For Years to Come (2023) User Reviews

A breath of fresh air

[barnaby-55238 · 10/10 · 29 December 2023]

I've never become so invested in a show and it's characters so quickly before. To experience such strong emotions within just the pilot episode was unexpected and delightful.

For Years To Come perfectly balances a number of themes - feelings of grief, loss and regret are coupled with reconciliation, love and new beginnings making for a show that is perfectly heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.

The comedy - which lands perfectly - is delicately placed amongst a deeply personal story that doesn't go where you might typically expect it to. By the end you're left teary eyed and desperate to know what happens next.

Gorgeous

[kdavishunt · 10/10 · 7 June 2023]

What a satisfying and honest look at grief, queerness, and the enigmatic nature of kinship. Painfully, hilariously true to life.

Compulsively watchable. I am definitely going to lose chunks of my life to binge-watching when the full season is released.

It is rare to see such complex subject matter brought to life so accurately, without veering into over-earnestness. The audience laughter and tears all felt earned. The cast shimmers with the kind of unforced chemistry that makes me want to spend hours with these characters.

This show is deliciously layered and nuanced and devastating and funny. Instant favorite.

A beautiful and funny pilot- deeply romantic

[bfgrimes · 10/10 · 24 September 2023]

I really loved the pilot episode- it is unexpected and fun and talks about grief in a really unique and human way. The acting is fantastic and it had moments that made me cry. It features a queer love story that defies the usual stereotypes and cliches, and feels really sweeping, even in such a short amount of time. Jamie Nelson in the central character is particularly fantastic- charming, caring, and occasionally awkward. There were several moments that made me tear up (though I won't give any spoilers). It is a deep look at what it means to live life to the fullest, what we do and don't know about our parents, and how to process grief, even when it is deeply uncomfortable. I highly recommend it!

Great Pilot

[lostofold-1 · 10/10 · 7 August 2023]

I caught this at Dances with Films in the episodic block and was really impressed by it. Well made, nicely shot, strong writing and directing - and great performances! It has a very unique tone as it deals with grief, expectations, family, finding love, and sexuality. You could tell the audience was really into it, so I know its themes and humor resonated with people. James Patrick Nelson shared afterwards that he based the story on his own life experiences, and you can tell by the details that you're watching an authentic voice. Hoping it gets picked up as a series because it definitely ends with a cliffhanger!

Original, touching, and hilarious

[rkelle-1 · 10/10 · 16 August 2023]

James Patrick Nelson has created a grounded, intimate, moving, original, and brilliant half-hour of dramedy with FOR YEARS TO COME. As someone who very recently lost a parent (just over a month ago now, actually), I was deeply moved by this piece. But I also laughed out loud! The acting is superb, and the cinematography transported me to a magical version of LA--one that is wistful and evergreen. The writing/storytelling here is also extraordinary--compelling and emotional, but also witty and down-to-earth. Anyone who has lost a loved one (even a grandparent, for example) will relate to Johnny and what he is going through. And even if you are someone who is lucky enough to have never experienced grief or loss personally, you will find a relatable warmth and richness in this story, which will undoubtedly touch you and uplift you. 10 out of 10 stars!

A beautifully intimate and promising pilot!

[rachelcasparian · 10/10 · 3 August 2023]

So much to love in this endearingly vulnerable and surprisingly funny portrait of grief and reckoning. There's a raw and unguarded quality to both the writing and performances that draws the viewer in, and has you rooting for the emotional growth and personal connections of its characters, who's relationships and understanding of each other are far more complex than they first seem. The pilot's final twist gives ample runway for delving deep into some unexpected perspectives on the porn industry, queer experience and journey to making peace with aging parents. Based on the pilot, I expected all these themes will continue to be handled with candor, humor and grace, and overall, I'm really excited to see how the rest of this series unfolds!

Full of Surprises . . .

[dennisrelkins · 10/10 · 17 June 2023]

. . . and leaves you demanding more when it ends!

I wasn't quite sure what kind of story I'd walked into and, at first, the awkwardness of the opening sequence gave me that uncomfortable "voyeur-vibe" that I was being privy to too much information--like being invited to a funeral of a complete stranger, just for fun.

And, within seconds, I'm caught up in the silence, the grief and the parts of relationships that don't have words. I was totally spellbound by the father/son conversations that are both familiar and unexpected.

In fact, it the "unexpected" in this short film that caught my attention and kept me engaged throughout--with great storytelling, inviting characters and solid performances!

I simply want more!!!! It was beautiful!!!! Thank you!!!!

Gentle, refreshing, and filled to the brim with heart

[kenonveno · 10/10 · 10 November 2023]

I caught For Years to Come at a film festival in New York, and it was far and away the highlight of the entire event. The performances were delightful across the board. James Patrick Nelson and Richard Riehle deliver particularly inspired and joyful performances, despite the fact that this pilot presents the audience with themes of grief and secrecy. Very well-written and very well-made! This was clearly crafted with a lot of love and care. The heart of For Years to Come is immense and earnest, and it was a treat to watch. Also, it ends with a hilarious and unexpected revelation that I need to know more about. I'm dying to see where it goes from here!

A surprising Indie Pilot

[colinrhenning · 10/10 · 20 October 2023]

"For Years to Come," from James Patrick Nelson, succeeds by being at once classic and new. The format and tone, is very traditional. While this could allow it to get lost amongst many other independent Pilots and Shorts, it is worked into an asset: the traditional nature of this piece allows it to surprise you with moments of new-found comedic structure worked into the structure of its dramatic emotional spine. Additionally, in just under half an hour, we get an honest depiction of the characters in vulnerable moments, enhanced -and not undercut- by comedy. (And Richard Riehle is a standout, of course).

One of the Best I've Seen at a Festival!

[chad-hylton · 10/10 · 20 October 2023]

I saw this pilot at Soho Film Festival, in the TV series block - and I was so pleasantly surprised! "For Years to Come" is about a gay man who falls in love with his dead mother's hospice nurse, while struggling to reconnect with his elderly father... who's secretly a porn director.

This pilot was funny, and achingly honest - the perfect balance of comedy and heart. The ending scene with Johnny's resolution in finding out his mom knew he was gay - that sort of euphoria intermixed with his dad's screenplay writing was one of the funniest, most inspired things I've seen at a festival. I also loved that throughout the pilot, the comedy never undercut the emotion - it only added levity in a very natural way.

Besides the writing and acting, the cinematography and production design were also top-notch - everything looked, sounded, and felt very polished.

Can't wait to see what else this team does! :)

Real and heartwarming

[beckm101 · 4 August 2023]

I really enjoyed this slice of life series by Jamie Nelson. I saw it premiere at Dances With Film festival, and I knew it was going to go far. It's really wonderful to see two queer characters on screen who are finding love/connection in an organic and wholesome way. The pilot was surprising, grounded, funny, sad, and all the things you want to be introduced to characters in an episode 1 of a series. This definitely has potential to be something bigger and/or get picked up! I love supporting indie filmmakers, and Jamie Nelson would be at the top of your list. Do not sleep on For Years To Come!!!