Can't Get You Out of My Head (TV series)

Critical reception

Lucy Mangan of The Guardian awarded the series five out of five stars, calling it dazzling and a dense, ambitious triumph. Sarah Carson of the i also gave it five stars, describing it as terrifying and a masterpiece. Ed Cumming of The Independent, likewise rating it five stars, found it fascinating and disorienting, stating it aims to show how radical movements after the Second World War were neutralised and co-opted by an establishment determined to maintain the status quo.

James Walton of The Spectator, having previewed only four episodes, considered it incoherent and conspiracy-fuelled, a variation on Curtis's theme of human hopelessness. Ed Power of The Telegraph awarded three out of five stars, deeming the series completely implausible. Hannah McGill, writing for Sight & Sound, offered a sceptical review, arguing that Curtis practices journalism lacking specificity, corroboration, and consistency, instead serving up oddball historical anecdotes with broad assertions.

Did You Know?

• The series was originally titled What Is It That Is Coming?
• It was inspired by the rise of populism in 2016.
• Curtis wanted to investigate why critics of Donald Trump and Brexit could not offer an alternative vision for the future.