Although it first dropped back in 2019, British TV drama Years and Years, starring the inimitable Emma Thompson, is having a resurgence after hitting Netflix. Truly, it's a masterclass in speculative storytelling – as are most things that Russell T Davies creates.
Oh, and similarly to Black Mirror, it seems to be eerily on the money when it comes to predicting a depressingly dystopian future for us all. Yay!
Taking place between 2019 and 2034, we see the character of Daniel Lyons (Russell Tovey) stressing about what the world is going to look like for his newborn mixed race nephew, Lincoln. Through this lens, the series explores the intersection of politics, technology, and societal change with a sharp eye.
It sees Emma Thompson play a populist politician, Vivienne Rook, who serves up a mixture of Donald Trump and Nigel Farage-esque energy, and also features characters on various points of the political spectrum reacting to the shifting world around them.
(FYI: a populist is a political figure who claims to represent everyday people while opposing the 'elite' or establishment, despite oftentimes being incredibly wealthy and pretty out of touch with the communities they're appealing to themselves. They often use emotionally charged language, can be incredibly charismatic and entertaining, and present simple solutions to complex problems, creating an 'us versus them' dynamic to gain support. Sounding familiar?).
Let’s unpack all the things Years and Years spookily predicted, and how the show (which was written and filmed between mid-2018 and early 2019) eerily mirrors the realities of our current world...
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Populist politicians
Emma Thompson's Vivienne Rook is a brash, unapologetic populist who climbs the political ladder by saying the previously unsayable – in her case, stating she doesn't "give a f*ck" about the Israel-Palestine conflict on a Question Time-esque show, and then claiming "You're not allowed to say anything anymore" when the host asks her to refrain from swearing on TV.
Like Rook, there are plenty of political figures currently tapping into the public's general feeling of being disillusioned with traditional government leaders and 'broken Britain' (question: hasn't every era had its challenges? Is it actually broken, or are we just caught in a miserable cycle of negativity as bad news and division drives engagement?). Ditto, Rook's character easily taps into the ongoing seeming clash of ideologies and 'war on wokeism'(the cultural and political backlash against progressive ideas and social movements that focus on equality, diversity, and addressing systemic injustices – which some feel has gone 'too far').
Originally, the term 'woke' meant being aware of social and racial inequalities, but it has since been politicised and used disparagingly by critics who slap the term against anything they feel is stifling free speech or imposing political correctness.
Rook's rise feels like an uncanny reflection of the political shifts we've seen across the UK and beyond in recent years. From Brexit to the polarising rhetoric of various leaders (cough, Farage and Trump), the show taps into the growing trend of politicians who thrive on controversy and division. Plus, a healthy dose of mis- and dis-information. Thompson's character reminds us of the dangers of trading substance for spectacle in politics, a lesson that resonates deeply atm.
The return of Trump
The show accurately predicted a second term in the White House for Donald Trump, although it shows him triumphing in 2020 and in actuality, Trump lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden – but won in 2024.
It also touches on the unpredictability of America under Trump, who currently seems hellbent on isolating his allies (Tariffs, anyone? Claiming he's going to make Canada the 51st state and that he's up for 'taking' Greenland, which has been owned by the Danish for hundreds of years? Oh, and denying that Russia started the war in Ukraine?). It's something the character of Daniel Lyons discusses in episode one, when he says, "Never thought I'd be scared of American in a million years, but we've got fake news and false facts."
Ukraine being invaded by Russia
February 2022 saw a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia - an escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War that began eight years earlier - which is semi-reflected in the series.
Episode one shows a flash forward to 2023 and a news headline reading: Russia denies provoking unrest and withdraws from the G8 summit. As we all know, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has consistently blamed Ukraine for starting the ongoing war that has killed and injured thousands.
The show also touches on there being more Ukrainian refugees in the UK in 2024 than ever before; a number which rings true.
The death of Queen Elizabeth II
Given she was already in her nineties when Years and Years was written, it's not a huge leap that the show predicted the death of Her Majesty, but it's kinda spooky that it accurately suggests the royal would pass away in 2022 (as a reminder, Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 on 8 September 2022).
The Refugee Crisis and the UK’s Borders
The show poignantly addresses the plight of refugees, a theme that has become increasingly relevant in the UK. With ongoing debates surrounding immigration policies, Years and Years paints a grim picture of what happens when humanity is lost in bureaucracy. The storyline of a family member becoming a refugee hits close to home, forcing viewers to confront the human cost of displacement.
