The Fades: Episode 6 (Earth Was Really Dying)

“And what's the point of seeing the future if you can't change it?”

So the battle's done and Paul kinda won, but he'll sound no victory cheer.

Talk about downbeat. Paul may have defeated John and stopped the Fades, but it cost him the life of the woman he loved, leaving him broken and utterly devastated. Shocking as it was, Neil's murder of Jay was the only thing that disappointed me about the finale. I know that she was never the series' most thrilling character, but I don't think she deserved to be struck down by such a casual case of Women in Refrigerators Syndrome. And why didn't we see her as a Fade? Or, for that matter, any of the other characters who have died in the last couple of episodes?

That final fight between John and Paul was very brutal and one-sided. I wouldn't really call it a fight, more a case of John beating the shit out of Paul while he runs away. Despite his newfangled superpowers, Paul is still that geeky weakling he was before, and gets the shit completely and utterly kicked out of him. It didn't have to be that way. He could've easily zapped John the second he showed up. But that wasn't why he was there. Paul didn't want to become a killer like John and Neil. He wanted to save all the Fades, by fixing ascension and allowing them to move on. Even if it mean getting beat to a bloody pulp by the bad guy.

Even with that semi-cliffhanger ending, I think this first season works well as a self contained story, with a definitive beginning, middle and end. This finale brought that story full circle by going back to that abandoned shopping centre, back to where it all started for Paul. Considering how low budget this show obviously is, I was surprised by how epic this episode felt. Sure, the FX of Paul flying might have been a little ropey, but it didn't ruin the scene. I also liked that the ash turned out not to be some impending disaster, but a side effect of Paul reopening ascension. Then again, judging by those red skies, maybe it will bring about the end of the world. Neil might have been right. Maybe you shouldn't fuck with ascension.

At the time of writing this review, there has still been no word on whether or not The Fades has been renewed for a second season. The series just hasn't enjoyed the ratings or critical success of BBC Three's other supernatural series, Being Human. In fact, due to widespread cuts at the BBC, the future of the series depends on whether or not there is a fifth season of Being Human. We can have one or we can have the other. We can't have both. If this does end up being the series' last ever episode, then at least the cast and crew can say that they went out on a high note.

Notes and Quotes

--So, in the end, what exactly was the point of Sarah's ex husband? All season Mark's done feck all and come the finale he just packs up and leaves.

--They've annoyed me for the last five weeks, but I loved that Mac did his recap from the boot of Neil's car.

--Considering the Fades feed of human flesh, I found it odd they left so many bodies laying around uneaten.

Neil: “Your boyfriend isn't answering his phone.”
Mac: “He's not my boyfriend.”
--Nah, he is.

Mac: “In the beginning there was the word. And the word was shit.”

John: “There once was an orphan called Neil, who didn't quite know how to feel. Abandoned at birth and lacking in mirth, he... he... turned into a bit of a dickhead really.”

John: “Do you know what my favourite story from the Bible is?”
Sarah: “Nobody gives a shit.”

Mac: “If we're going to die here, might as well tell you why I think we'd make a great couple.”
Anna: “Frankly it'd be easy to just die.”
Mac: “The first reason, because we're really similar.”
Anna: “If you're going to come and kill us, do it quickly, please.”
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Mark Greig has been writing for Doux Reviews since 2011. More Mark Greig.

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