It’s a tale as old as time — or in the PBS drama Trespasses, as old as the 1970s.
Furious‘ breakout actress Lola Petticrew stars as Cushla Lavery, a young Catholic schoolteacher who falls for the older barrister Michael Agnew (House of the Dragon‘s Tom Cullen). Their age gap isn’t so much an issue as the fact that Cushla is Catholic and Michael is a Protestant, which is a big no-no during that time and place. Oh, did I mention that Tom is also married?
Based on Louise Kennedy’s critically acclaimed debut novel, Trespasses weaves an irresistible narrative that mixes history, politics and, yes, forbidden love. The four-episode drama is one of 2026’s best shows, and that’s just based on the two episodes that have already aired. Episode 3 is dropping this Sunday, October 4, and Us Weekly has an exclusive sneak peek of the next chapter in this engrossing drama below.
What Is ‘Tresspasses’ Episode 3 About?
In the upcoming episode, Cushla and Michael’s love deepens even though personal secrets and outside danger threaten to end it. She discovers he’s lied about his family and confronts him. Just as they commit to each other, tragedy strikes, devastating Cushla and shaking their community to its core.
In the exclusive clip above, Cushla criticizes her mother’s drinking, telling Gina (Gillian Anderson) she needs to stop feeling sorry for herself because they’ve both lost someone. When Gina’s upset that she has nothing left to look forward to, Cushla caves in, offering to take her to a fancy lunch.
Should You Watch ‘Trespasses’?
Yes! It’s a show that contains complex original characters against the backdrop of a real time and place that isn’t depicted a lot in mass media. When it is, The Troubles is often depicted in overtly political films like In the Name of the Father with Daniel Day-Lewis or thrillers like The Crying Game with Stephen Rea.
Trespasses is different. It concentrates mainly on Cushla and Michael’s romance, but this is a show as much about the country they both live in and the political environment that keeps them apart as it is their forbidden love affair. The series currently holds an impressive 89 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating, and this critic thinks it should be higher. The acting by Petticrew, Cullen and Anderson is terrific, and the impressive production values put most big-budget films to shame. Trespasses is an absorbing drama that will leave you gasping at times and just might shatter your heart. What more can you ask from a TV show?
Trespasses episode 3 airs on Sunday, October 4. The fourth and final episode airs on October 11.
