The BBC series 'Years and Years', featuring Emma Thompson, vividly explores a dystopian future with themes of free speech under threat and the rise of extreme politicians. Originally aired in 2019, the drama resurfaces with relevance today, reflecting societal anxieties. It depicts a wealthy, populist leader who manipulates public fears, employing deeply emotional rhetoric to promote a polarizing, radical agenda. The show's narrative serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of extremism and the fragility of democratic ideals in modern society.
Democracy was a very nice idea for a while but now it's worn out, says a character in a TV drama I'm watching.
The six-part series, broadcast on the BBC in 2019 but having a resurgence after landing on Netflix, follows the rise of a wealthy, populist leader.
The politician harvests support by expressing public anxieties while using emotionally charged rhetoric to push a tribalising, polarising, radicalising agenda.
Years and Years imagines a dystopian near future with some eerily familiar characteristics, such as free speech under threat and extremist politicians going mainstream.
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