Will Controversial Drama 'A Million Little Things' Be Aired In The UK?

ABC’s new drama A Million Little Things centres on a social group in the aftermath of one friend's suicide — and, as a result, has sparked considerable controversy. It’s unlikely to air in the UK any time soon, for those wondering: according to Geektown, no UK broadcaster has picked up A Million Little Things to date.

Claire Fallon, writing for the Huffington Post, points out that the show's central narrative thread — Jon's friends and family attempting to discover why he took his own life — is overly simplistic, noting that "suicidal ideation is rarely simple or reducible to one reason such as a straightforward wrong done to someone." Fallon also comments that the show, by suggesting Jon's death is the reason for his friend Rome's survival, "manages to cast Jon’s death in a hazily noble role" — a deeply problematic presentation of suicide.

For Variety, Daniel D'Addario writes, "Moments in the pilot hint that we’ll eventually come to learn the thing that “pushed Jon over the edge.” For the sake of not glamorising a public-health concern, I sincerely hope we don’t." And in the New York Times, Margaret Lyons criticises A Million Little Things' depiction of suicide as "some beautiful mystery to be examined," adding that "the show approaches Rome’s depression and despair as quirky traits rather than devastating, life-threatening conditions that require immediate and persistent attention."

A similar debate emerged upon the release of Netflix's 13 Reasons Why, which, like A Million Little Things, focuses on the aftermath of a central character's suicide and the motivation behind it. Both shows depict suicide attempts on screen, which, as Zoe Williams writes in the Guardian, violates Ofcom guidelines.

Similarly to 13 Reasons Why, A Million Little Things presents Jon's suicide as a puzzle to be solved. Williams explains of the former, "13 Reasons Why breaks the cardinal rule: don’t look for external causes or circumstances that could happen to anybody when you’re dealing with suicide. The important thing is not to present it as a reasonable, if extreme, response."

If you’re in the UK and you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. You can also call mental health charity Mind on 0300 123 3393. If you’re in the US, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or chat for support at www.988lifeline.org. You can find other international helplines at www.befrienders.org.