Lost Boys & Fairies

I've never given a show or move a 10 before. I went back and watched the whole series again looking for a flaw, any flaw, to bring the score down and I just couldn't find one. The direction and pacing are perfect. The interwoven musical sequences add value and are never overdone.

Sion Daniel Young and Fra Fee play Gabriel and Andy, a gay couple looking to adopt and while Andy is full steam ahead, Gabiel is struggling with unresolved trauma that informs his every waking moment. The chemistry between the leads is electric and the raw and honest sharp edges of a relationship is examined, and insecurities, pain and so much love is revealed underneath.

Gwyneth Keyworth in her role as birth mother, in the short time she is on screen, is captivating - daring us to look away. My heart tore with every forced and nervous smile she gave. Elizabeth Berrington as the social worker and Arwel Gruffydd and the queer elder\sage don't miss a note. The actor playing the teenage Gabriel has little or no lines so all of the acting had to take place behind his eyes, and what a treat it is to witness.

Fra Fee as Andy, the father in waiting, is so believable you will want him to be your Dad. But for all of that, the night belongs to Sion Danial Young who gave a flawless performance of a very flawed human being.

As someone who, as part of a gay couple, went through the process of adopting children, I watched this with interest. I expected some emotional scenes, but this really pushed some buttons for me. The acting throughout is exceptional, as is, by and large, the balance between humour and drama. The chap who plays Gabriel, Sion Daniel Young, has an excellent singing voice, and his performances throughout the series are really profound. In particular, I've never heard, "A Little Respect" by Erasure, performed in this way, with such an odd time signature. It adds a whole new depth to the song.

My criticism is that this drama, in order to tell the story satisfactorily, requires three mini-series, not just three episodes. Each of these episodes could be developed further. Without spoiling, the end of episode 2 is SUCH a curveball! Just when you think you've cried enough, you're in buckets again, and episode three has its work cut out going through the issues created by a few brief moments in episode two, so that it can resolve satisfactorily. I suppose that if I were marking it as an essay, I'd say the last episode especially was rushed, because there was just too much going on in episode two. But thankfully, it does resolve beautifully. As other reviewers have said, "Pass The Tissues!" Absolutely beautiful.

Andy and Gabriel decide it's time to develop their relationship, and consider adoption. Gabriel has a strict set of guidelines as to the type of child he wants to take on, Andy is less picky. Their lives are turned upside down when they meet Jake.

I'm late to the party.... I know, I simply didn't fancy it, I had visions of it being a BBC tick box exercise, I was totally wrong, this is a drama of the highest order, without a shadow of a doubt, this is one of the drama highlights of the year.

You'll need your hankies at the ready for this one, there are several scenes that will have you blubbering and sobbing, it is an incredibly moving drama.

Fra Fee and Elizabeth Berrington deliver first class performances, the two are really quite brilliant, Sion Daniel Young however deserves an award for his performance as Gabriel, he is truly phenomenal.

Gwyneth Keyworth, I adore you!

10/10.

I have just finished watching Lost Boys and Fairies and I have to say it is absolutely brilliant.

I love as emotional with every episode , though the final episode had me sobbing like a baby. It is both funny and moving in equal measure at times it is dark too.

Tha acting is top notch and so believable at for the man character is unlikeable but by episode 3 I had fallen in love with him and wanted him to pull through his turmoil.

I had been recommended to watch it by a friend but I was not expecting to love it so much. I came away from watching it and still thinking about the amazing storyline and emotion I had felt on this journey. It is really one of the best things I've watched on tv in a long time.

I don't think I've ever felt moved to write a review on IMDB, nor have I ever scored anything 10 as one never knows when one might watch something truly perfect. This a solid nine, and I'm quite cross decimals aren't permitted as it almost warrants a perfect score. I binged episodes 2 and 3 today after seeing the first episode last night as it was broadcast. This mini-series is a thing of great beauty. It will put you through extreme emotional highs and lows, but at the end of it you will emerge a better person and perhaps understand that you and all your terrifying emotional baggage are not alone. As Philip Larkin explains: what will survive of us is love. Forget the Kleenex, have an abundance of extra absorbent 3 ply kitchen towels to hand.