The Fades

Monday, October 3rd, 2011

Recently Ive begun a programme that I find quite interesting. BBC Three’s The Fades. It’s yet another supernatural drama that has a lot of similarities to The Sixth Sense but in a more spotty fashion. I think it might be the fact that I am watching it concurrently with Terra Nova and they have stark differences.

 

1. For one it seems that teenagers on British television are far more grown up than ones on US television. What’s that? They got an orange on Terra Nova? Big deal. For me the appeal of the main characters of the Fades is their inability to fit in. They aren’t the captain of the football team and for that I identify with far more strongly.

2. The Fades is written by Jack Thorne 1 who has also written episodes for Shameless and Skins. I’m familiar with his work on Shameless and being a long term fan of the show, this is not a bad thing.

A bit of disclosure: I have a background in VFX and as a result am aware of the time and money taken to produce Terra Nova. That being said, it just seems lacking in an enticing pace. Maybe its just me but creepy works far more than apple pie and false tension. You always know that the kids will be fine and they won’t just show an arm hanging off a rope in a forest.

 

 

Posted in The Fades

  • Sennen

    I’m a huge fan of Being Human and I think that BBC3 have done it again with The Fades!

    The aspects that seem to make this new genre of edgy BBC drama so good is the well writen scripts, great acting and the downright Britishness of them. They’re not trying to be some huge budget gritty American cop show but just sticking to what they can do well. The Body Farm seems to me to be a prime example of trying to do the wrong thing!

    I love the humour, compassion and honesty (if you can say that about shows that rely heavily on ghosts, vampires, warewolves & flesh eaters!) and maybe the horror style plots allow the show to surprise us more with the little day to day details that really make the shows work.

    Loving your work BBC3, keep it up.

    • Anonymous

      Very true, there is a definite compassion which is humourous considering the subject material and monsters. It has a gravitas that is lacking in other monster of the week tv such as Death Valley.

      I haven’t seen The Body Farm yet but the description hasn’t exactly tempted me.

    • jumpingjellysquabbles

      does anyone know when the next series of being human is? I LOVE IT!

      • Sennen

        Being human is back for a fourth series next year, although I’m not sure when, luckily we’ve got the fades! another good one and I may take to drinking cough medicine

    • SupposedlyCivilized

      I don’t agree with all the humour in the Fades. If I wanted offensive toilet humour, I’d watch the inbetweeners. Needless to say; I don’t.

  • Trevthespread

    The Fades. Realy good show hope it carrys on to a second series

    • Anonymous

      It’s not yet been confirmed or denied by the BBC, but considering the increasing positive reviews I can’t see why it wouldn’t. Still, I’ll post when I find out.

  • jumpingjellysquabbles

    i really dont understand what its about and then i get too scared to watch a full episode

  • Ryan-j

    this not even scary

  • Ryan-j

    but it quite funny

  • jumpingjellysquabbles

    YEAH IT IS the girl with freaky eyes whos always doing some strange smile! she looks like shes gunna jump out the tv!:L

  • Jennie cooper

    bbc well done the fades love it love it love it ,give us more stuff like this and i wont moan about paying my t.v licence

  • Chid

    Episode 3 – Those wings are lame!

  • Josephs

    This weeks episode is starting to move the story on very well. The eighties references continue to be funny and contrary to the post below, I thought the wings were very well done. This series is an excellent example of british tv lets hope the writing can continue to match the acting.

  • Katshub

    I absolutely LOVE the Fades. I have to record it as my mum watches something else so hogs the tv. But saying that, my sister and now my mum have ‘coming over to the dark side’ and fallen in love with it too. Yet again, BBC3 has produced something original, contemporary and a blimin good watch. I was hooked from Ep.1 and will happily tell anyone/everyone about it. I hope to god the cuts don’t affect the Fades or Being Human, as they are in all honesty my favourite programmes on TV.

    P.S – Can’t wait for the boxset!!!!

  • Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells

    I have to say I’ve found this programme to be addictive. The standard of acting is excellent all round but Daniel Kaluuya is absolutely phenomenal. Both comedic and tragic. Switching between the two seamlessly. I will be very upset if his character meets a sticky end. I have to say the supernatural aspects don’t actually scare me, it’s the more human everyday occurences that strike a chord and touch the heart. The fears I feel are the ones I faced myself when I was a confused nerdy teenager. Decades ago but it is good to see that although many think things are different for the young these days, they are still the same blend of youthful certainties and doubts. Which swap places almost endlessly from moment to moment.

    • Anonymous

      Isn’t he a good actor. The good old beeb have really found a talent there. Infact all the cast are brilliant (except maybe the guy from Miranda who is ok but maybe hamming it up a bit. Either that or I’m struggling to separate his character from the one that does the silly dance at the end of each Miranda episode).

  • Sianjeffers

    Does the singing group The Fades, sing at the end of the tv show The Fades?

  • Andytrousers

    The Fades, episode 3, end credit music – who is it???????
    Sounds very like ‘The Vaselines’ to me?????

    Anyone know?

    • Kevin

      Episode 3 is Beep Beep, I love; Malcom Middleton

      Episode 4 is brilliant it is Just abuse Me; Air Traffic

  • Kaylea L

    i love the fades, each episode gets better than the last, a truly amazing series and cant wait for the next part ! such a great idea ! =)

  • Olek

    Fades just seems to be getting better and better all the time. Tonight’s episode is simply brilliant!!!

  • Katerichley

    This is a fantastic programme. I actually found myself holding my breath during episode 4.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001370258281 Karen Dots Aloba

    Todays episode was AWESOME!!!

  • http://twitter.com/mogwy1 Angela Ashworth

    i absolutely love The Fades. It is a mind blowing programme & the music makes it even more atmospheric. LOVE IT!

  • http://twitter.com/mogwy1 Angela Ashworth

    Absolutely love The Fades. It is a mind blowing programme & the music makes it even more atmospheric. LOVE IT!!

  • Lawnile

    Love it love it love it… i was sad when BBC said next week episode is for 11pm….. (2hrs extra waiting time!!!). the storyline is so beautiful… today’s episode was fab… i love the way Mac uses humour to disguise his pain, while making it obvious he could not possibly survive without his friend….. Originally done. More more please……..

  • Julie Peers

    What a great programme well done to the BBC for giving us something really different. The characters are excellent and I love the fact that all the teens are misfits. Thats the real world! it’s not all love and roses out there. Let’s hope the ending is as good!! No pressure there then. J.

  • Sheldon

    ITS AMAZING :D

  • Angie24

    Absolutely love this show. Last nights episode was fantastic! I want more!!

  • Wenjoy

    I have to say – Im a 51 year old woman who grew up with Dr Who and still loving it. The Fades is the only thing on tv that totally freaks me out – I love it – the script writing and the acting is excellent and I just wanted to say a HUGE WELL DONE to all involved in this new tv drama. I wouldnt have even known it was on if I hadnt seen Tom Ellis on ITV This morning talking about it the day the series started so WELL DONE. Wenjoy

  • Djrudey08

    mac is the best!

  • Anonymous

    Bravo to the BBC for such an original drama as The Fades. Very likeable characters, well plotted and thrilling story and I don’t even like horror films!

  • http://twitter.com/StevieRamone Stevie Ramone

    Great show tonight again – does anyone know what the music at the end of the show is? It sounds like the Kooks, but I can’t find it..?

  • Anonymous

    Agreed, Awesome. I’ve just watched it on catch-up. The first episode was ok, the second good, the third very very good and yesterday’s as you say was simply brilliant. All the butterflies coming out of his mouth and the resulting look of horror on the doctor’s face. Pure dramatic genius. I wish I’d written it. I’ve done some simple math and having plotted an incremental linear progression in mind belonging-ness based on the four episodes I have seen so far; I am confidently expecting as I watch the finale (god forbid that day never comes) to loose my mind completely and spend my remaining days a gibbering wreck eating hospital food in a care-home. Why do they make us wait a week between episodes. This is just plain cruel!

  • Bwills1967

    The inbetweeners meets the Devil , brilliant

  • Trevor Clibery

    The series gets better with every episode. What a great ending to episode 4. Brilliant concept over how the fades started coming back, too.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_U46JZ5EOX7JF6YBG4TSNBUTE7E Rhys

    Can’t wait to own this series on DVD. It’s really great.
    My one concern is that the series resolves itself – Don’t want a situation like Survivors where it ends on an unresolved cliff-hanger.

