Yesterday the Series as Gothic fiction
I wrote a little about this on bluesky but I thought I'd share here and maybe expand on some points!
In my opinion, Yesterday the Series belongs in the Gothic fiction (a modern version of the genre!)
Gothic fiction has characteristics including themes of isolation, being trapped/claustrophobia, fucked up family dynamics, anti-heroes, feelings of dread, influence of the past, and imposing settings like manors, mansions, castles.
The non-linear plot instantly creates an air of mystery around the show, along with feelings of anxiety and dread for the viewer. We know characters will suffer when we see their more tender scenes. We know what personality traits they take on. But we don't know why, the viewers are waiting for the plot to be revealed to us piece by piece, uncertain of when key information will be revealed. We're on edge; the show is playing a psychological game with us, just as the characters go through their own psychological games.
On the theme of isolation: Kelvin is a character who lives an isolated life. He is reclusive and withdrawn. He is 'othered' by his family. He doesn't appear to have much autonomy, living as almost a 'servant', working multiple jobs under the thumb of his father and brother (or so it would appear - we again may be missing information). He's sitting in a position where he needs rescued, he's a damsel in distress. And if we take him at his word, he's a virgin. All of this is classic gothic tropes.
However isolation doesn't just end with Kelvin. We have what looks like an isolated mansion - seemingly not located centrally. Somewhere where a character (Vier) needs to sleep over as a guest, putting his life in the hands of his hosts. There is a sinister energy introduced to the viewer - Vier learns through mysterious notes that he is being watched by surveillance cameras. This creates an environment where Vier is not in control. It is tense. Claustrophobic. Despite the open spaces in the large home, someone is always watching.
We later learn the cameras are to watch Kelvin - we don't know why. Is it because he is under the control of his family, or is it because he is dangerous and needs watched at all times?
Finally with isolation - Kelvin isolates Vier, he kidnaps him. He keeps him chained up in a basement/dungeon. At this point, we experience another gothic trope - the attic wife, or madwoman in the attic. This trope should be applied to Kelvin's damsel in distress character if following convention, however the show subverts expectation and it is the hero/anti-hero character (Vier).
On the characters and their personalities:
Vier is our hero or perhaps anti-hero. Because Vier isn't exactly a green flag. Vier is a powerful, wealthy, ambitious man. He's also willing to take what he wants and use people. Yes, he stepped into the protector role, he rescued the damsel in distress when he was wrongfully imprisoned. He used his power and connections to get Kelvin out of jail. But he expects sex as payment, he plays with Kelvin's emotions, and he takes Kelvin to an isolated location so they can have sex. We see Vier manipulate someone else for business purposes.
Kelvin reveals himself to not be a damsel in distress, but an anti-hero (at the very least) in his own right. We don't know whether the damsel personality was an act yet, or whether he was driven to madness by actions we've seen from his family, and further actions yet to be revealed. Kelvin's second, present day personality is cunning, obsessive, destructive (to himself, see making Vier hit himself over the head with the bottle, and to others), and dangerous.
Being driven to madness is, in itself, a Gothic trope, as are persecuted heroines who take their fates into their own hands and fight against their abusers. There is a lot we are waiting to discover with Kelvin.
We aren't in a traditional Gothic setting; we're not roaming the moors or in a crumbling castle. We're in a tropical climate, which means intense downpours; the trope plays with atmospheric weather, with violent weather mirroring the violent events, the tumultuous plot, and the instability of the characters.
There are plenty of instances of Gothic setting. We don't know where Kelvin's dungeon is - it may be part of the main family home (a secret room is yet another trope they could be playing with). But the dungeon is dimly lit, with traditional candles and lamps, iron bars. Nothing warm or inviting here. There is also a huge church-inspired window at the entrance to the dungeon.
There are still many episodes to go, many facts to be revealed, and I might need to come back and do a reaction to the whole show once it's over, including discussing points I've made here and what ended up correct, and what I was wrong about when I only had access to limited information.
Also feel free to add any other points I've missed! Or any ways the show subverts the tropes!
