (and everyone who knows someone with a uterus) to watch this brilliant piece of real-life drama. 10/10.

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

Whilst most of the world has moved on, in recent times Northern Ireland's abortion laws have failed to catch up with the rest of the world, and only a landmark recent ruling has caused this to change. In 2013, Theresa Ryan (Sinead Keenan) lives with her partner Mark (Owen McDonnell) and her daughter Orla (Lola Petticrew) from a previous relationship. Their world is plunged in to chaos when they learn Lola is pregnant, and wants an abortion. Meanwhile, lawyer Jonathan Kennedy (Colin Morgan) learns his wife Hannah (Amy James-Kelly) is pregnant, but that the foetus has an inoperable condition that will cause it's life to end upon birth.

The producers of the controversial, uneasy drama Three Girls have followed up that production with another true life drama that steps on uneasy ground, called Three Families. Creating something with an almost identical title does give it a bit of a cheapening effect, even if the product itself is perfectly sound. In a time of extremes, abortion is a hot potato topic that those with right leaning views or those of a strong religious bend still have quite powerful views on, but few places around the western world still have very restrictive legal stances on it as NI did until only recently.

This is certainly highly charged stuff, dramatising a situation that had profound implications for those living in the little corner of the world where the law was how it was in what were only very recent times, and director Alex Kalyminos has chosen two highly stirring tales to depict the situation to everyone, with solid performances from all involved. Sadly, with only two episodes (down from TG three!) the production isn't given enough time to explore the story in quite as much depth and substance to do it justice.

While it does leave you feeling a little short changed, without the emotionally impacting payoff it could have, it's still compelling drama, shining a light on the detrimental impact of staying stuck in the past. ***

Could not believe that women and young girls have no rights when it comes to abortion....it can only happen because of Catholicism and an act imposed in 1861!!!!

To make a woman and young girls go full term knowing that the baby would be born dead is wicked and inhuman...and only get a choice at the birth not to resuscitate is worse than allowing terminations.

Love Genevieve Oreily so I thought I'd give it a go. It was decent. Acting's good. It's depressing but a true story. Hers was heartbreaking. No pro lifers are going to like it so don't even watch it and criticize it because of course you won't like the source material. Anyways decent watch.

I am male, and a father, and a grandfather so, it may come as a shock to some when I say; this was a powerful, emotive piece of drama.

I have never been in favour of abortion on demand i.e., "I" got pregnant, "I'll" get rid of it, it interferes with my life. However, I have always been in faour of "termination of life" whereby viable life was, and is, unatainable. I am actualluy also in favour of th morning after pill.

This is now the 21st Century, and yet, some minds are still 2,000+ years in the past. How DARE anyone tell a woman, she must carry a dying/dead child to term, just to fulfill something I will never understand.

And how DARE anyone could suggest that, anytime a woman, young or old, has sex; has to be chapperoned until, there is no proof of pregnancy, Then do it all again the next time she has sex, until she becomes pregnant, by design or accident. Then have the right to control how she is treated for the next "x" months until she gives birth.

This excellent drama depicts most of what I have said above, except the chapproning. Are we, as western civilised, espousing Taliban ideals, not to mention some other Asian and some African ideals whereby, women have no rights whatsover?