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Unspeakable

The Canadian tainted blood crisis of the 1980s, the inaction of those in control of the Canadian blood system despite the mounting evidence of possible transmission of HIV and hepatitis via blood and blood products, and the effect on the hemophiliac community who relied on such products to survive is presented. The crisis is largely presented through the eyes of two families. In Toronto, Will and Margaret Sanders, a public health official and teacher respectively, are the parents to hemophiliac Ryan Sanders, the parents who do whatever they can to keep Ryan safe both in his everyday activities and through the blood products he is required to take. And in Vancouver, Ben and Alice Landry are the parents to hemophiliac Peter Landry. While they too try to protect Peter in any way they can, Peter becomes infected with the AIDS virus by tainted blood at age fifteen, he having watched his same age best friend and fellow hemophiliac die from AIDS from tainted blood. As such, Peter begins to live a high risk life in his belief that he will die any day from AIDS, while Ben, a journalist, becomes increasingly bitter which negatively affects his relationships with both Alice and Peter.

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Cast & Crew See All

Sarah Wayne Callies
Margaret Sanders
Shawn Doyle
Ben Landry
Michael Shanks
Will Sanders

Season 1 Episode Guide See All

Episode 1

Emergence (1982 - 1983)

Sat, Jan 31, 202644 mins

In 1982, two families, the Sanders and the Landrys, are badly shaken when they learn that a mysterious deadly disease called AIDS is threatening the blood system. Each has boys with hemophilia, a genetic condition that means they depend on blood products to live. The medical community struggles to understand the growing epidemic while others deny the urgency.

Where to Watch
Unspeakable, Season 1 Episode 1 image

Awards

  • 2019 - Leo - Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series - nominated
  • 2019 - Leo - Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series - nominated
  • 2019 - Leo - Best Lead Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series - nominated
  • 2019 - Leo - Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series - nominated

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