Watch it to appreciate the growth of the characters and their relationships. It’s a gritty look at Birmingham in the 1980s, its fictional so don’t get hung up on the historic timelines, just appreciate the exceptional story telling style of Steve Knight. It’s got nostalgia from the set, especially if you’re a Brummie, to the 1984 riots which you will recognise even if you’re not from Birmingham. What’s astounding is that younger people will resonate with the character’s lives, expression through music, political and economic issues that are still live.