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Post by orokiah on Jun 20, 2012 19:21:32 GMT
Maybe my gripes are unjustified. The series may contain clever explanations for all the apparent logic gaps I've just pointed out. I'm actually hoping it does, because I'm so starved of anything Hex-like that I'm quite keen for Switch to turn out to be a decent show. A dearth of Hex-ish material is definitely fuelling my high hopes for Switch. Hopefully a bit more info will soon start to emerge--I'd like to know a bit more about the second, darker coven of the piece.
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Post by fenris on Jun 24, 2012 20:25:45 GMT
A dearth of Hex-ish material is definitely fuelling my high hopes for Switch. Hopefully a bit more info will soon start to emerge - I'd like to know a bit more about the second, darker coven of the piece. I can relate. Any new British horror/fantasy series is to be welcomed, but as I confessed in my previous post, my particularly keen interest regarding Switch is entirely due to it's central concept being arguably Hex-like. Deep down I know that I'm almost certainly getting my hopes up way too high, and they'll probably be dashed when Switch eventually airs and mostly likely turns out to be a very different kind of beast altogether. In regards to rival coven 'The Witches of Kensington', I have to admit when I first read about them in Switch's press release, I instantly thought of the 'Power of Three Blondes' episode of Charmed.
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Post by fenris on Jul 24, 2012 14:31:30 GMT
The Murder in Suburbia episode 'Witches' is being shown on ITV3 tomorrow night (08/08/11) at 22:00, and is the beginning of a repeat run of the show's second & final season. The second season of Murder in Suburbia is receiving another repeat run on ITV3, starting next Monday (30/07/12) at 23:00. As I've previously mentioned in this thread, the second season's opening episode - entitled 'Witches' - is worth watching as it could be regarded as the closest Hex ever came to crossing over (thematically) with another TV show. Female detective duo Ash & Scribbs investigate when a teenage student at an exclusive private girls school is found stabbed to death in the local graveyard, and soon find themselves in the midst of supernatural shenanigans. The episode's guest-stars include Sugar Rush's Olivia Hallinan as the school's Top Bitch, and Ashes to Ashes' Montserrat Lombard (who prances about in skimpy underwear in one scene) as the resident goth.
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Post by fenris on Jul 24, 2012 14:58:05 GMT
A piece of commissioning news that caught my eye: BBC Two's Vexed wins extended second series.Jill Green’s latest venture, Eleventh Hour Films, has won its first commission – an extended second series of BBC2 comedy drama Vexed. Toby Stephens returns to the series as laid-back detective Jack Armstrong, while Miranda Raison (Spooks) takes up the newly created role of Georgina Dixon. The series picks up as Jack’s previous partner Kate leaves to sort out her marriage problems, with fast-tracked trainee Georgina – who has never actually worked in the job – trying to pick up where Kate left off.With the production company going bust, I'd given up hope of this wacky gem of a show ever returning. Bit disappointed about the change in cast, but it was probably inevitable given Lucy Punch's burgeoning film career. Two years after the first season aired, Vexed returns next Wednesday (01/08/12) on BBC2 at 21:00, with Miranda Raison making her debut as DI Georgina Dixon, replacing the lost-to-Hollywood Lucy Punch. The second season consists of six hour-long episodes, making it twice the length of the initial series.
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Post by orokiah on Jul 28, 2012 14:41:39 GMT
Two years after the first season aired, Vexed returns next Wednesday (01/08/12) on BBC2 at 21:00, with Miranda Raison making her debut as DI Georgina Dixon, replacing the lost-to-Hollywood Lucy Punch. The second season consists of six hour-long episodes, making it twice the length of the initial series. I'm officially excited. The first series of Vexed is anarchic genius--can't wait to see Jack Armstrong back in action. Bit disappointed about the change in female lead, and the fact that Howard Overman seems to have taken a back seat this time around, but at least they managed to hold on to Toby Stephens. To make it even better, the first series has finally been released on DVD. It's only available through Acorn for now; it's out everywhere else on 13th August.
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Post by orokiah on Aug 11, 2012 16:10:25 GMT
I was a big fan of Vexed in its brief, throughly entertaining first series. Two episodes into the six-long second, I'm sorely tempted to give up on it. It's lost Lucy Punch and Howard Overman, and with them have gone every bit of the sparkle, and most of the humour. It's still deliciously non-PC, and Toby Stephens is still hamming it up majestically as Jack, wringing every drop of humour from his lines. But even the best of them are only wryly amusing, where once they were hilarious; the balance between spoof and police procedural is now tipped in favour of procedural.
It's a small tweak to the format, but it makes a big, big difference.
