Parents' Guide to

Years and Years

By Martin Brown, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

British family drama speculates bleakly on the future.

TV HBO Drama 2019
Years and Years Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

Elena S.
Elena S. Adult
April 10, 2020
age 16+

Scarily realistic

I found Years and Years to be a great show that makes us think about how what we do today may affect us in the future. It is sci-fi, but realistic. The technology embraced by characters in the show sometimes seems very futuristic, but it isn't unrealistic. At times while watching I thought our future as depicted in the show seems bleak, and the scary part of that is that the events that unfold in the show aren't at all unlikely to happen in real life. This isn't a show meant for children. However, older teens will find it engaging. Things to be aware of include affairs and sex scenes. Overall, a well thought out, realistic look into our sometimes exciting, often depressing future - that is if we stay on the path we are on.

This title has:

Great role models
Too much sex
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In YEARS AND YEARS, the extended Lyons family grapples with political, social, and technological issues that affect them on a daily basis in the year 2024. Stephen and Celeste's daughter is obsessed with cutting-edge technology; Daniel becomes infatuated with one of the refugees he works with; Rosie raises two children as a single mother with spina bifida; Edith is a well-known activist who travels throughout the world; and matriarch Muriel just wants everyone to get together once a year for her birthday.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

More than any other show in recent memory, this series is wildly ambitious with its content: in fact, it attempts to confront just about every meaningful contemporary cultural and political issue within the confines of its six-episode run. What's even wilder is that it mostly succeeds in maintaining a unique and intriguing point-of-view while tying its sprawling, ambitious subject matter to gentle, human family conflict. One drawback: since it's a heavily idea-driven show, there's not really a single relatable character to experience the turbulent future through. In this way, Years and Years can sometimes feel more like an interesting experiment more than a compelling drama, but it would be tough to find a show with more to say about the present and the future.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the future. How does Years and Years take things that are happening in our current culture and speculate on how they will evolve years from now? Do you agree with any of the directions it predicts for the future? Which do you disagree with?

  • What are the current political and cultural issues that Years and Years grapples with? How does the show's depiction of these issues affect your understanding of them?

  • What are some differences between British and American culture? What are some similarities? Does anything on this show remind you of something happening in America? How? Do you think some of the events would be different if the show took place in America?

TV Details

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