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Season 1 – The A Word

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – The A Word 2016 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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75% Tomatometer 20 Reviews 96% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
"The A Word" is a drama miniseries written by BAFTA Award winner Peter Bowker ("Blackpool") and starring Christopher Eccleston, Morven Christie, Greg McHugh, Lee Ingleby and Vinette Robinson. The story follows members of the Hughes family, who seem to lead a normal existence until they receive some unexpected news. Communication problems with 5-year-old son Joe lead to a diagnosis of autism. It changes the lives of the family members, who have to pull together and learn to better communicate to deal with the boy's condition.
The A Word — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The A Word overcomes an uneven start to offer a thoughtful, warm-hearted look at the engagingly messy lives of its protagonists -- and a glimpse of challenges too rarely seen or discussed on television.

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Critics Reviews

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Ben Travis London Evening Standard The show has helped to dramatize and spread awareness of autism -- as well as being a compelling family drama with emotionally rich and complex characters. Apr 23, 2019 Full Review Molly Eichel AV Club The A Word is a tapestry reflecting that autism diagnoses affect how families live and view the world but do not necessarily consume them... This structure allows The A Word to take a break from the serious and real in order to be funny. Rated: B+ Apr 23, 2019 Full Review Neil Genzlinger New York Times The writing can occasionally seem manipulative... For the most part, though, The A Word feels true and honest. Apr 23, 2019 Full Review Kasia Delgado Radio Times The family tension is so believable, the characters so true to life, that you feel compelled to wade in on the arguments as if it were your own flesh and blood sniping at each other. Apr 23, 2019 Full Review James Walton The Spectator The A Word also got off to a very promising start. Sep 7, 2018 Full Review Bernice Harrison Irish Times The A Word is a family drama where a member of that family has a disability rather than a "disability drama", which is an intriguing enough proposition. Aug 15, 2017 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (4) audience reviews
Audience Member Good story, good view,good music Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member A well acted family drama with some amusing moments. The story line is conventional and predictable, but the dialogue is often clever. The exterior filming in the lake district is subtly beautiful. I hope they make a season 2. While I watch this show via comcast on demand, it is missing when using the inifinity app search function. In fact most of the sundanceTV shows in the U.S. are not properly index by comcast. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Seems like a realistic depiction of a family's issues with an autistic child. Compelling story and well-acted. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Excellent start. Great performances by all. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The A Word — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Morven Christie

Alison Hughes

Lee Ingleby

Paul Hughes

Greg McHugh

Eddie Scott

Vinette Robinson

Nicola Daniels

Max Vento

Joe Hughes

Molly Wright

Rebecca Hughes

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Mar 22, 2016 Diagnosis In their idyllic Lake District home, the extended Hughes family reunites for Joe's fifth birthday party; tensions rise among Alison, Paul and patriarch Maurice when newly arrived Eddie and Nicola suggest Joe has communication problems. Details Episode 2 Aired Mar 29, 2016 Home School Following Joe's autism diagnosis Paul, Alison and Rebecca clash over how best to deal with his first weeks at school; Eddie is troubled by thoughts of Nicola's ex-lover Michael; Maurice tries hard to avoid his singing teacher, Louise. Details Episode 3 Aired Apr 5, 2016 Therapy Alison gets a blast from her past when speech and language therapist Maggie arrives to assess Joe; the family faces some uncomfortable truths. Details Episode 4 Aired Apr 12, 2016 Sleepover An impromptu attempt to win Joe some friends leads to a breakthrough moment for Alison. Maurice and Louise come to blows over Joe, while Rebecca turns to Eddie for relationship advice. Details Episode 5 Aired Apr 19, 2016 Goodbye Alison is hit hard when Joe's helper, Maya, looks ready to be deported. As Paul and Eddie discover their wives both want different things, Maurice is left kicking himself for letting Louise go. Details Episode 6 Aired Apr 26, 2016 Lost Alison brokers a peace with Paul in time for the gastropub opening, but plans for their big day are shattered when Joe goes missing. Details

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The A Word — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Peter Cattaneo
Executive Producer
Patrick Spence
Screenwriter
Peter Bowker
Network
BBC
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Mar 22, 2016