Butterfly (TV series)

Butterfly

Company type	Miniseries
Industry	Television drama
Founded	October 14, 2018 (2018-10-14)
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	Television series
Parent	Red Production Company

Butterfly is a British drama miniseries in three parts that debuted on 14 October 2018 on ITV, produced by Red Production Company. The narrative follows 11-year-old Maxine (portrayed by Callum Booth-Ford), a transgender girl, along with her parents, Vicky and Stephen (played by Anna Friel and Emmett J. Scanlan), as they navigate the challenges of her gender transition. The show was also aired in countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden, and was made available for streaming on the American platform Hulu.

Penned by Tony Marchant, who engaged with transgender individuals and families through the charity Mermaids during development, the series earned widespread critical praise for its acting and heartfelt narrative. While it was lauded for its exploration of transgender themes, some critiques emerged concerning its content. Social media platforms and numerous transgender commentators responded favorably, with the premiere episode drawing an audience of 2.8 million overnight viewers. Nonetheless, a scene depicting a suicide attempt attracted criticism from a National Health Service gender clinic.

Production

The series was written and created by Tony Marchant, recognized for the 1996 film Different for Girls, which centers on an adult transgender woman. In 1999, Marchant contributed to family-focused dramas such as Kid in the Corner, addressing ADHD, and Bad Blood, which dealt with adoption. In an interview with HuffPost, he expressed fascination with the concept of "gender fluidity." The primary consultant on the project was Susie Green, UK director of the charity Mermaids, which supports transgender youth. The storyline draws inspiration from Green's personal experience with her transgender daughter Jackie, who in 2010 became the youngest British girl to undergo sex reassignment surgery at age 16.

Throughout the development phase, Marchant met with families assisted by Mermaids to gain insight into their realities. His intention was to challenge misconceptions that transgender children adopt such identities due to being "trendy" or that puberty blockers are readily accessible. Filming commenced in January 2018 and wrapped up by March 2018. Callum Booth-Ford, a cisgender boy, secured the role of Maxine after five rounds of auditions; according to Mermaids, casting a transgender child was considered "extremely difficult and distressing," with concerns about maintaining anonymity also influencing the decision.

ITV revealed plans for the miniseries in September 2017, announcing Anna Friel as Vicky, Maxine's mother. Emmett J. Scanlan was cast as Stephen, Maxine’s father; he commended the scripts for their "relevance" and committed to portraying the subject matter with "great honesty and sensitivity." Friel, who initially had limited knowledge about transgender issues, hoped the show would transform societal attitudes toward transgender children, drawing a parallel to her earlier work on Brookside in the 1990s. Her own daughter was thirteen during filming.

Marchant observed a recurring theme among families supported by Mermaids: mothers of transgender children tend to be involved while fathers are often absent. Vicky’s perspectives reflect those typical of her generation, whereas Stephen’s skepticism was crafted to appear reasonable and understandable. Both Scanlan and Friel conducted visits to families affiliated with Mermaids as part of their research. To embody her role during shooting, Friel incorporated synth-pop music and a distinctive perfume into her routine.

The series features a synth-driven score composed by Michael Stein and Kyle Dixon, renowned for their contributions to Netflix's Stranger Things. This soundtrack was released concurrently with the miniseries’ debut on Hulu in the United States.

Cast

• Callum Booth-Ford portrays Maxine Duffy, a transgender girl who has desired to wear girls' attire since she was five years old. Struggling with gender dysphoria, she begins self-harming at age 11 and seeks to halt the onset of male puberty.
• Anna Friel plays Vicky Duffy, Maxine’s mother and primary caregiver. Though initially uncertain, Vicky eventually embraces Maxine’s gender identity and supports her in pursuing medical interventions.
• Emmett J. Scanlan appears as Stephen Duffy, Maxine's father. After initially rejecting Maxine and leaving the family home, he returns and slowly becomes supportive of her journey.
• Millie Gibson acts as Lily Duffy, Maxine’s sister. Protective over Maxine yet feeling overlooked as parental attention shifts; she also navigates her own romantic experiences.
• Alison Steadman takes on the role of Barbara Pannell, Vicky’s mother. At first critical of Maxine's transition but later showing acceptance.
• Seán McGinley portrays Peter Duffy, Stephen’s father. Initially apprehensive about Maxine’s gender identity.

