Netflix’s New 8-Part Drama Exposes the Shocking True Story of a Medical Disaster That Ruined Thousands — A Dark, Heartbreaking Saga of Betrayal, Contamination, and Unseen Tragedy So Haunting, Viewers Say It’s Even Darker and More Devastating Than Chernobyl! Netflix’s powerful new 8-part drama plunges viewers into the shocking true story of the tainted blood scandal — one of the biggest medical disasters of modern times that shattered families and scarred a generation with HIV and hepatitis infections caused by catastrophic medical failure. Following two families torn apart by betrayal, heartbreak, and a fight for justice, the series exposes a devastating hidden catastrophe with a brutal human cost that critics say will haunt you long after the credits roll. Viewers call it “excellent,” “gripping,” and warn once you start watching, you’ll never forget the harrowing truth behind this unthinkable tragedy.

Looking for your next TV binge? ITVX has just dropped the gripping drama, Unspeakable, about one of the largest medical disasters in modern history, the tainted blood scandal. The eight-part series, which first aired in 2019, follows the decades-long saga of two families, each with haemophiliac sons, who are caught up in the tragedy and impacted by the early emergence of HIV and hepatitis in Canada.

HELLO!’s TV Writer Abby Allen said of the show: “Not only is the series based on a shocking true story – drawing inspiration from two books, Bad Blood by Vic Parsons and The Gift by André Picard – but it also boasts a powerful cast, led by Prison Break’s Sarah Wayne Callies, that brings this tragic story to life.”

© ITV

Keep reading to find out more.

What is Unspeakable about?

Based on true events, the series sheds light on the 1980s international tainted blood scandal, focusing on two families with haemophiliac sons who are impacted by the tragedy, which saw thousands of people infected by tainted blood. The logline on ITVX reads: “The Sanders and the Landrys are shaken when a disease called AIDS is threatening the country’s blood supply. Each family has boys with haemophilia.

The show is created by Robert C. Cooper (Stargate SG-1, Stargate: Atlantis) and is based on first-person experience and non-fiction books, Bad Blood by Vic Parsons and The Gift of Death by Andre Picard.

Who stars in Unspeakable?

The series boasts a cast of familiar faces, including Sarah Wayne Callies (The Walking Dead, Colony), Shawn Doyle (Bellevue, Big Love) and Camille Sullivan (The Man in the High Castle). They’re joined by Michael Shanks (Stargate SG-1, Saving Hope) and Levi Meaden (Pacific Rim: Uprising).

© SundanceTV/Kobal/Shutterstock

What have viewers said about Unspeakable?

Viewers have praised the compelling series online over the years, with one person describing the show as a “gripping docudrama about a dark period in history”, while another hailed the drama as an “excellent miniseries”.

Meanwhile, a third viewer penned: “A great story about an important time in history told with a character-first view that follows the life journey of these people. A worthwhile watch, as it is both entertaining and informative.”

Unspeakable is available to stream on ITVX now.