Like on one hand I’m glad they were live on TikTok, but it’s ridiculous that the player is as shit as it is.

Like, I’d have loved episodes where the focus was showing us more about the general gist of life for Anne, Ben, Adelaide, Olivia & Ellen in particular. Also, wouldn’t have minded more seeing the happenings in America. But I put that down to the shitty shift in television to have such short seasons

Overall, I loved it. It was fun, at times camp, and entertaining. I do wish it were a longer season, I’d happily have watched double the episodes. I’d have loved episodes where we got to see more of the other characters when they’re away from the brothers.

I’m delighted at the lack of shutting Oirish type accents. I also loved the way they used Irish and the chose of translating it as superimposed text rather than just a subtitle. Something about that choice being so deliberate and thought through made me very happy.

One criticism is that you could say the Fenians were a bit of a caricature, but tbh I chalked this up to the fact the primary perspective of the world was from the Guinesses, so the depiction of the Fenians was how they would’ve seen them.

My absolute favourite thing about the show was the music, both soundtrack and score. The use of modern Irish music was just sublime, and with the score the way it leaned into traditional aspects of Irish music (instruments used and lilting) was so atmospheric and immersive.

Anthony Boyle was a depiction of masterful acting. I was already impressed with him when I saw Say Nothing, but getting to see him play basically the opposite to Dark was proof of his range. I’m excited to see him progress, I think he’ll only get bigger and become more successful with time.

The Ashford-Clonboo thing was the main thing that bugged me. CONG is right there! Idk why they chose Clonboo, it’s like 35-45 mins in the car like. It’s not only a mile from Ashford, but do you know what is? Cong. So I just decided to pretend it was Cong and not clonboo.

I adored the parallel in the last episode with the first shot in Iveagh House. However, I felt the line that drew attention to this parallel was unnecessary, and honestly is evidence of the decline of media literacy that the creators felt necessary to do so.

Lots of books acquired while on our little holiday!