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Miniseries – Butterfly

Play trailer Poster for Miniseries – Butterfly Oct 2018 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
93% Tomatometer 14 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Max, the youngest child of separated parents, has identified as a girl from a very young age. Although she has tried to hide these feelings in order to keep her father Stephen happy, it becomes increasingly hard for her to maintain a male persona. Stephen and wife Vicky disagree over how to handle Max's identity and desire to transition more publicly, as Stephen tries to encourage male bonding and Vicky tries desperately to protect her child's mental health. This heartfelt series explores the complexity of familial relationships as Max grows into Maxine, while her parents must also grow and change through their love for her, facing a series of challenges as a family.

Where to Watch

Butterfly — Miniseries

Butterfly — Miniseries

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Thoughtful, emotional, and eye-opening, Butterfly effectively addresses the nuances of gender identity with a careful balance of sensitivity and realism.

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Critics Reviews

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Robyn Bahr The Hollywood Reporter 01/22/2019
But the serial also spends so much time on Vicky and Stephen's precious feelings that Maxine could have instead been diagnosed with childhood cancer and this alternate McGuffin would probably have had the same functional impact on the narrative. Go to Full Review Robert Lloyd Los Angeles Times 01/16/2019
[A] thought-provoking, emotionally realistic issue drama on the subject of gender identity in young people - well, really, just one particular young person, 12-year-old Max Duffy from Manchester, who would like to be known as Maxine. Go to Full Review Brian Lowry CNN.com 01/09/2019
The most distinctive of the newcomers deal with youth-centric stories, albeit in decidedly different ways...Easily more interesting -- and certainly more emotionally engaging -- is Butterfly. Go to Full Review Joyce Slaton Common Sense Media 01/30/2019
4/5
Powerful, complex, mature drama dives into gender identity. Go to Full Review Joel Keller Decider 01/21/2019
Butterfly explores an issue that parents all over the world are confronting. Even if it's a bit dark and heavy-handed, it will be interesting to see Max turn fully into Maxine and how his family handles it. Go to Full Review Roger Catlin rogercatlin.com 01/18/2019
It's a thoughtful, nuanced family drama from playwright Tony Marchant that avoids easy answers. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Andrea H @RT71421299 Apr 13 Brilliant series that will help parents understand this issue. See more Read all reviews
Butterfly — Miniseries

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Emmett Scanlan

Stephen Duffy

Anna Friel

Vicky Duffy

Callum Booth-Ford

Max

Millie Gibson

Lily Duffy

Nimmy March

Bridget Robbins

Alison Steadman

Barbara Duffy

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Oct 14, 2018 Max begins to dress and behave as a girl; when he decides he wants to be known by Maxine, his father tries to cope with the news. Details Episode 2 Aired Oct 21, 2018 Episode 2 In an attempt to understand and support Max, Vicky and Stephen attend a support group for gender nonconforming young people. The family attend their first appointment at the gender clinic, but Stephen still struggles and ends up making a mistake. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 28, 2018 Episode 3 Vicky takes Maxine to Boston for a puberty blockers assessment and gets arrested; the court appoints a social worker to the family; the family try to prove they can work together. Details

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Butterfly — Miniseries

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Season Info

Director
Anthony Byrne
Screenwriter
Tony Marchant
Network
ITV
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Oct 14, 2018