Broadcast

The series debuted on the UK’s free-to-air channel ITV during a prime Sunday 9 p.m. timeslot, airing from 14 to 28 October 2018. In January 2019, the American streaming platform Hulu made the show available to its subscribers. Italy broadcast the series on the subscription channel Fox Life in December 2018, following its premiere at a Milan film festival. Sweden’s public broadcaster Sveriges Television aired it in January 2019.

In France, the show was released in February 2019 under the title De Max à Maxine on the pay channel DTT and subsequently on the free-to-air channel 6ter. That same month, it was screened in cinemas and broadcast on EITB in Spain’s Basque Country, coinciding with the anniversary of transgender teenager Ekai Lersundi's suicide. Under the name Butterfly – Alle Meine Farben, it aired in Germany on the subscription channel RTL Passion starting January 2020, with episodes scheduled for Tuesdays at 8:15 p.m.

Reception

The premiere episode drew an overnight audience of 2.8 million viewers, with an average viewership of 2.5 million across all three episodes. Following its broadcast, Green reported a significant increase in new memberships for Mermaids.

The miniseries was met with predominantly positive reactions from both transgender individuals and general audiences. Ash Palmisciano, known as the first transgender actor on Emmerdale, described Butterfly in Radio Times as "a landmark story," commending its sincere and compassionate representation of transgender experiences. Other transgender activists and commentators praised the series for its authentic and affirmative portrayal of trans people while acknowledging the difficulties involved in transitioning. Media outlets including Woman & Home, Digital Spy, OK!, and PinkNews highlighted substantial social media enthusiasm, featuring endorsements from trans news presenter India Willoughby and Labour MP Dawn Butler. A woman interviewed by the Manchester Evening News expressed a strong personal connection to the narrative, stating it "really hit home." Nevertheless, some parents of transgender youth questioned whether Maxine was actually a gay boy who did not need to transition.

The National Health Service's Gender Identity Development Service criticized the portrayal of Maxine’s suicide attempt as "not helpful," emphasizing that fewer than one percent of their patients attempt suicide and that such incidents are uncommon among children aged 11. Green cited a 2016 survey by Stonewall, which found that 45 percent of transgender children reported having attempted suicide. ITV stressed that Butterfly is a fictional family drama. According to The Sunday Times, producers initially collaborated with the clinic but eventually parted ways due to disagreements.

Critical reception

Butterfly was met with largely favorable reviews from critics. The Independent awarded the series a four-star rating out of five, while the premiere episode received four stars from The Guardian and three stars from both The Telegraph and The Times. Similar evaluations followed for later episodes, with The Times giving the subsequent two installments four and three stars respectively. The show garnered widespread acclaim for its pioneering subject matter, emotional depth, and compelling storytelling. Reviewers particularly praised the subtlety and complexity of the writing.

The performances and character development were highly commended. Lucy Mangan of The Guardian characterized the cast as "fully realised" through "consistently outstanding performances." Maxine's role, played by Booth-Ford, drew special attention from critics including Euan Ferguson of The Observer, Sean O'Grady of The Independent, and Carol Midgley of The Times. Samantha Allen from The Daily Beast remarked on Booth-Ford's portrayal as exhibiting "convincing vulnerability." James Jackson of The Times found the parental figures relatable, while Midgley praised Friel’s authentic portrayal and Scanlan’s adept handling of a demanding role. Steadman’s interpretation of Barbara received mixed feedback; Ferguson described her cynicism as "excellent," whereas Gabriel Tate of The Telegraph considered the character less credible.

The series’ treatment of transgender themes was widely applauded. Allen referred to it as "educational" for viewers unfamiliar with transgender youth. Jack Seale from The Guardian highlighted its "uncompromising" depiction of trauma associated with gender dysphoria, while Allen noted a poignant moment where Vicky reflects on her influence in Maxine’s gender identity journey. O'Grady also praised a touching scene in which Lily tells Maxine, "I think of you as my sister."

Nonetheless, some aspects sparked criticism. Allison Pearson’s review in The Telegraph described the portrayal of Maxine’s suicide attempt as "extremely irresponsible." Tim Stanley, also writing for The Telegraph, challenged the series’ representation of masculinity, arguing that modern society undervalues traditional male roles. Gabriel Tate acknowledged the show as a "deliberately measured challenge to simplistic biases" but criticized its reliance on clichés and compared certain segments to a public service announcement.