"Better to burn out..."



The cast of The Fades (L to R):
Daniel Kaluuya, Lily Loveless, Iain De Caestecker,
Johnny Harris , Natalie Dormer

 Why is it that if we want to see some smart, genre-based drama, we have to turn to the americans? For science-fiction, at the moment, Fringe has to be the must-see show, for horror and the supernatural it's got to be True Blood. Outside of the Saturday night family slot, those of us in search of homegrown genre product have very little to choose from beyond the late night fare put out by Channel 4 or BBC Three. The former with Misfits and the latter having already done wonders by launching Torchwood and bringing us supernatural dramedy Being Human.

Recently BBC Three has launched its latest foray into horror with "The Fades." Set in a world where some of the dead  (the titular Fades) aren't ascending to wherever it is they go next (heaven, beyond, the other side etc) and some of them are, understandably, getting a bit pissy about it.

Enter Paul. He's 17 years old and he's more comfortable with his mate Mac and his knowledge of film and comics than with his twin sisters friend who he somewhat fancies (Sounds familiar to a good chunk of my readers I suspect). If normal teen/geek angst isn't enough, it also doesn't help that he can, in best 'Sixth Sense'-style "see dead people" and is receiving visions of the apocalypse. It turns out that he's an 'Angelic', one of the few who can see the Fades and, unfortunately, it looks like the dead are learning to regain some form of corporeality by killing and eating people.

Many of the cast and crew are recognisable faces and names from genre (whether that be the sci-fi/fantasy or teen genres) shows. Former Skins and Shameless writer Jack Thorne has created an original take on some of the standard supernatural tropes while combining it with many of the the themes and ideas found Skins, such as dysfunctional family relationships, mental illness and sexuality. His conception and realisation of the Fades themselves are a very nice compression of Vampire, Ghost and Zombie all-in-one handy supernatural package, while having two of our leads as 'geeks' gives us the opportunity to use discussion of other genre material as a short cut to describe the ideas to the audience, leaving us time to concentrate on more important things.

Perhaps unsurprisingly the cast has two members of two difference generations of Skins in it, Joe Dempsie and Lily Loveless, while Daniel Kaluuya, Tom Ellis and Claire Rushbrook will undoubtedly be recognised from their individual appearances in Doctor Who. The most recognisable face is likely to be unusual sight of This Life's Daniela Nardini sporting a dogcollar. However, it's Iain De Caestecker who has the hardest job leading the cast as Paul. Although a jobbing actor for a number of years including a stint as young Adam Barlow on Coronation Street, it is only now that he's making the leap to (borrowing the old theatrical term) juvenile lead. Physically he reminds me somewhat of a young Rafe Spall (Just thinner than Rafe was at that age) while his portrayal of poor confused Paul will strike a chord with any make geek of a certain age. He and Dan Kaluuya work together to show a strong, believable friendship between the two teens that makes them seem more like an old-married couple. (and indeed, if you hadn't worked that out they're seen sat at the opposite end of a bench to an old-married couple to subtly press home the comparison.) We'll see Iain next as the young James Herriot in "Young James" and I foresee a strong career ahead.

From the crew, Producer Caroline Skinner recently joined the team at BBC Wales to make Doctor Who and seems to have taken the director of the first three episodes, Farren Blackburn, with her to direct this years Christmas special. As a team, the production is slick and well presented. Edited to the cracking pace you'd expect from a modern set drama, the effects work (both practical and computer generated) successfully presents the more fantastical elements of the Fades and the Angelics without looking ropey. A special mention should be made of the full body prosthetic for the 'Chief Fade'. Wrinkly, old, emaciated, but vicious and blood-thirsty with it. A scary guy, just as he should be.

Regrettably, it's taken me a few weeks to get round to catching up on the episodes gathering virtual dust on my PVR, but I've now watched the first half of the series (up to a truly surprising cliffhanger) and strongly recommend that anyone who hasn't caught this yet leap on iPlayer as soon as possible to catch up on the show.

"The Fades" intelligently mixes exploration of life, death, mortality, love, sex and many other aspects of teen living in the UK with flesh-eating monsters and references to Neil Gaiman which can only make the show feel like it was produced by people like us and for people like us. For once, it's a secret we need to be sharing with others rather than keeping it ourselves.

Find out more at the http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/thefades