9/10
Must be seen
2 May 2022
Living in Brazil, seeing all the political and social throwback we've been facing in the last 6 years, believe me, I know exactly what this show is about.

The most impressive thing about watching Years And Years in 2022 is that most of the events it points aren't that fictitional as they might have seemed back in 2019. The prediction of the writing turned out to be frightening. The Russian invasion in Ukraine; the allegations of torture suffered by the ukrainians; the far right wing rising into power; the retake of nazi and fascist policies; the xenophobia afflicting refugees; the lack of respect and understanding of human rights; the technology invading our lives to control us; the denialism affecting every aspects of society; the narratives created under media control and fake news propagation; even a pandemic crisis, are some of the subjects developed through 6 episodes that became a reality over the last 3 years.

Any resemblance to reality isn't coincidental at all now.

It's definitely a show thas must be watched delivering a profound level of reflection. Viviane Rook (Emma Thompson) represents the most disgusting human being. Her dissimulation, her most obscures intents, her populist speech deceiving people from her true interests, all makes her a wolf in sheep's clothes. The character is never trully present in the story, always appearing in medias, folders and outdoors, like an entity, a myth build to live above us all, empowered by the distance she creates between the celebrity skin she wears and her followers that never question any of her most absurd acts.

The Lyons family represents us as the most diverse way as possible and what happens to each one of them though the course of 15 years is so sad that makes our own reality disturbing because they are reflecting our troubles, fears and a reality turned upside down. A family that seemed very much secure in the middle class position they were, which most of them didn't care about what could happen next. But suddenly one by one is taken by surprise by things that were coming insidiously but they haven't noticed.

Actors are brilliant performing ordinary people, and writing makes character's individuality meaninful and respectful within the so welcome diversity each one represents.

There's a nihilistic sense that grows harder when some of them find themselves facing a tragic destiny they where so desperate fighting to avoid, smashing the last bit of hope they had, affecting everyone else's life, but not even a slight sense of empathy by those ones who are responsible for the tragedies around. Instead, the victims are turned into vilains by the oppressors.

The direction is amazing and the fast paced editing puts audience into constant anxiety and desperation because chaos is wrecking everything apart.

Fortunately the last episode hits back, and there's still hope and no one can control society's evolution even if some believe so. The last scene of Edith Lyons (Jessica Hynes) is one one the most beautiful and emotional scenes I've ever seen since Six Feet Under series finale. Beautifully executed and performed.
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