Toxic Town tells the true story of how toxic waste in the steel-making town of Corby, England led a group of affected mothers to pursue justice. Helping them out is pro-bono lawyer Des Collins (Rory Kinnear), while on the other end of the case is Corby’s local government, who (unsurprisingly) are in cahoots with the steel mill responsible for the poisoning. The show’s beats are familiar; it’s a classic legal drama with streaks of political corruption and conspiracy, while also being an underdog story about victims rising to the powers that be. But its familiarity is easily forgiven thanks to the heartwarming performances of Jodie Whittaker and Aimee Lou Wood, who play two of the mothers with disabled children. The show, though short at just four episodes, gives them ample space to grieve, celebrate, and essentially be human–as opposed to just angry women serving as plot points to a drama. Their humanization and compassion for one another, as well as the thrilling pace and intelligent back-and-forths, are what make the show worth watching.
"“Toxic Town” makes for a harrowing watch, and the fact that the mothers won £14.6 million in compensation after almost ten years of anxiety, rage, and sorrow is reason enough to watch."
— Nandini Balial
When dozens of babies in Corby are born with disabilities, their mothers embark on a battle to hold those responsible to account.
Multiple infants are born with similar disabilities in the small town of Corby in England, prompting a group of mothers to pursue a case that will bring them justice.
The righteous fury of the mothers and the town.
A British Erin Brockovich, if you will, or a slightly more recent Chernobyl.
