Review: "Hit and Miss"

[Carolyn Marie]

A friend sent me a link to this British cable T.V show and I got a chance to watch it last night. It stars Chloe Sevigny (Seven-e) as Mia, a transsexual British woman who's career choice is hit man, or hit woman, as it were. Sevigny's character is pre-op, so they fitted her with a prosthesis, and as seems necessary these days on cable television, they make sure you get to see it, and the rest of her body, on a couple of occasions.

Anyway, back to the story. Her life becomes complicated when her ex wife dies and leaves her as the ward of five kids, one of whom is a name sake son she never knew she had. They live on a rural northern England farm that isn't doing too well. She takes over the farm and the family, and does battle with a jerk landlord, while still occasionally moonlighting for her boss and taking out various strangers for a hefty fee. Those scenes are brutal and bloody, but not gratuitous.

This is a serious drama, and her transsexuality is well integrated into the story, but doesn't dominate it. Sevigny is a good actress, but not a great one, and the supporting roles are not well defined, but then it was just the first episode and the back story may develop as the six part mini-series unfolds. I would certainly like to know how she got into her current career. The scenes unfold slowly, the dialogue is good but doesn't crackle, and the somber mood is heightened by brooding skies and the bleak countryside. Sevigny's physicality is showcased in both a karaoke bar scene and a brief fight scene. She is lovely and scary in turns.

I would give this show a B so far. As it is rated R I can't post a link, but you can find it on the Net if you look.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Jess_k]

Good review. I wanted to watch this, but I don't have Sky so was unable. I've heard good reviews from my sister though. One slight correction - Chloë Sevigny is a genetic female, not post-op.

[Carolyn Marie]

One slight correction - Chloë Sevigny is a genetic female, not post-op.

Dang! I thought I had read that somewhere. Thanks much. I've corrected my review.

HUGS

Carolyn Marie

[Kyla666]

Umm... the shows name?

[Carolyn Marie]

Title of the thread, hon. "Hit and Miss."

Carolyn Marie

[Guest amanda_s]

how long to DVD i don't have cable or a dish what did see it looks interesting

amanda

[Guest Risu]

DVD Region 2 this month. Region 2 being the UK and other parts of Europe possibly. Not exactly sure how region coding works.

Wonderful review Carolyn! I wish I would have read this before that last message I sent you! >< I pretty much repeated everything you had to say.

Thus far everyone I have shared the show with has enjoyed it immensely. As Carolyn said being trans is just part of the character of Mia and it doesn't dominate the character or the whole show. In fact, as time goes on Mia steadily becomes one of the most "Normal" characters on the show.

I really enjoyed it and hope they make a second series. Glad to see the word is getting out about it.

[Guest LizMarie]

I watched all 6 episodes and it was great! But the loose ends hanging at the end have me wanting another 6 episodes!

[Guest Misaka]

Amazing series! Having read this post today, I started watching it this evening after putting a wash on, episodes are 40 minutes each, and there are 6 of them so it's watchable in an evening. Just finished the final episode now. Hopefully there will be another series! So good! Be warned though, it's very gritty, and it'll make you sad!

[Carolyn Marie]

Here are a couple of "professional" (cough) reviews. Sounds like they copied mine.

http://www.huffingto..._b_1662429.html

http://www.latimes.c...0,5133484.story

http://thinkprogress.org/alyssa/2012/07/11/514229/hit-misss-tender-approach-to-transgender-characters/

Carolyn Marie

[Guest lostflower]

I really liked the series there are so few shows where being TG is anything other than a comedy point or stereotype.