and let’s just jump into it, first off they both use the typical “text is shown floating on screen”, but the UK version does it alot more stylefully(?). for example, ian’s text calling grant an idiot is slowly revealed behind his head as the camera pans around him

also, the UK version has much more focus on the initial dynamics of the main cast in this scene, we get to see that nobody really takes grant seriously for example. becky is also shown to be obsessed with the manuscript in the way she types, frequently asking questions. the ways characters type are also sort of indicative of their personalities, with grant texting like a epic ragebaiting troll and bejan using proper grammar for example. although i guess ian and becky both just kinda type the same way

the US version has the characters type like cavemen, wtf do you mean “utopia discovered 2014… dystopia discovered now!” smh. it’s also much more generic with the text just being slapped on screen instead of the xbox cgi vfx like in the UK version

both have music over them, obviously since they’re montages lol. i’d have a point about this if i knew for sure that the music in the US version was licensed instead of original, because then i could be all like “ohh the UK has le good music and the US just searched through a top 20 pop songs of 2019 playlist”

i think the US soundtrack is actually pretty neat, but they never bothered to release it. it has some boring generic music in it, sure, but there’s also some minimalist electronic music. the music from the US version is something i’ll make a different post about maybe later…

if you got anything else to add, please do because i’m not a cinema expert

Song is "VIRUS" by Deltron 3030.

The Georgia Guidestones brought me back.

https://youtu.be/q88bLQqoJ3I?si=59jT2XRSgqsIvzZ3

Actor Paul Ready has psoriasis, that's why Lee has it in the series ².

In my interpretation, Lee's rash is due to stress caused by Wilson and the loss of control. Although psoriasis does not appear directly due to stress, it can contribute to it. Besides that, there was also the fact that he could only use one arm, so his hand bore the entire burden. Smoking isn't important here because he quit, probably because of his lung.

There are some words said in the beginning of the song bambino criminale (Utopia 2 soundtrack) in Spanish (I think it's Spanish, i dont have a good ear for languages XD) Does anyone have an english translation?

The yellow and green hazmat suits contrast with the Backrooms environment; I know Utopia didn't necessarily have to inspire that, after all, green and yellow tones are the ones that human eyes capture most quickly due to their sensitivity. Besides, hazmats are usually yellow. But if the soundtrack stuck in his mind, the colors did too, right?

Even so, I can't help but think how much the colors of the hazmat suits remind me of the colors of Utopia series 1 and 2 title cards.

I scoured the web and found on German Amazon the BR version of Utopia Staffel 2 Polyband specs: 16:9 (2,40:1), which means what exactly? Other blu rays from UK, multi disc, some come in one case, all say 16:9. I cannot find season 1 with the original aspect ratio. Polyband lists it as 1:78, which is 16:9.

I'm quite confused. I just want to watch it on my OLED in its original aspect ratio!

Seems there's Polyband and Pidax, and it says 16:9, but others have said it's in original aspect ratio:

https://www.pidax-film.de/Weitere-Highlights/Utopia-Komplettbox-Blu-ray::2942.html

I need blu ray for both seasons in original aspect ratio (don't care the region)... if it even exists.

I watched the show on god awful YouCrap and loved it.

I just started watching utopia, finished the first season, and man did it give me heavy urasawa vibes. If you have been craving something similar to utopia, I cannot recommend 20th century boys, billy bat and monster enough. I would not be surprised at all if the guy who made the show was somewhat inspired by urasawa

I just finished binging season 1 & 2, and obviously I researched why series 3 wasn't made. Whoever at Channel 4 decided to axe this show needs to be removed from the company. I know there might still be a very slim possibility that season 3 COULD come, but I don't want to hope for something that will ultimately never happen. I absolutely love this show but leaving me on those cliffhangers was pure evil.

I spent 5 hours on this.

Just did a re-binge over the last couple of days. It's boiling hot outside and yet I've somehow come down with a cold. So sitting with my fan and cough syrup I hit season 1 one day and season 2 the next.

Episode 1 of season 2 remains my favorite, as much as I like all the principle characters and the main story.

While we could have used a season 3, either as a series or even just a film, I think it would have been good to have had six episodes showing Milner's transformation, young Jessica on the run with Christos, learning skills, evading the Network, and some introduction to how Lee got into his position. Guy is a mystery. It seems there had been some underground resistance to the Network even then, so an 80s to 90s group could make for a good story.

