Here's What Happened

I've watched the first two of the six-episode mini-series Years And Years, now on HBO, originally on the BBC.  Set in Britain, it follows the fate of the various members of the Lyons family over the next fifteen years.  The show combines family drama with science fiction and satire.

The years ahead have their problems.  The family itself has troubles keeping together, raising the kids, etc.  The problems are recognizable, of course--cheating on someone, for instance--though much of the story has the characters interact with new technology, such as a teenage child who wants to become transhuman by downloading her consciousness into a computer.

Meanwhile, climate change, wars, economic disasters and so on do their damage, as the family tries it's best to deal with problems big and small.  And then there's Vivienne Rook--played by Emma Thompson, the only name in the cast--a politician who's trying to spread her populist message.  By the end of the second episode, with the economy falling apart, her message is finally starting to take hold.

The show has been fun so far.  Not that it's a comedy--it feels closer to a lengthy episode of Black Mirror--but the satire of technology and politics keeps it lively. (Though having a late second-term Donald Trump nuke China was distressingly unoriginal for a show that tries to be smart--it reminded you of its artificiality when they should want you to accept the reality of what's happening.)

Another very different show that just debuted is What Just Happened??! With Fred Savage.  A half-hour comedy, it's a parody of an aftershow--you know, like Talking Dead--of a fictional dramatic series called The Flare.  Fred Savage--who helped create the show--plays a celebrity named Fred Savage who hosts the live aftershow. (They have an actual audience for this show, though I assume they're playing an audience.)

Each episode--there are only four--has guest stars who appear as guests on the aftershow. The pilot featured Rob Lowe and Kevin Zegers playing actors from The Flare named Rob Lowe and Kevin Zegers.  I'll give Fox credit for trying something different, but it didn't really work.  There are a lot of levels, perhaps confusing to the audience, but the real problem is the humor doesn't come across.

It doubtful Fox has much confidence in the show, since the premiere was at 9:30 on Sunday following a rerun of Family Guy.  My guess is the ratings won't be much and What Just Happened??! will quietly disappear by the end of the month.