The UK's approach to immigration has been a hot-button issue, with policies often criticised for being harsh or inhumane by one side, and viewed as not going far enough by the other. The series amplifies these concerns, showing a world where compassion takes a backseat to political posturing.
The dark sides of technology
One of the most unsettling aspects of Years and Years is its exploration of technology’s role in our lives. From invasive surveillance to the rise of 'transhumanism', where people integrate tech into their bodies, the show feels like a warning shot. Least not because we've got the likes of biohackers, such as Bryan Johnson, gaining immense popularity online as they document their every move, heartbeat and biological function through tracking devices.
In the UK, discussions around data privacy, facial recognition software, and the ethics of artificial intelligence are also becoming increasingly urgent – especially in the creative fields, where the likes of Meta has recently been accused of, well, stealing a bunch of content from authors (when they could easily have paid them) and using the content of published books to train up their AI models.
The series also highlights how technology can be weaponised by governments and corporations, a reality that feels all too plausible in today’s digital age. With the UK’s growing reliance on tech when it comes to everything from healthcare to policing, Years and Years asks: how much control are we willing to give up in the name of progress?
Economic inequality
The show’s depiction of economic instability and growing wealth inequality hits particularly hard right now. Just one stat to demonstrate the painful gap? In 2022, according to the Equality Trust, incomes for the poorest 14 million people fell by 7.5%, at the same time that incomes for the richest fifth saw a 7.8% increase.
It's also thought that 60% of billionaires didn't (fairly) earn their wealth either, but rather inherited it, or obtained it via cronyism (AKA being appointed contracts or placed into positions they're not necessarily the best person for, thanks to knowing the 'right' people).
As seen on the show, the cost-of-living crisis, skyrocketing energy bills, and a housing market that feels out of reach for many, the struggles depicted through the Lyons family all feel achingly real. Years and Years also captures the anxiety of a society where the gap between the haves and have-nots is widening, leaving the middle class in particular fighting to stay afloat more than ever before.
The UK’s economic challenges, from austerity measures to underfunded public services, mirror the show’s portrayal of a world where the system feels rigged against ordinary people. It’s a stark reminder of the importance of addressing inequality before it spirals out of control.
Climate change on a global and local level
Climate change looms large in Years and Years, with extreme weather events and environmental disasters serving as a constant backdrop, much as they do in real life – from devastating floods in the UK to deadly wildfires in LA and beyond, the effects of climate change are no longer a distant threat. They’re happening right here, right now. As written by Country Living, the State of the UK Climate report says the UK is now 7% wetter than it used to be, with sea levels rising by an additional 1.6cm to boot.
The show challenges us to think about how we’re preparing for a future where these events become the norm. Are we doing enough to mitigate the impact of climate change, or are we sleepwalking into disaster?
R.I.P democracy
Perhaps the most chilling aspect of Years and Years is its portrayal of democratic decline, something we seem to be witnessing in real-time in the United States: many are currently afraid to travel to the US, after reports have emerged suggesting border patrol forces are searching people's phones for evidence that they've criticised the Trump administration. Which is very much not championing free speech.
Elsewhere in the US, Trump has been steamrollering through established institutions (e.g. shutting down the Board of Education) and has frozen funding for the likes of Harvard University, which also acts as an important research centre for the US and keeps the country at the forefront of medical and technological advancements, after the school refused to forbid students from protesting certain issues, such as the devastating conflict in Gaza. Another nail in the coffin for the 'free speech' that Trump claims to love so much.
Over in Years and Years, Vivienne Rook’s rise to power is also marked by the dismantling of democratic norms, and plainly serves as a stark warning about the fragility of democracy – and the ease with which it can be undermined.
In the UK, concerns about voter suppression, media manipulation, and the erosion of civil liberties are also ongoing. It’s a reminder that democracy requires constant vigilance and active participation to survive.
Media, misinformation and echo chambers
The role of media and social media when it comes to shaping public opinion is a recurring theme in Years and Years. The show illustrates how misinformation and sensationalism can fuel division (cough: see the cesspit of hatred that is Elon Musk's X for details), a reality that feels all too familiar. Right now, we're seeing a drop in trust when it comes to traditional media outlets and an unchecked social media world, where 'independent journalists' (who rarely abide by any editorial codes or reporting ethics that mainstream media is beholden to) are soaring.
Then there's the rise of deepfakes, meaning it's harder than ever to tell what is – and isn't – the truth. Add in the fact many people don't click beyond a headline, or engage with content and reporting from both sides of the political spectrum, and yeah... we're all kinda screwed.
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
