Life Is Strange: Tales Of The Powers

Life Is Strange: Tales Of The Powers is a British-French mystery/thriller/adventure/drama series first broadcast on BBC One in January 2022. The series follows Jamie Anderson (portrayed by Mathew Baynton), an 18-year-old anti-social Anglo-Jewry who suffers from cystic fibrosis and general anxiety disorder who discovered that he has psychological powers. He studies music and theatre. He teamed up with 5 other students and formed a troupe together after discovering that they also have powers. The series is written and performed by many of the cast members of Horrible Histories, Yonderland and Ghosts.

The series is the first drama by the ensemble, although there is a comic relief character. It is also the second series to be based on an already-existing project performed by the ensemble after Horrible Histories.

Series 1
On October 2009 in a fictional countryside town in Suffolk, 18-year-old Anglo-Jewry theatre student and cystic fibrosis patient, Jamie Anderson discovered that he has psychological powers during his teen years. When he was 11, he had levitation powers, when he was 12, he had time travelling powers, when he was 13, he had empathy, when he was 14, he had telepathy and when he was 15, he had telekinesis. Due to his medical condition and his mental health issues, he didn't know how to control them. He was also bullied by both his brothers and his peers.

During his first day at a local art college, he met his soon-to-be boyfriend, 21-year-old Alex Kenyon when he was studying alone as usual. He met up with his new friends in the troupe, 19-year-old Ashley Maddox, 20-year-old Pat Hendricks, 21-year-old Robin Jackson and 22-year-old Kris Fawcett. Only to discover that they have powers too, Alex with levitation, Kris with time travelling, Robin with empathy, Pat with telepathy and Ashley with telekinesis. The same powers as Jamie. Throughout his time together with his friends, he learns how to control his powers and starts opening up more about his medical conditions and mental healthy issues.

Series 2
Jamie later came out as gay and started dating Alex. He starts getting more confident and is starting to wear his nasal cannula more due to being insecure about them. However, things at home haven't been going well for him. He was continuously getting picked on by his older brothers and his parents have been neglecting him. Because of this, he felt safer with his friends and boyfriend. Things got so bad, he ended up in the hospital after Alex noticed him passed out in his room because of a high fever.

While staying in the hospital, he discovered a new power neither of his friends have, healing powers. The ability to heal others' injuries. However, due to his medical conditions, he was only able to temporarily heal himself when his breathing issues are bad. Alex stayed with Jamie throughout his stay in the hospital until he was released several days later.

Series 3
The psychic friends met up again and are now staying together in Cambridge after knowing Jamie's home life. They attended history, art and music courses together until Jamie realised that his brothers were also attending Cambridge. Feeling scared, he wanted to go back to Suffolk because of them. At the same time, he was constantly bullied by other students and was treated badly.

When Jamie and his friends were having a meeting in their common room, Jamie broke down because of the bullying. Alex comforted him as Robin decided to tell the professors about the bullying and Jamie's life living with medical conditions and his mental health issues. His anxiety returned and is constantly having anxiety attacks, even in front of his own friends and his powers are out of control.

Cast
Mathew Baynton as Jamie Anderson, an 18-year-old antisocial art student of Jewish descent who suffers from cystic fibrosis, depression and anxiety among other health problems. He was originally from Essex but moved to East Anglia for his and his brothers education. After dating Alex, he is later revealed to be gay and has been closeted since his teenage years. He is the youngest member of his friend group and the only one who had just reached the age of maturity.

Ben Willbond as Alex Kenyon, a 21-year-old art student and an openly gay man who started dating Jamie. He was originally from Buckinghamshire and studied in Oxford prior to relocating to Suffolk. He can speak French and Russian and can play the violin.