Years and Years ends with powerful speech and emotional cliffhanger
Note: The following article contains spoilers for Years and Years episode 6.
BBC One's dystopian political drama Years and Years concluded on Tuesday (June 18) with an emotional cliffhanger.
Early on in the episode, Muriel (played by Anne Reid) delivered a powerful and moving speech to her family which hit home for many viewers.
Looking back on the tumultuous 10,000 days from 1999 to the present, Muriel explained how everyone was to blame for the current state of the world.
Using the examples of £1 T-shirts and automated checkouts at supermarkets, Muriel took her family (and the rest of us) to task for standing back and letting these things happen, proclaiming: "It's our fault. This is the world we built."
Many viewers took to Twitter to expressed how moved they were by Muriel's speech, as well as Anne Reid's terrific acting.
“It’s our fault. This is the world we built. Congratulations, cheers all.” #YearsAndYears pic.twitter.com/rCfqGq93sl
- BBC One (@BBCOne) June 18, 2019
So much power in Anne Reid’s speech #YearsandYears
- Simon (@Simon_dttia) June 18, 2019
Muriel’s speech just now was absolutely stunning. “It’s your fault. It’s our fault.” Anne Reid delivered it beautifully. Love her. #YearsAndYears
- Fritha Malcouronne. (@NomadicWriter) June 18, 2019
That speech by Anne Reid. 👏👏👏👏 #YearsandYears
- Kate | ❤💜💙💚💛🎶🎵 (@katiephipps) June 18, 2019
That was such a great monologue from Muriel, couldn't disagree with word of what she said. Great delivery from Anne Reid as well. #YearsAndYears
- Jonathan Lansana (@tvgenius05) June 18, 2019
“This is the world *we* built.” The sheer power of RTD’s writing combined with a blistering performance from Anne Reid. #YearsAndYears
- Toby (@Tobiiiaaas) June 18, 2019
Our next Prime Minister. Please. #YearsAndYears #OurNextPrimeMinister pic.twitter.com/W4eAMcvhPD
- Tom Flynn (@DrTomFlynn) June 18, 2019
Anne Reid just delivered the speech of the year on #YearsAndYears Outstanding!
- Mattie Jameson (@MattieAJameson) June 18, 2019
Muriel's speech also rang home to her family, and led to Bethany confessing that she knows where Viktor is and it was her father Stephen who had him sent away, leading Edith and Fran to go searching for him.
And when they got Viktor from the refugee camp, Edith made their intentions clear telling him: "We didn't just come here to save you, we came to start a war."
As they battled to get out of the camp they began filming everything that was happening as the signal mast was exploded, allowing the information to be shared and the Four Star Party finally exposed.
We then found out that Prime Minister Vivienne Rook (Emma Thompson) was arrested on charges of murder and conspiracy to murder and was sentenced to 27 years in prison.
As for Edith, thanks to the radiation she had been exposed to her health began to fail and in the years following we found her on her deathbed.
But instead of dying, Edith is ‘downloaded’ to the cloud, as she believes the woman in prison isn't really Rook and she actually got away.
The episode then ended on a cliffhanger, with the Lyons family gathering around Señor to see if Edith had been successfully downloaded.
With the series over, viewers were left reflecting on the past six episodes, with many calling it one of the best shows they'd seen in recent memory and something that should serve as a warning to us all.
years and years is one of THE BEST shows i have watched this year. it was so good! the whole cast were amazing. this show and the cast deserve all the awards. it was fantastic! we need a second season asap! 💞🙌🏼 #YearsAndYears @BBCOne
- 𝐜⚘ (@xasoiaf) June 18, 2019
Also though, #YearsAndYears has been the best television I’ve watched in, well, years. The whole series has been moving, thought provoking and weirdly inspiring, and that finale was nothing short of phenomenal.
- Miss cmr (@miss_cmr) June 18, 2019
Lots to think about with #YearsAndYears. Politics, mortality, our responsibility for the state of the world. Superb writing, acting, direction and music. Deserved far more attention than it got.
- Chris Wills (@crispeater) June 18, 2019
The most amazing, audacious eye opening, social commenting, funny and dramatic, entertaining programme in well... years and years. #YearsAndYears
- Maria Waters (@velvetmoulin75) June 18, 2019
blown away.. fantastically written and expertly acted and portrayed, tonight there have been cheers, jeers and tears...superbly ended leaving it ripe for a second series but sad it's over, what a ride eh? #YearsAndYears RTD you are legend
- yvonne e healan (@daisybelle1a) June 18, 2019
#YearsAndYears
I mean pic.twitter.com/MMTTKZmcqB- Rufus Hound 🌨 (@RufusHound) June 18, 2019
#YearsAndYears was a MASTERPIECE. Officially one of my all time favourite shows. Everyone should watch it. It’s endearing, scary, and a snap of how things could go so, so wrong if we don’t learn from the mistakes we made decades ago.
- Millie (@MillieSansoye) June 18, 2019
Years And Years was incredible. A lesson that one ordinary family can help change the world. Nothing is over until everything is, so do your bit for the future of humanity. #YearsAndYears #RussellTDavies pic.twitter.com/k7S7QkHx1f
- Ben Jones (@BenJones019) June 18, 2019
Ooft. That ending. Goosebumps all over. I have loved this series - innovative, bold and brave. Like Fran said, the worse thing you could do is fall in love with a Lyons and we did. And that's what prevailed at the end - love. What a cast. RTD 👏🏻❤️ #YearsAndYears
- Corey Terrett (@terrettcorey) June 18, 2019
Years and Years airs on BBC One.
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