  • Siofrelief

    Absolutely brilliant. Just scary enough to make me grip the edge of my seat, yet humorous enough to allow me to let go.
    Music at end of episode four is “Just abuse me” by Air Traffic.
    Love it all.

  • Mooglecat

    Why does no-one else I know watch this excellent programme? It was the same with Being Human and Misfits – lack of publicity?
    Perhaps it should be disguised as a talent show or quiz to guarantee the ratings

    • Mud Bath

      I was lucky, caught the first one and thought this could be good. Went out the country for a while, cheesed off that i’d miss it, and came back to watch the whole lot in one go on iplayer. Yet Noone I know has even heard of it, which is crazy, it is simply excellent. I didn’t like misfits and being human was mmm ok, the fades was in another league altogether. I think the BBC is too scared of making programs like this, eastenders is safer. I want more like the fades. Spread the word :)

  • Tonywells96

    Brilliantly written, love the character Mac and the interaction bertween him and Paul. It’s all the underling stories which we can only guess at that make it. Fantstic one liner gags which appear so unexpectedly yet we can fully relate and chuckle with amongst the horror.

    Love it , love it.

  • Gracie

    I think the Fades is refreshing and a huge step up for a British television Sci Fi show! Its just as good as what the Americans make and i can guarantee that the Americans will do a remake! I really hope the series continues to be just as amazing as the last episode was! I wish they would make more British fantasy shows that are just as good as this!!!

  • Yacoubpasha

    the fades is by far the best thing to come from the bbc since merlin…. infact its even better …. im loving it …..

  • Ians

    This could possibly be the best drama on BBC at the moment. Just hope the script and characters are as strong at the end of the series. Well done to all involved, Mac and Paul characters are superb. Can’t wait fot the next episode!

  • charlie munns

    they just stole the story from the anime bleach, they even make the same sound as the hollows but its still pretty good

  • harp

    quality episode, don’t want it to end

  • Benleitch789

    I think tonight`s episode was the best so far we all know full well that he will have to fight at some point to save his mum and sister and his friends but to what extent…? Cant wait to find out

  • http://twitter.com/PublicityPixie Verity Linden

    God damn love this program :D

  • jane

    episode 6
    what is the closing music

    • Madlowy

      it sounds like the one and only king kurt – ghost riders in the sky

  • IhaveEyesonthis

    I enjoy this, but I don’t understand why people are afraid of dying.. if they know they are just going to continue as a Fade, and some will ascend, and some will hang around and then become immortal.. Whats the big deal???

  • Gazchurchend2

    Couldn’t agree more. Fades is the best piece of writing I’ve seen on the BBC for a while. It’s a real modern spin on a classic ghost story. Saying that I thought the recent series of Tourchwood was equally well written.
    BBC drama is currently at its best ever in my opinion. As others have said its all about the script and the acting, something British drama excels at. Our dramas are blowing away anything from the States right now! While I am enjoying Terra Nova for what it is, it just feels like typical out of the mill American guff….
    As for episode 4 OMG! That one just blew my mind to the point of me shouting at the TV “Now thats the absolute Bo***x, the best thing ive seen on TV this year!” in total excitement.

    Anyway my complete congratulations to the beeb for this one, and especially to the writer for such a clever and thoughtful piece of work, pure genius. Really looking forward to more!

  • ddsdd

    Hey ! Love this show !
    But is someone know the shoes of Paul in this ? I like them and I don’t know what modele this is !
    Thanks if someone knows !

  • Madlowy

    the music at the end of episode 5 sounded like king kurt’s version of ghost riders in the sky
    you tube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSdcd6Ro-vs

  • Lucy

    In episode 3 Mac was standing in his kitchen reading the post, just thought I’d say that he was wearing girls pyjama bottoms from the David and Goliath shop, lol just though it was funny :)

  • Garypt

    love the fades, but at the end i hear the music over the credits and i love the song but cant find the name of the bands.. can anyone help??

  • Bluecalx90

    does anyone know where paul’s coat that he always wears is from? can’t find it anywhere!

