Reported by Emma Ashelford

Although killing off the lesbian character is a common practice in film and television, even the most jaded viewers don't expect the lesbian sidekick of the main character to die in the very first episode of a series. But this is exactly what happened on last night's premiere of the UK's long-anticipated new show Hex.

Set in a gothic boarding school in England, Hex (airing Sunday nights on Sky One) is a raw and edgy drama that centers on Cassie (Christina Cole), a shy girl who has recently and unexpectedly gained supernatural powers, and her best friend Thelma (Jemima Rooper), a witty lesbian. Cassie has eyes for Troy (Joseph Morgan), but is also drawn to the evil Azazeal (Michael Fassbender), the leader of the Nephelim, with "thousands of years of sadness behind his eyes," according to producer Johnny Capps—a description that is sure to draw comparisons to Buffy's boyfriend Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.

There are other similarities to Buffy, like the show's references to broader social and political issues. The theme of slavery runs throughout; for example, the headmaster of the school imparts such gems of wisdom as "all religion is dangerous if it is taken too far," and Cassie states that she would rather marry Saddam Hussein and kill Bush when playing the game "Shag, Marry, Push off a Cliff" with Thelma (who would have shagged Lucy Liu, married Cameron Diaz, and killed Drew Barrymore).

But there are some key differences, too. Cassie is neither an anti-hero nor the hero, and in comparison to Buffy, Cassie seems both emotionally and physically pathetic. Whereas Buffy had physical power, Cassie does not, and she often seems consumed by her weakness (like when she sees a bald woman in the bathroom mirror after she has just washed her hair).

The love triangle in Hex also departs from Buffy's initial Xander-Willow-Buffy triangle. If Cassie is the British Buffy in Hex, and Thelma the British Willow, then Buffy and Willow would have had to flirt shamelessly with each other, while Buffy looks longingly at the popular boy of the school, and Willow looks longingly at Buffy.

The promos leading up to Hex's debut heavily touted the love triangle between Cassie, Thelma, and Troy, leaving many lesbian and bisexual viewers disconcerted, since this is not a formula that often leaves the lesbian triumphant (as we saw most recently in the relationship between Nan and Kitty in Sarah Waters's Tipping the Velvet). The triangle is immediately addressed in the pilot, with plenty of flirtatious dialogue between Thelma and Cassie, like this:

THELMA: You are sexy, in an unsuspecting, novice, nun kind of way. CASSIE: In your dreams. THELMA: Frequently.

In moments such as this, and in scenes like the one where Thelma draws around an underwear-clad Cassie lying on the floor, the viewer feels a mixture of affection and anxiety: affection for the relationship between the two characters and the amazing chemistry Cole and Rooper share onscreen, and anxiety for the inevitable outcome of their relationship, which can only end in frustration for Thelma (although we didn't quite expect her to die).

Some of these scenes are deftly handled, such as when Thelma confronts Cassie about leading her on. Thelma accuses Cassie of "playing with me…because you think I'm some sort of loser," striking a chord with those who have ever had unrequited feelings for a friend.

But other times, the writers' exploration of Thelma and Cassie's relationship veers on exploitation, like when innuendo-filled sighs are played over the view of the boarding school, to then reveal Cassie on top of Thelma, attempting to help her do up her trousers.

Thelma is a vibrant, warm, and utterly humane character throughout, and Rooper plays her beautifully. Physically reminiscent of Canadian lesbian musicians Tegan and Sara with her jagged hair and polka-dot clothes, Thelma straddles the categories of "femme" and "butch." She breaks down lesbian stereotypes on television by alternately talking about fashion and plastic surgery to Cassie in one moment, then professing that "beneath this fluffy exterior beats the heart of a bull dyke" in another. Thelma is given the best lines, and often the most humorous ones.

Perhaps the most noticeable difference between Thelma and Buffy's Willow is that Thelma's sexuality is explicitly embraced by Hex and specifically but casually addressed from the very beginning, with Cassie jokingly calling Thelma "my dyke in shining armour."

On the other hand, Thelma dies in the first episode, when she is kidnapped and killed by Azazeal.

Lest you think this is just another dead-lesbian plot device, however, Thelma's appearance at her own funeral in the last few moments of the first episode signal that she will remain a part of the show as a ghost, serving as Cassie's spiritual guide. Thelma's sarcasm survives her death, as well; commenting dryly to Cassie at the funeral, "Don't be a dyke or you will end up topping yourself," Thelma mocks both the angst-filled beginning and the unhappy ending of so many lesbian love triangle stories.

But bringing her back in spirit form doesn't completely let the writers off the hook, since making Thelma a ghost is an all-too-convenient way to avoid ever having to explore an actual lesbian relationship on the show. This allows the writers to be boldly controversial and play it safe at the same time.

