‘Three Families’ Recap: ‘Part 2’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the finale of ‘Three Families’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this article contains discussion on abortion rights, which may be triggering to some individuals.
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When we last settled in to discuss the powerful and poignant premiere of the Sundance Now series, Three Families, we talked at length about the visceral nature of that episode and rightfully so. For this story, one set in the past, felt far too much like the present. Since it was filled to the brim with pro-lifers that preached and pushed their agenda as the only salvation for a woman with child, alongside the fact that it presented us with a world that still resembles our own. Where a woman’s right to choose is in jeopardy everywhere and where women are being subjected to real horrors and pain that could in fact, be avoided if a fundamental human right was recognized by all.

But what matters more is that this was merely the first leg of the journey. For this two-part series was designed to chronicle the fall of the draconian laws that were only recently overturned in North Ireland, and that meant that Part 2 had to be the story that explored how that came to fruition and it most certainly did. For it picked up a few years after the events of the premiere to show us how Theresa and Hannah were faring after the horrors, they faced in the first tale, and they were in fascinating places years later. For Hannah was thriving and working toward changing the laws in this country while Theresa was stuck in a very long game with the government, one that constantly threatened her freedom and put great stress upon her family. 

However, a pair of breaks and the introduction of the third family… quickly moved this story toward chronicling how those awful laws were overturned. For the introduction of Rosie Fortress and her husband David, not only reminded us of how women suffer under these laws, since she was forced to carry a baby that was going to die, to term, but her journey set the stage for the downfall of those backward laws. For her painful ordeal, one that broke her emotionally… coincided with chaos in parliament. For the government disbanded and was working toward trying to form a new government, and if they couldn’t accomplish that… Westminster would step in and impose United Kingdom rule and law and well… that was the window in for Hannah and her friends.

Because if they could convince Westminster to open up abortion access to all, they could either apply pressure to the government in Northern Ireland or impose that law upon a broken government. Which motivated Hannah to speak up and tell Rosie’s story and her own and speak to how little choice they were given regarding their bodies and the fates of their babies while they were pregnant. Which Westminster heard, and that led to better rights for a woman’s choice… and the end of draconian rule in Northern Ireland. For the government couldn’t reform, and the UK stepped in and enforced that law. Giving Hannah and Rosie closure, a better tomorrow for others and this of course, let Theresa walk free since there was no longer a case against her. Ending years of struggle for her family and in the end, this painted a picture for how we in the rest of the world can fight the current squeeze happening regarding the right to choose.

Because… let’s be honest. That’s what we watched this show for. Because we feel helpless and scared and haven’t a clue where to start. But thankfully this series informs us, to get involved somehow, to not just sit back and ignore and wait and hope for a wave of change. We have to be it, and we need to find the right politicians to move into office. The ones that aren’t interested in special interests and lobbying and pleasing old voices. We need the ones who want to enact change and aren’t afraid to do so and are forward thinking and we need to be relentless in drumming up the vote and lifting those candidates up. Because the other side has time on their hands and are happy to waste it on keeping the past alive and well… hopefully the lessons here, and the struggles these women faced, are enough to inspire those who aren’t sure how to help, to do so and hopefully it changed some minds. Since now we are able to see, that a woman’s right to choose is important, essential and healthy. For the alternative in some cases, is cruel and dangerous and the anthesis of pro-life and well, we here at NTG thank Sundance Now for hosting a series that tackles a critical topic in the right way and hopefully inspires sweeping change at last.

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