Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasantly surprised!, 28 Feb 2007
Ok so first off, I did not expect to really love this series but despite my better judgement I totally dug it. Admittedly it was this final season that hooked me and it remains a guilty pleasure. I've heard a lot of negative things said about Hex which is partly what contributed toward me never wanting to watch it. But I'm glad I finally did. I watch a lot of American genre television and I think the quality of that spoils me to an extent, but Hex is very British and it has that quirkiness to it that only British TV has. It's very refreshing to watch a British genre show and while there are a few continuity contrivances that demand a fair amount of thought, there's nothing so glaringly plot holed that taints ones enjoyment of the series. The characters are easy to become emotionally invested in and that's what the most important thing is, that you care what happens to these people. Hex succeeds in doing so which as a result makes the series all the more gratifying. The direction is wonderful and this series contains some of the best sets and artistic camera moves I've seen on television. The mood is set by the wonderfully dark and atmospheric setting which is captured with some amount of scope.
The pacing of these episodes are much quicker compared with the first season, and there's a lot more action overall. The main cast get a makeover: a new character is introduced in the first episode (Ella). Who I find to be far more interesting than Cassie. Ella is dark, interesting, unpredictable and can fight like the best of them! Leon is also brought to the forefront and undergoes a great deal of character development; which was nice to see. Thelma is as always a joy to watch, and manages to get herself into some considerably grey moral areas. Over the course of the season a lot changes and we see these characters attempt to deal with the events that take place with varying degrees of success. This leads to a lot of character growth and dark subject matter. Hex as a show is very dark, not just in the way its lit, but in its tone and ambience. Which is partly what I enjoy the most, that while its a very dark almost adult show, it retains a great deal of realism at the same time.
The tone of Hex is incredibly different to the show it was compared to, Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Hex is nothing like Buffy. They both seek to do different things and achieve what they do in different ways. Although some amount of influence from the former is apparent in some episodes of Hex. The dialogue gets much better this season, it was good before but it feels like realistic dialogue, not flowery or too quick. And finally some realistic romance appears this season, which has natural progression unlike some in the past season.
The overarching story arc is good - I won't give it away but the writers do very well up until near the end. There are some interesting subplots weaving their way through the episodes, and the continuity remains quite tight until some of the last few episodes. Though while some plotting toward the end seems a tad random its in context with what has gone before. And is beneficial to the story. With regards to the ending itself, while it was never meant to be the series finale, the finale is pretty good. Evidently not all things are resolved, but I felt there was enough resolve to the key plot arcs of the season that it does not bug me that there will be no conclusion to the larger question of the series. I also enjoyed the post-modernism that reared its head in the finale, great stuff.
I reckon the best way to enjoy this series is to not take it too seriously, don't get me wrong it's intelligent but I see Hex as more of a dark 'supernatural-dramedy', meaning a comedy-drama. If you spend hours trying to work out the lodgic/motive of the writers you'll never like it. But it'll never be as good as some stuff out there, it is however very worthy your time. It's one of my favourites and I'll only ever write a review of something I feel is worth recommending, this falls into that category.
Cursed - Great opening episode, the pacing is much improved. 9/10
The Mother - Twisty. 9/10
Spiral - This episode has a lot of amusing moments among the dark bits. 10/10
Ella Burns - Very dark episode that takes a look into Ella's past. 9/10
With A Little Help From My Friends (1) - Brilliant acting by Laura Pyper. 10/10
With A Little Help From My Friends (2) - Superb conclusion to this arc. 10/10
Noir - Advances the arc. 8/10
Where the Heart is - Good episode, but kinda lacks in purpose. 7/10
Doomed - Again a good episode overall but it is a bit random. 7/10
You Lose - Back on track. 8/10
Hole - Pretty good episode, this helps to setup the next episode. 8.5/10
Seven Deadly Sins - Good setup to the finale. 9/10
The Showdown - On an enjoyment level very good, but the ending did leave something to be desired. 5/10
So overall well worth watching, Hex will no doubt be seen as a cult classic, even if it is a bit like marmite - you either love it or you hate it, I'll be over there firmly seated in the 'love it camp'.
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Hex Series 2: Bigger, but is it better?, 3 Mar 2006
By A Customer
I was so excited when Hex came back to TV, and I was not disapointed for the first 3 Episodes. It picked up the story where it left off and ran with it.
The twists came thick and fast and I found myself thinking about where now would the story go, long after it had aired.But then came the lull mid series, and I began to get bored. Stories and themes repeated themselves, continuity went out the window. The love triangle that kept me gripped was gone, along with major characters. The other characters had complete personality u-turns that made no sense in the short time span it was supposed to go over. I was really disapointed. They have replaced real creepyness and preying on peoples fears and imaginations, with CGI and half-wit storylines. The filming techniques have also changed, so the look of the show has also changed. On the plus side, the ending was superb, if a little open ended. Jemima Rooper, as ever was a joy to watch. As was Christina Cole, and Michael Fassbender. In conclusion, if you like Buffy, you will love Series 2 because it was a lot more like it. If you like British horror with lots of wit thrown in, then be prepared to sit through the bad to finally get to the good. But also have a tissue for the tears near to hand..........
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hex had me glued to the television, 7 April 2006
It is hypnotic and entrancing sci fi. I'm a Canadian and our sci fi channel introduced the Hex series. I am hooked. It has a slow and steady pace that pulls you in. The characters don't over act, which is refreshing from my usual american t.v. fare. The way it's written, directed and acted is superb in every way. Plus the subject matter is a fun new twist from the usual. It has humor, intrigue, mystery -- everything -- while also delivered brilliantly. So, here I am buying it from U.K. Amazon because I can't get it ordered from Canada.
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