  • markymark

    love the show and the music, is there a soundtrack with the show ?

  • Sunseeker247

    I agree with the majority of peeps thats The Fades is a fantastic well written programme, but i woder why it wasn’t aired on BBC1, i think it would have been a great success, and would show the license payer that the bbc can actually make great programmes with their money.

    • William de Graaff

      I think because One is too mainstream and furthermore an excellent statement for Three on how they wish to profile themselves.

  • Kelly banfield

    fantastic great acting from the cast and very scary!!!!!! welldone the bbc 3 what a great channel for new different dramas with an edge

  • Maredjones43

    Why are the bad guys always the good looking ones?! :P

  • Lite338

    Love the Fades! Every week I watch it whilst discussing everything thats going on with my friend, its so confusing, but really good and getting better each week! :D

  • marcus

    is there going to be s second season of fades they could bring jay back

  • Sherry Lea

    This might be aimed at the under 35′s, but I am 44 and I love it, please do a second series!!!!

  • Rick Young

    I enjoyed The Fades but why-oh-why was that idiot talking 3 seconds into the closing credits? An absolutely apalling way to treat a well-written, engaging drama such as this.

    I am really disgusted by this behaviour coupled with a burning disdain of those who rather than watch the programme and become absorbed by its fresh, stylistic approach…text and e-mail BBC Three with quirky, nonsensical comments in reference to the characters’ garb!

    Shame on you BBC Three…you really spoiled a fine ending.

    Rick Young

  • Fionacardno

    I can’t beleive that Fades is over the best series for a lon long time on telly. Please Please Please make another one!!!! 5*

  • Hi

    will there be a 2nd series

  • Barbara England

    i have simply loved this programme do please think about another series

  • Myette Whalley

    I liked The Fades but why the vague biblical stuff? The references I found took from the overall story and also my enjoyment of it. The imagery was at times beautiful and characters real.

  • matt

    the fades is wicked it cant be left at episode 6 for paul its only just began, poor mac has only just got the girl of his dreams. more has to be made even if the public write there versions and send them in. jay cant be dead. something has to happen where she can come back, and neil has to die but where he dies he is reborn as he told paul dont mess with asension and that the sky turns red and cloudy he comes back to kill paul and all that follow him.

  • NeRaD

    a damn good start and deserves a second series,
    kill off the loser niel his acting was terrible and character weak not even worthy of a capital letter in his name or a recall to read a new script “niel was your only weak link”
    its nice to see us Brits doing spooky God stuff.

  • Big Al

    Loved the seriese, whens the next one!
    Come on.. the ending was complete but its begging to be continued and the whole seriese was excellent.

  • Novannec41

    I have just watched episode 6 and I want MORE… come on peeps you cant leave it there surely

  • Mike7337

    The Fades is the best thing since Being Human on BBC 3 and The Misfits elsewhere, and in many ways better. It jumps about, making demands, never a dull moment, and the acting all round is first class with the leads totally excellent. Special effects last night – I couldn’t blink – awesome. More …..more please. But where does Jack Thorn go?

  • gravestonewalkertwo

    Absolutely superb Beeb. But how do you follow it, if ever ! This will go down as a classic of distinctive, original British horror, laced with some great social messages and doses of wonderful black humour in a real gritty teenage, urban, milieu. Again wonderful story telling, out of the skin acting and a brilliant freshenining of the vampire/ghost/zombie genre. Paul (ian) the best (christ like ?) hero will he meet Jay as a Fade in series two

  • nisha

    this series is AMAZING, the soundtrack is really good, does anyone know where i could get the soundtrack, especially the song on the end credits of episode 6 :) please

  • Ramborider

    Totally brilliant! You just have to make another series!!!

  • Dale Stephenson

    Fades was Fanominal. Amazing piece of writing! Well done BBC.

  • anglewings

    To the writers, please keep on making it better, don’t just rehash or milk it by making more of the same.

    Well done really good, thank you so much.

    • Flo

      I agree with you, thanks BBC3 but I am tempted to say DON’T do another series, how can they top this one? Just a niggle, re the final battle, why didn’t our hero
      use his wings to position himself over the ascension area rather than battle his
      way up the stairs to the balcony – I know, I know, it was in the script, but it made
      the poor hero look a bit slow.

