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Is it as good as Being Human? That’s surely the most natural question to pop into your head when you find out that BBC3 is doing a new supernatural drama. But, since somebody thought it would be a good idea for a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost to live together (admittedly, they’re far less terrifying housemates than Kerry Katona, Amy Childs and Jedward), The Fades is only BBC3’s second foray into the dangerous realms of fantasy drama. Thankfully, it was worth the wait.
The promotional bumph that has accompanied this series has, in my opinion, struggled to convey what The Fades is actually about, so I’m going to try and strip it down to the basics.
The Fades are people who have died, but not been chosen to go into the afterlife. Instead, they are forced to remain on Earth where no one can see them, and where they will gradually decay. The series’ lead character is Paul (Iain de Caestecker), a troubled teenager (as if he could have been any other kind…) who has terrifying dreams that become reality, the latest being a dream of a future where ash falls like X Factor contestants’ tears. The episode began with Paul coming across Neil (Johnny Harris), who was protecting recently deceased Sarah (Natalie Dormer) from a creepy, Dementor-alike Fade. Intrigued by the fact that Paul can see dead people (I’m so sorry, I couldn’t resist), Neil tracked Paul down and filled him (and, thankfully, the audience) in on the lore upon which the series is based.
Believe me when I say that that is a very brief round-up of events. There were far more characters, and much more ground covered, than I could ever hope to write about in 500 words. But while it would have been so easy for The Fades to collapse under its own weight, it approached its very promising concept with confidence.
Much of the credit for this must go to the writer, Jack Thorne. He knew just where to put the scares, and just where to play for laughs (which are pivotal if you want to avoid a po-faced Outcasts-style disaster). It is instantly clear that the series is in a very safe pair of hands, and he is to be commended for keeping most of his cards close to his chest, while showing us just enough to make the following episodes seem tantalising.
Furthermore, he’s created a very likeable set of characters. First and foremost, of course, is Paul. Troubled teenagers are two-a-penny, but ones you actually root for, and sympathise with, are less common; Paul is a well thought out, realistic anti-hero, and de Caestecker is perfectly cast. Equally good is Paul’s best friend (and comic sidekick), Mac, who is the source of most of the humour. It’s also a role that’s tailored perfectly for the increasingly ubiquitous Daniel Kaluuya, whose inspired take on Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense was possibly the highlight of the episode.
So, was it as good as Being Human? Well, it’s a bit unfair to judge at this early stage but, and I say this with some caution, The Fades does show very encouraging signs of rivalling the compulsiveness and cultish adoration achieved by that show, thanks to a winning script, a helpfully sized budget, a top cast, and a clear sense of where it’s going. Even if I have no idea.
The Fades continues Wednesday 9pm BBC3.
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