The Woman in the Wall, a hard-hitting Irish crime drama originally produced by the BBC, is now available to stream on Netflix. The series, which has been compared favourably to Happy Valley by fans, follows central character Lorna Brady, played by Ruth Wilson, and Detective Colman Akande, played by Daryl McCormack.
Plot and True Story
The pair join forces after discovering that of the 298 children at the Kilkinure convent, 208 had been taken and sold. Just three had official burial records, with 87 children remaining unaccounted for. The series is based on a tragic true story, set against the backdrop of the Magdalene Nurseries scandal in Ireland.
Following the exposure of those behind the child trafficking, audiences discovered Lorna's chilling secret and the truth she could neither conceal nor keep from law enforcement. Despite Colman urging Lorna to claim she was simply not sound of mind, she turns herself in. In the final episode, Colman pays Lorna a visit with unexpected news.
Fan and Critic Reactions
Fans were reduced to tears as an unreleased Sinéad O'Connor track resonated across the countryside during the drama's final episode. One fan praised the series on IMDb, writing: "For acting skill and chemistry, this is the best series since Happy Valley. Ruth Wilson and Daryl McCormack are absolutely top."
Avril took to X, formerly known as Twitter, writing: "Gosh, that was so intense. I am an emotional wreck. This drama is one of the best I have watched in a long time. It is more than worthy of an award as is its superb actress Ruth Wilson."
Critical Acclaim
One IMDb reviewer described the series as an "Intelligent drama/thriller with a powerful theme," adding: "Set in 2015 this series plays out against the backdrop of the scandal of the Magdalene Nurseries in Ireland finally being exposed, seen through the experience of the protagonist. Ruth Wilson plays against type with a very convincing performance and accent in the lead role."
Mindy said: "Absolutely loved the TheWomanInTheWall! Very emotional watch superbly acted by all involved. A real triumph by #IrishActors once again! Superbly written, beautifully filmed and dealing with a shameful period in Irish History still impacting Women and communities." Cara Manning posted: "Wow, what an amazing series, it's scary that it was based on real events." The Woman in the Wall is streaming now on Netflix.
