Ep 1. Emergence

Unspeakable is a Canadian television show based on real-life experiences of survivors and families affected by contaminated blood scandal in Canada in the 1980s and 1990s. Season 1 Episode 1 titled Emergence sets the stage for a heart-wrenching journey about to unfold.

The episode introduces us to five-year-old Ben who is rushed to the hospital with a high fever and rashes all over his body. He is diagnosed with hemophilia, a rare genetic disorder that affects the blood's ability to clot, and is prescribed factor VIII, a clotting agent commonly used to treat hemophilia. His mother, Margaret, is skeptical about giving her son a product made of pooled blood from paid donors. She asks the doctor about the possibility of contracting diseases such as hepatitis or AIDS, but the doctor assures her that the product is safe and widely used. He even tells her that the manufacturers test the product for viruses and bacteria but doesn't explain how they conducted the tests or what they tested for.

Meanwhile, in a different part of the country, a young journalist named Will Sanders is assigned to cover the story of a hemophiliac teenager who contracted HIV/AIDS from factor VIII. Will is a skeptic and a go-getter who is not afraid to ask tough questions. He becomes intrigued by the story and starts digging deeper.

The story then shifts to Dr. Roger Perrault, a scientist at the National Research Council of Canada who is tasked with developing a heat-treated version of factor VIII to eliminate the risk of transmitting viruses and bacteria. He is also part of a team that developed a new factor product called Factorate, which was made from a single source of plasma. In a meeting with his colleagues, he expresses his concern about the old factor products and the possibility of contaminations. His colleagues dismiss his concerns and call him an alarmist.

Ben's condition worsens, and he is transferred to a bigger hospital in Montreal. The hospital is part of a clinical trial for a new factor product called HemoCleanse, which is supposed to filter out viruses and bacteria. Margaret is relieved that her son is getting better treatment, but her hope is short-lived when Ben develops a severe allergic reaction after getting the new factor product.

Back in Vancouver, Will's investigation leads him to expose a whistleblower named Ken, who worked for one of the plasma collection centers. Ken reveals to Will that the plasma collection centers were known to accept high-risk donors, such as prostitutes and drug addicts, and that some of the plasma was sourced from prisons in the United States. Ken also reveals that the manufacturers knew about the potential risks but chose to ignore them.

The final scene shows Dr. Perrault watching a news report about the contaminated blood scandal and the devastation it caused. He looks visibly upset as he realizes that his worst fears have come true, and his colleagues were wrong all along.

In conclusion, Emergence does an excellent job of setting up the narrative for Unspeakable. The episode introduces the main characters and their situations and hints at the impending horror that is about to unfold. It highlights the complacency and greed of the healthcare system and the manufacturers who put profit before human lives. The episode is a slow burn, but it is well worth the watch.