The success of the series rises and falls on its central, odd-couple detective partnership. Jack and Georgina bicker as much as Jack and Kate did, but the banter between them feels forced, and even the lighter exchanges lack chemistry. The insults Jack throws at George are downright cruel; a far cry from the "ba-bing, ba-bong" he demanded--and received in spades--from Kate. Miranda Raison is a great actress, but she hasn't got the comedy chops of Punch, and her character is just too uptight to squeeze any fun from. Tony the wind-up merchant café owner, on the other hand, was one of the hilarious high points of the first series. That he's now been reduced to a bit part, clutching a tea towel behind his counter, fawning over George and saying little of consequence, does a great injustice to the talents of Roger Griffiths.
Episode two was better than the first, with the topic of gender studies/politics providing the perfect sphere for Jack to aim for the outrageous heights of series one. Stephens gave it his all, but he never came close to reaching them. The subplot--George suddenly becoming a dreamy, desperate singleton--allowed for a nice guest turn from Jamie Davis, playing the annoyingly perfect man she picks up on a college campus. But it was still horribly, cringingly embarrassing to watch.
I'm vexed by Vexed. What a huge disappointment.
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Post by fenris on Aug 21, 2012 16:11:12 GMT
A confession: I saw the first episode of the first season of Vexed when it originally aired, but for some reason I never got around to watching the subsequent two instalments. And although I remember enjoying the initial episode, two years on I can't actually recall much about it in any detail. So when it comes to Vexed's second season, I'm basically approaching the show afresh and judging it entirely on it's own merits, without anything to compare it to. And I'm loving it.
Toby Stephens is great as Jack, the spiritual heir to Gene Hunt, an uncomplicated, unreconstructed bloke who's totally bewildered by the social and sexual mores of the post-Generation Y world. Crucially, Stephens ensures that Jack always remains likable, by letting us often glimpse at just how vulnerable he really is. My favourite Jack moments so far include him being completely flummoxed about whether the car saleswoman's interest in him in the season opener was genuine or just part of her sales technique ("If I sleep with her, do I have to buy the car?"), and his encounter with the post-genderists in the second episode, when - in his hopeless, clumsy and ham-fisted way - he actually highlighted how pretentious they are ("Rainbow's not genderless. No man would ever be called 'Rainbow'. But Leaf on the other hand, yeah that could be a man or woman's name. Good work, Leaf").
As Georgina, Miranda Raison is a wonderful foil. First appearances are that she's an atypical, high-flying 21st century woman: ultra-efficient, highly competent and All Business. But she soon reveals a surprisingly playful side (I loved her eyelash-fluttering, kitten-ish poses behind the car saleswoman's back), and - mirroring Jack - she has plentiful insecurities of her own.
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Post by fenris on Aug 24, 2012 16:56:11 GMT
My particularly keen interest regarding Switch is entirely due to it's central concept being arguably Hex-like. Deep down I know that I'm almost certainly getting my hopes up way too high, and they'll probably be dashed when Switch eventually airs and mostly likely turns out to be a very different kind of beast altogether. There's a brief article about Switch in the current issue of SFX magazine (#226), in which one of the show's producers is quoted as saying that the series is just " good clean fun". Oh well. Doesn't sound very Hex-like, but I always knew that was too much to hope for. Hopefully Switch - whatever it turns out like - will still be an entertaining watch.
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Post by orokiah on Aug 24, 2012 21:06:07 GMT
A confession: I saw the first episode of the first season of Vexed when it originally aired, but for some reason I never got around to watching the subsequent two instalments. And although I remember enjoying the initial episode, two years on I can't actually recall much about it in any detail. So when it comes to Vexed's second season, I'm basically approaching the show afresh and judging it entirely on it's own merits, without anything to compare it to. And I'm loving it. Wish I could say the same. Vexed has lost its charm for me; I find series two a very pale shadow of the first. Toby Stephens' magnificently off-the-wall Jack is the only reason I'm still watching.
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Post by fenris on Aug 31, 2012 13:31:22 GMT
Not only can the central quartet in Switch only perform spells when they're together, but the magical powers of each of the four girls are based on a different element: Earth, Fire, Air and Water. Hmm. These seem like ideas that probably sounded great in a scriptwriting conference while Switch was being developed, but if you think them through, they mean that the show's internal logic is incredibly contrived and almost nonsensical. Interviewed by the SFX website, Switch actress Nina Toussaint-White discusses ham-fisted elemental spell casting; ITV2’s new show Switch (from the production outfit behind Being Human) follows a very modern 'coven' of four young witches living in London, played by Lacey Turner, Nina Touissant-White, Phoebe Fox and Hannah Tointon. But how are the spells cast?
