Years and Years (New Russell T Davies)

Same here! Our viewing choice tonight was this, or episode 2 of Chernobyl.

“Not Chernobyl before bed, too bleak...”, I said. Oops.

Still, at least I didn’t choose to put the evening news on. There are limits to how much one can handle.

Yes, this was excellent. Wasn't expecting the ending at all - worth watching before reading any reviews if you haven't already. Didn't realise till afterwards that Keith's owner was Noel from Hear'say!

It's on the BBC iPlayer, so it'll be one of those channels.

early days, not over extrapolated, intrigued enough to be back next week.

What with Game of Thrones, Line of Duty etc, beginning to appreciate the slow burn of weekly episodes again as it gives a chance to soak in an episode, and a more collective experience.

BBC 1 - also HBO in the USA.

I thought it was superb. I thought it was just a "family drama" thing, and it started quite slowly, with the political stuff just being in the background, but once it got going I was on the edge of my seat and found it really shocking and gripping. I had no idea it was going to be a dystopian future/nuclear war thing, and so far I'm absolutely sold on it. Emma Thompson is terrifyingly realistic and believable. I feel so depressed about the future now.

I loved it. Gripping, ambitious, entertaining. Totally tapped into the zeitgeisty madness of modern tech and politics.

It being dystopian has been the gist of the many trailers for it that preceded its eventual arrival on TV screens. For some days Emma Thompson's face 'in character' has been 'the' front cover of Radio Times, plus a four page article inside by Mark Lawson on her, the drama and 'this world we live in'. No surprises in any of that position-taking by those elements. It didn't depress me so much as anger me at the stroke these various media elements are trying to pull off. Very much political players as BBC broadcasting seems to have been to a heightened degree since the global financial crash in 2008 and subsequent austerity.

On the other hand, that technology is out of control, or has fallen well behind social influences likely to moderate its worst effects, is a concern that people across the political spectrum share. And concern about climate and environment, is shared by many more people than the political actors who've been taking a higher profile in recent years. Many people have long since made or currently make quiet arrangements to reduce their carbon footprint, minimise waste, etc.

Having just watched the first episode of the four-part The Virtues on Channel 4, I think that was more 'drama of the week' material than the publicity-hogging and political calculations behind Years and Years. Written by Shane Meadows and Jack Thorne, led by Stephen Graham playing a recovering alcoholic, theme music by PJ Harvey, The Virtues will surely have touched many hearts. A series of human stories are there on display, and the skills involved do them justice.

8/10... sweetie....

I think it's a shame this aspect is being foregrounded, as later comments seem to be suggesting. I went in completely cold and loved the change from enjoyable family drama with some nice dialogue, to something starkly different. I found it quite unnerving, and I like being unnerved and I'm not sure I'd have had the spine-tingle of that if I'd known where the show was going.

The technology stuff and the "Our brains are devolving" speech struck a chiming chord with me.

PS. I wish we could ban the word 'dystopian'.

He has never been a good writer until the show last year. Let’s see how this one goes.