The Split (Series Three), 2022
✫ 9/10
Favorite Character: Hannah Defoe
“Sometimes they’ve been battling for so long, they’ve forgotten that above the parapet… there’s birdsong.”
The Split, produced by SISTER for BBC from 2018 to 2022, follows leading family lawyer Hannah Defoe (Nicola Walker) as she navigates life mid-divorce whilst supporting both the family law firm and her own children. Writer Abi Morgan had envisioned the show as a trilogy, so the third and final season brought high expectations of an ending that did Hannah and her ex-husband Nathan (Stephen Mangan) justice.
After a dinner that includes the sudden introduction of Nathan’s new girlfriend (Kate, played by Sherlock’s Lara Pulver), Hannah and Nathan’s dynamic is changed once again, as seen many times throughout all three series. The constantly-evolving relationships between everyone involved in a divorce is something The Split tackles head-on, and can be seen particularly in this final series, when it all comes to a head with Hannah, Nathan, and the kids.
Liv, the eldest of the children, is someone many older siblings, particularly of separated parents, will relate to. She spends a lot of this series frustrated by her parents’ possessiveness towards her when she announces her engagement; just because her parents have fallen out of love, doesn’t mean she hasn’t fallen into it. Her subtler storyline is a poignant touchstone throughout this series, highlighting not just the negative effects of a divorce, but the positive outcomes possible for everyone, especially the children. As Kate’s book says (she is both a child psychologist and author, more reason for Hannah to draw her sword), divorce doesn’t have to mean war, and Liv’s character arc is a clear example of this. Her journey to peace at the end of the series is equally as important and beautiful as Hannah’s.
As of recent years, the BBC seems to be airing more productions like The Split, giving realistic and relatable women space on our screens more regularly, as well as venturing into areas of the human experience that have before been portrayed in less diverse or sometimes impersonal ways. Rose (played by Fiona Button), is the youngest of the Defoe sisters, and lovingly labeled – by her older sisters Nina and Hannah – the ‘band-aid baby’; her parent’s attempt at fixing their crumbling relationship. During the final series, Rose’s world falls apart, and her journey through grief is both heart-wrenching and freeing to watch. From her anger towards her sisters to her struggle with religion, these ugly, unfiltered feelings prompt inward reflection with audiences, and Rose’s lovable character makes this feel natural. It is easy to imagine ourselves in her exact position, and watching her story unfold is a beautiful part of the show.
We also see the tumultuous relationship between Hannah and Nathan continue to develop, as they both grapple with what is best for the kids, and their own wants, needs, and grudges. For as many shocking moments, there are soft ones too, reflecting the life the two have lived together – we watch as they learn to cherish and not deny this. Their journey is littered with mistakes, things one did that they never meant, and that the other will never forgive. The arrival of Nathan’s new girlfriend and Nathan’s spontaneous announcement of their pregnancy (at possibly the worst time he could have chosen) only heighten tensions and test Hannah’s paper-thin patience. In the end, though, love does prevail, in whatever form that may be. Love and its many forms is something Abi Morgan is excellent at portraying, and what makes The Split such an enjoyable watch.
Divorce is messy and raw, as is life. As fundamentally selfish and private beings, divorce, marriage, and relationships as a whole are often uncomfortable and – yes – embarrassing, making us question all that has been. Portraying such feelings of exposure and vulnerability is what The Split does best. Hannah, Rose, and Liv, are all characters who feel real, relatable, and also rare to see on screen.
Drama series have always been popular, because they show the mess of other people’s lives (which could easily be our own), and tell us that if they survived, we will too. They remind us that “above the parapet… there is birdsong”, that there is hope in the midst of it all, and that we are not alone. The Split is excellent at this.