SFX got to see for ourselves on set, as we watched the filming of a scene where the witches (each of whom represents one of the four elements – Earth, Water, Air and Fire) cast a resurrection spell on… a dead cat! (Fear not, no animals were harmed…) Afterwards, we got Nina Toussaint-White (Mels in Doctor Who), who plays the bolshy Jude, to talk us through the process; “Phoebe, who plays Grace, is Water. She’s more into the spells than anyone else – she has more of a solstice background, and her mum, who Caroline Quentin plays, is really into making her a traditional witch, whereas we’re really modern. So Phoebe gets the book out and kinda gives us a nudge and tells us we all can do it, tells me I’m Fire, and then we all go and get an element. So Hannah is taking feathers out of a pillow to make Air. I then try and light a lighter – doesn’t work, “balls!” – and go off and get some matches. Lacey, who’s Earth, gets a plant pot and just starts hitting it. And then we stick some water in from a vase. So you just find what you can to make the elements of the pot. And we all have to be together to do a spell.”
Switch kicks off on ITV2 in October.SourceSounds like a fun scene, if nothing else. Fingers crossed that Switch turns out to be considerably more than ' Hollyoaks with magic', as many are predicting on-line.
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Post by fenris on Sept 6, 2012 16:57:14 GMT
Well, this certainly crept in under the radar; New children's fantasy action drama series Wolfblood is set to start on CBBC this month. It tells the story of two seemingly ordinary teenagers who are secretly part of a mysterious race - wolfbloods - who have lived among humans for centuries, disguising their abilities and blending in.
Official synopsis: Maddy Smith (Aimee Kelly) is keeping a secret - one so important she can't even tell her best friends Shannon (Louisa Connolly-Burnham) and Tom (Kedar Williams-Stirling) as it could put her whole family in danger. Maddy is faster and stronger than she appears, she can hear ultrasound, see in the dark, and track a scent from a mile away. It does have its benefits, as the school bullies can't hide their mean tricks from her, but it also has its problems, for example when she has to wear wellies to school because her mum ate her plimsolls. Living the life of an ordinary teenager is difficult anyway, and having to lock your parents in the cellar when they change on the full moon certainly doesn't help, but she's managing fine until the mysterious Rhydian Morris (Bobby Lockwood) turns up. Rhydian is a foster kid – the dangerous new boy in class who also hides a secret: he too is a wolfblood. Growing up in care means he knows nothing of other wolfbloods or how to deal with the changes he undergoes. He offers Maddy excitement and adventure, using his powers rather than hiding them. Maddy immediately knows he's a wolfblood, but if he's not careful, soon will everyone else. Wolfblood follows the tense relationship of Maddy and Rhydian, as they make their way through the trials and tribulations of high school, rivalries, friendship, and heartbreak – all the normal pains of growing up, just with added wolf powers and the constant danger of discovery. They have to try to cope with Shannon's obsessive belief that there is a "Beast on the Moors", while coming to terms with their amazing abilities and struggling to control them.
The series is produced by Foz Allan and executive-produced by Gina Cronk. The directors are Will Sinclair and Declan O'Dwyer. The music is composed by Andy Price with a title song sung by Lisa Knapp. The series has been designed by Cat Meredith, with visual effects by Munich-based Trixter, and has been shot entirely on location in the north-east of England.
Earlier this year, Cronk said: 'We were looking for a rural location to film the series. The Charles Thorp comprehensive school, Hookergate Campus at Rowlands Gill is perfect. It is surrounded by beautiful countryside and near the extraordinary village of Blanchlands. We knew it would work brilliantly on screen. We've filmed in the north-east many times, including most recently for the Tracy Beaker Returns series, and it's great to be back'.
CBBC Controller Damian Kavanagh, who commissioned the programme, said: 'We’re always looking for programmes which bring something new to the channel for our audience to enjoy, and Wolfblood is a really exciting concept and one I believe will capture the imagination of our viewers. CBBC has always had a strong record of producing acclaimed children's dramas and with such a strong team working on this show I can't wait to see the end result'.
The show was created by Debbie Moon and is a co-production between CBBC and ZDF/ZDFE.SourceThe first episode of Wolfblood debuts on CBBC next Monday (10th September 2012) at 17:15, with the second being shown at the same time on Tuesday (11th September). I think it's safe to say it was commissioned due to the popularity of the revived, revamped, and retooled-for-an-older-audience third season of Young Dracula last year, and - like Young Dracula - is clearly part of CBBC's campaign to cash in on tween Twilight mania. I'm a big fan of the impressively dark and surprisingly violent Young Dracula (it's more entertaining than the universally acclaimed Being Human, in my humble opinion), and if Wolfblood manages to approach the same level of quality, it should be worth watching. Annoyingly, despite being a rare, homegrown horror TV show, Wolfblood has been entirely ignored by practically all of the UK genre press, simply because it's a CBBC series and therefore dismissed as being 'kids' stuff' ( Young Dracula has been similarly overlooked throughout it's lifespan). Equally predictably, the very same fantasy media outlets fell over themselves a few years ago to provide fellow CBBC show The Sarah-Jane Adventures with acres of coverage, because it was part of the Who franchise and therefore deemed worthy of their attention. Double standards much?