Overall, however, Hex is refreshing and encouraging: it not only has an unconventional lesbian character who challenges stereotypes and to whom viewers can easily relate, but she was given a majority of the pilot's screen time. Only time will tell if she will continue to be an integral and interesting part of the show, but it's a promising beginning.

Credit: AfterEllen.com

report 2

Reported by James Jackson

Hex takes teen viewing into dark new territory, says James Jackson

Ask most people old enough to enter an All Bar One to name a decent British teen drama and they’ll have difficulties. Hollyoaks? More of a soap, really. As If? Heard of it, I think. Grange Hill? Is that still going? It’s clear that, when it comes to unrequited love and inner turmoil, America does it sharper and smarter — The OC, Dawson’s Creek, the all-conquering Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But Sky One, as it moves itself upmarket (ie, away from Ibiza Uncovered-style tat), could buck the trend with Hex, a home-grown teen opus replete with supernatural frills and sexual awakening. Inevitably, Hex will be dubbed the “British Buffy” and will suffer for it. But the first episode shows little of that series’ “kick-ass” action and sassy humour; instead it seems more like a modern teen version of those mildly erotic Hammer horrors from the 1970s (Lust for a Vampire etc). Picture the scene: a demure heroine, Cassie (Christina Cole), is a virginal, straight-A student at a posh co-ed boarding school. Since her spookily Gothic alma mater was once used for witchcraft (obviously), the paranormally susceptible Cassie is soon displaying telekinetic abilities and being flustered by visits from a rakishly handsome ghost, coming on like the big bad wolf, although as it turns out he’s the leader of the Nephilim (the bastard offspring of fallen angels and mortal women, as I’m sure you know).

More importantly, cruel teasing and oozing sexuality thrive along the corridors. So while the peer pressure put on Cassie by the in-crowd should strike a chord with any teenage girl, the rampant flirting with the lesbian room-mate will undoubtedly strike another with their elder brothers. Cult appeal, naturally, should follow.

Hex, Sky One, Sunday, 9pm

Credit: Times Online

report 3

Reported by Chris Howell

At Lis Murdoch's indie outfit Shine, production has started on Hex, a new drama series being coproduced by Sony Pictures Television International and UK cabsat network Sky1.

Described as "a high-concept teen chiller", the six-hour series follows a group of teenagers living at an English college, in particular one girl's exploration of the supernatural and her own coming of age.

Greenlit by Sky1 commissioning editor of drama, Sara Johnson, the show is "an innovative series that demonstrates Shine's very real ambitions in drama," said Murdoch.

"It represents the fruits of our investment in this area and our commitment to making genuinely international programmes."

Involving the same team behind Sony's previous UK drama copro, As If, Hex will be produced by Julian Murphy and Johnny Capps and directed by Brian Grant. Dean Hargrove is exec producing.

Shooting in the English countryside for the next 12 weeks, the series will air on Sky1 this autumn. A Sony rep confirmed that Hex is the company's first copro with Sky.

The cast includes Joseph Morgan (Master & Commander, Alexander the Great), Jamie Davis (Footballer's Wives III), Jemima Rooper (As If) and Christina Cole (What a Girl Wants). Hex also features acclaimed actress Geraldine James (Calendar Girls, Hearts of Gold).

Like Sony's As If deal with Carnival Films and Channel 4, Sony gets international rights to Hex and is planning a Mipcom 2004 launch.

Credit: The Great Link

report 4

Reported at TGL by Chris Howell

From Guardian Unlimited:

Sky One's heavily promoted new drama Hex has been billed as a "British Buffy" and the launch episode last night attracted a Buffy style audience to the channel.

Elisbeth Murdoch's latest production for Sky, teenage horror drama Hex, was watched by 868,000 viewers between 9pm and 10.45pm last night, making it the most watched multichannel show during that period

Credit: The Great Link

report 5

Reported at TGL by Chris Howell

Viewers of the UK Digital TV Channel Sky One may have noticed a new look for the channel from today. It turns out that the web site for Sky One has also been 'upgraded' too – among the changes for the site is information for 'Hex', the new original series coproduced by Sony Pictures Television International, which has been described by some as the UK’s answer to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. There’s a sub-site for Hex online now. Here's a description of the show, which gets its debut on October 17th:

"Set in a remote English school, Hex is the chilling story of one girl's exploration of the supernatural and her own sexual awakening."

"Cassie is a shy student who discovers she is cursed by terrifying links to the past. Longing to be popular, but only truly loved by her best friend, Cassie will come to realise she possesses dangerous powers."

"Stalked by Azazeal, the leader of the Nephelim, it will fall to Cassie to fight against the powerful forces that threaten her existence."

Check out more info, at the Sky One site for Hex.

Credit: The Great Link