Just under a week since I began the journey but I’ve now watched all of This is England for the first time. My GOD. The film, these shows are a stone cold masterpiece. I loved the film when I saw it. A hard hitting, complex, funny but beautifully made piece of work. The shows surpassed it in ways I wasn’t prepared for. I do think 86 is flawed. Overly comic and some scenes don’t work but still great. Still the characters I love. 88 hit the stratosphere for me. A heartbreaking, beautiful, stunningly acted final episode and as cathartic an ending as I’ve seen. 90 is as brilliant. Each episode builds on the one previously, each building upon the previous series. A brilliant tapestry of interweaving characters, complex lives, secrets, emotions and decisions. If 88 was about trauma then 90 was about forgiveness. The seasons conceit serves the story beautifully and allows to see how their lives develop in a way that feels true to life. Things don’t just happen overnight, they take time. And what an ending. Shocking, heartbreaking and joyous. I never wanted it to end. Please make one more movie. But it wouldn’t work if it weren’t for the superb cast. Everyone of them is amazing but the standouts, Joe Gilgun, Vicky McClure…Stephen fucking Graham. Sensational. Truly, unbelievable. They all felt like family by the end. A warm, loving group of people who I wanted to spend time with. Like the movie the show was hard but it had so much heart and truth and beauty. It made me cry so much, laugh so much and I am overjoyed that this series now exists in my life. Fuck, who else loves it? I have thoughts! #thisisengland #shanemeadows #joegilgun #vickymcclure #stephengraham https://www.instagram.com/p/CSXUNXqNc8Q/?utm_medium=tumblr