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Post by fenris on Sept 6, 2012 18:37:02 GMT
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Post by orokiah on Sept 7, 2012 17:04:33 GMT
Annoyingly, despite being a rare, homegrown horror TV show, Wolfblood has been entirely ignored by practically all of the UK genre press, simply because it's a CBBC series and therefore dismissed as being 'kids' stuff' ( Young Dracula has been similarly overlooked throughout it's lifespan). Equally predictably, the very same fantasy media outlets fell over themselves a few years ago to provide fellow CBBC show The Sarah-Jane Adventures with acres of coverage, because it was part of the Who franchise and therefore deemed worthy of their attention. Double standards much? Ah, the Who-centric vagaries of the British genre press. This kind of thing has been a bugbear of mine since the 90s; reactions to Bugs and Crime Traveller were very obviously coloured by both having the temerity to be Saturday night telefantasy that wasn't Doctor Who. The vitriol heaped on Crime Traveller in particular was totally out of proportion. Thanks for the heads up on Wolfblood--what a shame that it's been so soundly ignored. I'm fairly sure Wizards vs Aliens won't meet the same fate when its time comes.
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Post by fenris on Sept 15, 2012 18:15:07 GMT
Wolfblood episodes #1 'Lone Wolf' and #2 'Mysterious Developments'
SPOILER WARNING
There's a grounded, small-town reality to Wolfblood, especially compared to the stylish Gothic sheen of it's CBBC stablemate Young Dracula. This is carried through to the writers and lead actors taking a subtle, underplayed approach regarding the show's two main protagonists. Maddy Smith (I strongly suspect the character is named after the stunning Hammer movie actress), played by Aimee Kelly, is a normal girl living a normal life, going to school and hanging out with her mates. It's just that her definition of 'normal' involves locking her parents in the cellar when they change into wolves every full moon. And instead of resorting to cliche and portraying new-wolfblood-on-the-block Rhydian Morris as brooding and tormented, actor Bobby Lockwood instead plays him as just another sullen, angsty teenager, who is - wisely - not trying to draw attention to himself (it helps that although Lockwood is clearly good-looking, he's not too pretty-boy handsome, and still has an average, everyday quality about him).
Opening instalment 'Lone Wolf' also introduces Maddy's best friend (and potential future nemesis?) Shannon, who's obsessed with proving the existance of local legend 'the Beast on the Moors', and the Photography Club darkroom within school premises that serves as their meeting place and all-purpose den. Thanks to a skillfully nuanced performance from Louisa Connolly-Burnham, Shannon has swiftly established herself as Wolfblood's most interesting character. The various cliques making up the background chorus are also deftly drawn, recognisable from our own schooldays. The three male bullies who make other pupils' lives a misery simply because they can, and resident bitches The Three Ks, laden down under bangles, excessive make-up & hair-grips, and sneering at anyone who they deem to be less cool than they are.
We learn in second episode 'Mysterious Developments' that Rhydian's foster parents are vegans (cue a series of meat-based puns and a running gag about a vegan chocolate bar) and there's the beginning of a sub-plot that is surely intended to continue for several episodes, or maybe even the rest of the season, with the revelation that a dangerous 'wild wolfblood' (who is running free after transforming, instead of safely confining itself) is active in the Smith family's territory. But the most memorable scene is Shannon's monologue, as she explains to Rhydian how her fixation with 'the Beast' stems from her encounter as a seven-year-old Girl Guide with something in the woods, that has scoured her life ever since.
The series' pared-back tone is reflected in the sequences where the wolfbloods move with above-human speed and agility (particularly Maddy's lengthy pursuit of Rhydian through the forest in the first episode), which are effectively achieved using simple camera techniques and the natural athleticism of the actors, as opposed to excessive special effects, When CGI is employed, for the wolfblood transformation scenes, the end results - while not remotely convincing as real wolves - are perfectly acceptable considering the show's lower-end budget. Amusingly, because Wolfblood is intended for a younger audience, it means that Rhydian's clothes magically reappear when he changes back to his human form.
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Post by orokiah on Sept 16, 2012 11:04:47 GMT
Fingers crossed that Switch turns out to be considerably more than ' Hollyoaks with magic', as many are predicting on-line. ITV2's colourful official trailer for Switch, with communal spell casting, Jamie Davis getting his kit off, and a mention of Hex (sort of): www.youtube.com/watch?v=buxEjvDqKvo
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