The BritBox exclusive series has been leaving viewers in awe and garnering rave reviews for its authentic character portrayals…
Premiering earlier this month on BritBox, Lost Boys and Fairies is a creative, educational, loving and heartbreaking three-part series about queer adoption that has taken viewers on what they describe as an emotional rollercoaster – and I couldn’t agree more.
The show follows two queer men, Gabriel (Sion Young) a performance artist at the queer club Neverland and Andy (Fra Fee) an accountant, as they embark on an adoption journey. Throughout the process they are guided by their social worker Jackie (Elizabeth Berrington) and learn it isn’t what they expected. Beyond facing personal doubts and disagreements on what they’re looking for in a child, Gabriel begins to struggle as his childhood trauma resurfaces, forcing him to examine his personal shame and his family relationship. When the pair meet Jake (Leo Harris) and begin growing fond of him, Gabriel realizes he must reconcile with his past in order to truly become a parent.
The story is a beautiful and honest portrayal of queer adoption that takes viewers through the highs and lows of the process. Creator/writer Daf James, who went on an adoption journey almost a decade ago, told the BBC that he felt he hadn’t “seen adoption represented authentically on screen,” and felt passionate about bringing that to television. Needless to say he succeeded.
Social Work News, a magazine by and for social workers, said the series “is a resounding triumph that captures the heart and soul of its characters while navigating the complex and often overlooked world of gay adoption.” It even had the outlet questioning whether it was the best television depiction of a social worker they’ve ever seen.
Similar sentiments have been shared on Google and IMDB reviews by queer and heterosexual adoptive parents and social workers who applaud it for being authentic, not being afraid to show the unsavoury aspects of life and showing how emotionally taxing the process can be.
While not an autobiographical depiction of James and his husband’s journey, the creator did reveal how becoming a parent required him to revisit a number of emotionally unprocessed things. He told the BBC, “I had to deal with it in order for me to be better equipped to deal with a child who themselves has lived through some incredible trauma.”
Trauma and shame are two very difficult things that the character Gabriel needs to reconcile with. His queer pain stems from his upbringing as seen in flashbacks. He grew up with a religious father during the HIV/AIDS crisis and in the era of Section 28, a UK law that existed from 1988 to 2003 that prevented authorities and schools from ‘promoting’ homosexuality and halted funding to community initiatives. As he gets older, he begins seeking ways to dull this pain, which leads him down a dark road. “It’s showing how toxic shame has had an impact on who he [Gabriel] has become and his identity,” James says.
It’s also a story about relationships and the impacts they have on our lives. Beyond exploring the parental bonds for both men, the series showcases the importance of chosen family. It even highlights the difficulties of building a relationship with an adoptive child as Gabriel and Andy experience the emotional complexities of forming a bond with Jake as well as supporting their differing parenting styles.
While the plot is heavy in many parts, it does illustrate queer joy and has comedic moments. From Gabriel and Andy celebrating their milestones during the process to Andy’s mother finding the couple’s sex toy drawer and teaching them a lesson about how children snoop, the narrative weaves in the lighter side of the process.
The show also has several musical scenes that are interwoven perfectly with feelings of the characters. Throughout the series Gabriel performs in drag at Neverland, but the haunting rendition of Mad World by Tears and Fears is the standout transporting viewers through various timelines in Gabriel’s life. The scene is easily one of my favourite musical numbers in any series.
Lost Boys and Fairies is both a heartfelt comedy and heart wrenching drama. Its depiction of queer adoption is well-written and one I believe needs to be experienced by all audiences. While it has specific examples catered to the queer community, its overall themes are translatable to any person considering adoption, not to mention anyone who is struggling to deal with their internal trauma and shame.
My only issue was that it was too short and there could have been more opportunities to develop its loveable characters. Though a season two hasn’t been confirmed as of yet, James seems to be hopeful that it could continue.
POST A COMMENT