  • Cyg

    Wonderful show, loved it from begining to end, only trouble was I missed the first couple of episodes and had to catch up on Iplayer, which meant I couldn’t record it, rather a shame.
    Unless, that is, anyone knows some way of downloading it all? If not I might have to buy the DVD.
    On which note, I am thinking this might be the place to ask, having really liked this series, can anyone here reccomend anything else similar that I might like?
    Though, I am thinking, perhaps it would have been better a little longer, I thought they rather rushed into the final violent climax within only a few episodes, perhaps another one or even two near the begining would have been better, if only because I would hae liked such a great show to have lasted longer.

    • Cyg

      Oh yes, and a couple more things I wanted to add, firstly of course Jay is still alive, you actually look at the close up shot of her injury it isn’t that serious, just a little bit of blood matting her hair, and her ghost never appears anywhere, which it would, surely.
      Secondly, actually I forget, I doubt it matters.

      • Cyg

        And thirdly, I know I shouldn’t do this, but I keep thinking I need to act on impulse more often, if anyone is interested, I am planning on writing a book, or perhaps a series of books, on a broadly similar premise to this, at least in that a teenage boy suddenly finds himself developing strange powers, though in his case there will be a lot more coming to terms with these new abilities and attempting to right wrongs in his own life, with rarely the intended results, before the final battle between ‘good and evil’.
        Obviously it will not be as good, but I still quite like where the idea seems to be going now, especially some of the strange twists even I did not expect, and my plan to start a blog under the character’s name to tell what is going on as it does.
        Though, as yet I have not finalised all the details, or even the name, if anyone is interested, check by my blog 1throughmydoor.wordpress.com in a couple of weeks for more.

      • Anonymous

        m8 theirs now way j is alive the pool of blood the size of her body is the clue. And the below post u should check out anime for inspiration that is exactly the sort of thing that makes good anime. Try bleach,full metal alchemist , naruto/shippendun,code geass/code geass r2 and death note all some of the best script’s / character/plot development i have ever watched

  • Snappydave

    this was truly the best piece of scifi for writing/acting/pace i have seen for many years,everyone concerned in this production should be congratulated.

  • Mike55north

    This has been a great programe,well acted,and produced.I also liked the humour.Lets hope we see more of the young actors.Well done BBC

  • Gordon McIntosh

    Surely they must make some more of this – brilliant!

  • Mooglecat

    Just watched the last episode and was gripped through the whole series, not a single dull bit.
    The ending left scope for something a bit different in the next series and not just a rehash of the same story as so often happens when a good formula has beeen found.
    Fab acting all round, but Daniel Kaluuya…just wow!

  • Guest

    Does anybody know where they got the t-shirt that Paul wear in the final episode. It was white with a colourful wing design on the front?

  • Ginette

    The best viewing in a long long time. Great to see a program that builds up and up every week and doesn’t fail to disappoint. Please give us a series 2!

  • Connor morris

    make another series please! i need it now!!! :D

  • Rebecca

    WOW this was a realy good series!! l hope that they’ll make another series of it. l’m a huge fan of Being Human and this series is a good filler between that and my other favorite programme The Vampire Diaries.

  • Anonymous

    cant believe it’s over. seriously great series, one more series wont hurt theirs loads more plot and character development. Likes whats happened to assenton i think that mybe it will reverse and start spewing out evil fades from the bowels of hell. How will Paul cope with seeing his girlfriends brains blown out in front of him that’s gotta hit any1 hard as hell. will he go for revenge and go after neil. thers still loads of scope for another series i think. Guess we will have to wait and see. When this series started i was watching death note and now the series is finished im sure the bbc could do an excellent job adapting it for the tv

  • Lulu3588

    I’m a 54 year old high school teacher and this series gives me hope.

  • M J Nicholls

    When will the BBC be airing series 2?

  • Thanasis

    Is there going to be season 2?Please say yes..

  • eldridge

    does anyone know how to get the artist/track listings for the music at the end of each episode?

  • Obiwavy

    Series two is a complete must!

  • Martyn

    The Fades is one of the few programmes that reminds me of why I happily pay my licence fee. BBC 3 does it again!

