Lost Boys & Fairies is a heartwarming and poignant story about adoption and adopters, with a focus on the love and pain involved in each aspect of the process. The series follows the couple; Gabriel (Sion Daniel Young) and Andy (Fra Fee), who have been together for eight years. Gabe, a performance artist, and Andy, an accountant, have different backgrounds and experiences, but their differences make their relationship sing.
The show explores Gabe’s trauma, growing up under Thatcher’s hateful anti-gay rhetoric and his strict, religious father. The show also explores the adoption process, revealing that it is a staggered, gradual, and stage-managed process. The story of Jake (played brilliantly by up-and-coming actor Leo Harris) the boy who finds his way into Andy and Gabe’s orbit, is neither a fairytale nor a fable, but rather a dark comedy with raw honesty. The adoption process is overseen by Jackie (played by Elizabeth Berrington) who helps both allay their fear of inadequacy in demonstrating humanity and care in securing an adoption for the couple. Helping also in the adoption process is Jake’s foster parent Claire (played by Sharon D. Clarke)
The show also highlights the importance of language in the adoption process, as Gabe was raised speaking Welsh but does not want to teach his child the language due to feeling excluded by its rules and his father’s imposition of its rules. This highlights the broader issue of storytelling and how we imagine and present our lives to others.
Despite its melancholic undertones, Lost Boys & Fairies is an extravagant drama that plays to the crowd with real musical numbers and imaginary musical numbers. The showy, theatrical production suits the high drama, and the high drama pushes its way to the front as the story progresses. For those watching weekly, hold onto tissues and prepare for the emotional journey.
This incredible drama, which aired on June 4, 2024, is currently on BBCiPlayer and can be watched in all parts here or you can view all episodes in the BBC Drama section of Cicero’s Film and TV 📺 here
The first episode, “We Were All Just Children,” is shown below.