Years and Years (2019)
A bold, emotionally charged BBC miniseries charting one British family's journey through fifteen years of political chaos, technological upheaval, and personal transformation.
Years and Years - Series Information
- Original Title: Years and Years
- First Air Year: 2019
- Last Air Year: 2019
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, War, Politics, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (60 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 6
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: May 14, 2019 (United States - TV-MA), May 14, 2019 (United Kingdom - 15), May 14, 2019 (Germany - 16), May 14, 2019 (Brazil - 16), May 14, 2019 (Spain - 16), May 14, 2019 (South Korea - 15)
- Networks: BBC One
- Production Companies: Red Production Company
- Production Countries: United Kingdom
- Alternative Titles: 此去经年 (CN), Years & Years (MX)
Years and Years - Plot
As Britain is rocked by unstable political, economic and technological advances, members of the Lyons family converge on one crucial night in 2019. Over the next 15 years, the twists and turns of their everyday lives are explored as we find out if this ordinary family could change the world.
Years and Years - Trailer
See the Lyons family's extraordinary fifteen-year journey unfold in the official trailer:
One family. A Lifetime of changes.
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Years and Years - Cast & Crew
Writer(s)
- Russell T Davies
Main Cast
- Emma Thompson
- Anne Reid
- Rory Kinnear
- Jessica Hynes
- Russell Tovey
- Ruth Madeley
- T'Nia Miller
- Sharon Duncan-Brewster
- Lydia West
- Jade Alleyne
Executive Producers
- Simon Cellan Jones
- Michaela Fereday
- Russell T Davies
- Nicola Shindler
- Lucy Richer
Years and Years - FAQs
Is Years and Years based on a true story?
Years and Years is not based on a single true story, but writer Russell T Davies drew heavily from real-world political trends, refugee crises, and technological anxieties to craft its near-future Britain. The result feels unnervingly plausible, blending speculative fiction with events and forces already visible in contemporary society.
What makes Vivienne Rook such a compelling villain?
Emma Thompson's Vivienne Rook is terrifying precisely because she feels so familiar — a populist demagogue who weaponises frustration and apathy. Thompson plays her with gleeful menace and sharp wit, making Rook seductive even as her policies grow monstrous. Critics widely cited the performance as one of television's great political antagonists.
Is Years and Years worth watching in 2024?
Absolutely. Years and Years earned a 93% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and remains one of the most prescient dramas of the past decade. Its portrait of a family navigating political collapse, climate anxiety, and digital transformation feels more relevant with every passing year, not less.
Where can you stream Years and Years?
Years and Years is available to stream on HBO Max and through the HBO Max Amazon Channel. If you prefer to own it, episodes can be purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home.
Did Years and Years win any major awards?
Years and Years received widespread award recognition, earning BAFTA nominations including Best Drama Series and Best Supporting Actress for Anne Reid. Emma Thompson won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Limited Series, and the show was widely celebrated by critics' circles on both sides of the Atlantic.
How does Years and Years portray the near future?
Rather than leaning on science-fiction spectacle, the series extrapolates from present-day anxieties — rising authoritarianism, refugee displacement, transhumanism, and social media manipulation — projecting them across 15 years in ways that feel disturbingly credible. The domestic scale of the Lyons family keeps these vast forces emotionally grounded and deeply human.
Who wrote Years and Years?
Russell T Davies wrote all six episodes of Years and Years. The acclaimed writer, best known for reviving Doctor Who and creating Queer as Folk, brought his signature blend of emotional warmth, sharp political satire, and bold storytelling to this near-future family saga.
What are similar shows to Years and Years?
If Years and Years resonated with you, Black Mirror offers similarly unsettling near-future technology tales, while Our Friends in the North delivers an equally ambitious multi-decade British family saga. Brave New World and Snowpiercer both explore dystopian social structures, and The Regime provides sharp contemporary political satire.
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