  • Nats

    I have totally fallen in love with this programme!!…I can’t wait for more…it surely doesn’t stop at ep6 ‘cos as Neil says: “I told him not to fuck with Asenscion”….How long are we gona have to wait for our next feed?!!…I’m more than hungry for the next instalments ..I’m blooming FAMISHED!! lol :)

  • ibotms

    Season 2 and bring Jay back

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=517822245 Corinne Peacock

    They can’t leave the Fades as it is, I really hope their is another one as 6 episodes is NOT ENOUGH!!! You can’t shoot a person and not expect some sort of comeback! MORE PLEASE!!!

  • Raesouth

    Truly original drama, this was—and some seriously good acting from the young cast.
    I was hooked from the start.
    Hoping very much for a second series (got to know what happens next, or did the world “end” ?).

  • Anonymous

    Best thing on TV for ages. And it’s British!

    +1 to Jack Thorne.

  • Kupo

    Im not sure there should be another series. it was such a stunning strong ending. what came after is up to the imagination.

  • AliceInMadWorld

    I’m Italian, I’m watch a lot of series.
    The fades it a my new entry on the top.
    PLEASE MAKE AN OTHER ONE!!!!!
    DON’T STOOOOOOOP!!!!

  • Beavisandbuttheadonly

    Loved it ! a brilliant script, fresh faces & grounded. i have two questions.
    1, when is season two ?
    2, go-on, tell me, when is season two ?

  • William de Graaff

    Im from the Netherlands and as you might know we get a lot of American crap shows on our national channels. What a relieve that we also have the BBC with this outstanding fresh mindblowing drama. I was seriously looking forward to wednesdays new Fades episode as early as Sunday.
    Keep it up BBC, you can be very proud at this production. Now get back to the writing table for episode 7,8 etc, dammit! Lol

  • Mnsvelez

    Best best best show love it!!!!

  • Chris

    What is the climatic piece of incidental music used throughout the series? Brilliant tv.

  • Sue Porter1

    Absolutely amazing – I became quite obsessive after the first episode, so taped the remaining 5 and watched them altogether. please let there be a series 2

  • matthew perry

    if you don t create another season of fades it will be such a waste of a great story

  • Your Friend

    I have to admit I was not that keen on the new series of The fades but once I got into it I absolutely loved it was compelling I had downloaded all 6 episodes on bbc Iplayer started to watch 1 and I had to watch the other 5 was really good.

    A great cast they really played their parts well I do hope they will make another series I think it was the best thing on tv for a while well done!

  • Debzannclarke

    hope they are making another series… really loved the first series….

  • joe

    love the show need a second season of the fades
    shows are not this ggod in the states
    thank you BBC

  • Jota Maris

    So, The Fades first season is over. We will have another one?
    I really hope so.
    Best regards

  • Guest

    Really good series ….
    Waithing the next ….

    Please make deep with Bible study
    “Genesis” ..Abel is the first one dead on human history! Link him to the “End of the World”

  • Gerald218

    episode 6 ending credit is Opus III – It’s A Fine Day

  • TheFadesFan

    What’s the name brand of the jacket that Neil wears in season one??

  • Carl

    I am in the US and love watching shows on the BBC America. I agree with everyone here, “the Fades” is another fantastic show and just love it. It looks like the episodes are delayed here and I just saw the final episode for season one. Why why why did they have to kill is girl friend….. OMG my heart just sank!

  • Lilac387

    I thought it was gonna scare me, but it was very cool! I hope it brings a new season back soon.
    I truely like the show.

    Thanks, hope to see you soon Fades!

  • Fades Fan

    Please make another season! The ending wasn’t final, we need to know what happens next!

  • Just from NYC

    More Fades please……

  • Paul Conley

    Please can we get a petition going to bring back The Fades for a second series? I literally just finished the series and it ends off on a point where you could feasibly keep going, and I want to see more.

  • Dgillespey

    Of all the, what the, I’ll be a…for Being Human you dump the best teenage sci-fi series scince? Please relinquish the crack pie, attempt a 12 step and regain your good sense. Safety in an established entity is cowardice and kills creativity and progress. You are shameful.