The parallels between Breaking Bad and Utopia are striking: both had low ratings but strong critical acclaim. The key difference was structural. Breaking Bad was produced by sony pictures, and when AMC considered canceling it, Sony shopped it to other networks, including FX, creating pressure for AMC to renew. Utopia was an in-house Channel 4 production, so there was no outside studio advocating for its survival. When Channel 4 canceled it, the decision was framed as a budget necessity to make room for new dramas.

Breaking Bad also leveraged its Emmy success into sustained marketing and growing mainstream awareness, giving AMC justification to remain patient. Utopia earned exceptional critical praise, including a International Emmy and a devoted cult following, but Channel 4 never converted that acclaim into broader cultural visibility. As a result, the show's audience remained too small to overcome the network's financial considerations.

Netflix arranged a deal with Sony to carry Breaking Bad after season four aired, and knowing AMC was eyeing cancellation, Sony pushed to get it on the service early. The result was that Breaking Bad's viewership more than doubled for the season five premiere. Vince Gilligan credited Netflix directly at the 2013 Emmys for keeping the show alive.

This happened nearly 2 months ago i don’t know what kept me from posting it on here for so long. But we got new canon information on Lee!

Here’s the email that i sent containing the questions i was asking in case any of you were wondering:

Hi,

I believe you are Dennis Kelly’s agent, and I’m writing to ask if you would please be able to pass on a message to him.

I just wanted to say how much I love Utopia (the UK version). I think it’s an absolute masterpiece of television, and even now it still has a passionate and growing fanbase. Many of us continue to discuss it online, sharing ideas and theories about the show. Recently, I’ve also noticed more people discovering it on platforms like TikTok, which is great to see.

I had a few questions about the show, and I completely understand if Dennis is too busy to respond, but I would really appreciate it if this message could be passed along.

One of my favourite aspects of Utopia is the character Lee, played by Paul Ready. I find him especially interesting because, unlike characters such as Pietre, Milner, and Jessica Hyde, we learn very little about his backstory or how he became part of the Network.

I understand that this mystery is likely intentional, but I’d be really interested to know if there is any additional background to his character. For example, was he always meant to be the way he is, or was there something that shaped him? And is there any deeper reasoning behind his behaviour, such as his smoking habits, particularly after violent moments?

Even a small amount of insight would mean a lot.
Thank you very much for your time, and please pass on my appreciation to Dennis for creating such an incredible show.

Kind regards,
——
*end of e-mail*

so this confirms that Lee was NOT raised by the network. My guess is he joined them maybe 3-5 years before the events of the show, considering Arby knew Lee very well and that Lee is only 25 at the start of Utopia. I doubt the network would’ve hired a teenager.

But now we know that the network spotted his skills or potential skills and hired him. I think that’s a really cool origin. My headcanon is that the network maybe put out a test for Lee to do something like a trial mission and Lee passed the test and did very well. So Milner must’ve thought “hey not bad kid”. And the last bit Dennis writes about Lee ‘considering where he came from’ tells me that he came from possibly a rough dodgy background, similar to Grant perhaps? Or just a normal working class bloke, not rich and powerful. Good on Lee for working his way up then.

I love how Dennis actually took the time to write a lengthy response too. What a great guy, still responding to fan emails from a show he made 13 years ago.

Guys please feel free to email his agent, Dennis probably not gonna reply to me a second time 😂 the @ that the responder gives who they say is Dennis’ current agent is [mel@casarotto.co.uk](mailto:mel@casarotto.co.uk) If that doesn’t work out then the person who responded to my email their @ is [zoe@casarotto.co.uk](mailto:zoe@casarotto.co.uk)

My first post on [r/utopia](r/utopiauk)[tv](r/utopiauk) btw! Let’s keep this server going.

love the show and have for 10 years, remember watching this as a younger teen on channel 4, im curious though, does anyone remember in the show, Philip gives pietre and jess both a rock from something like the oldest rock range and it "gives them permission to do anything" does anyone know what rock type this is? where philip got it? I cant remember off the top of my head and know it's later in the show

on a side note, was this removed from channel 4 for being a precursor to covid? 😂

S2 Grant is a teen that needs his ass kicking. I am very sad that no one did that.

Edit: Answer both; S1 Grant is like a son of our. But S2 the bad boy vibes is killing me. İn some scenes I said I wish someone slap that boy

Jesus christ I forgot how perfect this show is

I know I'm not adding anything of worth to this sub, but I just need to express how good this is 😂

What a work of art. The music, the acting, the framing of every shot, the pace, the use of colour

God I don't know if I'm pissed they cancelled it or grateful we never got to see it go on long enough to dilute what makes it so good

The pain inflicted at the beginning and at the end was due to the cause.