Years and Years — Series 1— Episode 1.1 — A Review

9th July, 2019.

You know, it comes to something: when the Job Centre tell’s you, you owe it money.

There’s a bit of a story, there: but basically?

I had a bit of ticket money left over: from the last interview.

Money I’d agreed to pay back at my next meeting with my work coach, on the 25th.

Except … ?



I got a message from the Job Centre, today, in the online jobseekers account  I have with them … asking me to come in, today, to repay it.

Luckily?

I just about had the cash.

As you can imagine, though?   I made a point of mentioning that the verbal arrangement I’d made with work coach.

Which, as it turned out … wasn’t recorded in the notes.

Hmmm … 

I think I’ll need a word, somewhere along the line.

~≈§≈~

At any rate … ?

I’ve had another free evening.

One I could well have used industriously doing stuff.

But one I chose to spend watching TV.

Well, it’s a new one, after all.

And … ?

Well, it’s been a while since I’ve seen something with Russell T Davies’ name on it.

Taking a punt on Year and Years seemed the thing to do.

~≈§≈~

Episode 1.1 introduces us to the Lyons family — Stephen (Rory Kinnear), Daniel (Russell Tovey), Edith (Jessica Hynes) and Rosie (Ruth Madeley) — opens not long after Rosie gives birth to her youngest child, Lincoln: in late 2019.

In the background?   The various members of the family has been watching TV … where celebratory businesswoman, Vivian Rook (Emma Thompson) has caused controversy: not only with her populist views, but ALSO by swearing on TV.

The action jumps over the next few years … 

Showing us the siblings — along side Stephen’s wife, Celeste (T’Nia Miller) and Daniel’s husband, Ralph (Dino Fetscher) — attending birthday celebrations for their grandmother, Muriel (Anne Reid) …



A birthday that doesn’t go as expected … 

As the family are contacted by sister, Edith (Jessica Hynes): warning that President Trump is determined to something aggressive in this last days in office.

Just as hell breaks loose … 

And the air raid warnings go off.

~≈§≈~

Now … 

I have to say, I was impressed by the opening episode of Years and Years.



We have a set of strongly drawn out characters: something of a Davies strong point.

We have an interesting couple of SF ideas.

Granted, tablets and AI speakers are here, already, but Davies adds a wearable emoji filter … and a domestic robot’s attachment you don’t want your date to find*.

We have an incipient Apocalypse.

For someone growing up in the 80s?

I have to admit, we faced nothing like the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Thank God.

But the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament were certainly making the possibility public: after all the various treaties signed were proof that both the USA and the USSR were armed, and notionally prepared to use those arms.

Two Tribes, the Frankie Goes to Hollywood song?





Was evidence that the concern was there.

That air raid siren at the end of this first episode was truly frightening … 

For me … ?

Davies has got himself involved with another series: one with a riveting opening episode.

One I suspect will — much like Queer as Folk, Children of Earth or A Very English Scandal — be talked about for many years.

Frankly?



Given his occasional love of the contentious, given his ability to make us think, as well as watch?

And to unnerve us with the 20th century’s greatest nightmare?

I’m starting to think Russell T Davies is the nearest we have to a modern Dennis Potter.



Personally?

I’ll let you know, once I get to the end of Years and Years.

*        Don’t ask.   That’s an easy one to predict, though.   I’ve noticed one of the first things we do with new technology, is usually pornographic …