Question: I was just wondering if you'd had the opportunity to watch BBC America's Hex yet. After seeing the two-hour premiere, I must say that I was very impressed, especially with the lead actress (Christina Cole). The show manages to successfully combine the witchcraft angle of Charmed with the sly humor (at least with one character) of Buffy, and sports that Gothic British style that makes everything seem so much more important. How many episodes of this show have actually been produced (I know it premiered in Britain in 2004), and are there still new ones on the horizon? Also, are you going to be reviewing the show in the magazine anytime soon?
Answer: Why am I not surprised to be getting questions about this one already? (Including a few expressing outrage over a spoiler commercial that BBC America aired during the premiere. I didn't see that, having watched the pilot on a screener DVD.) I was kind of intrigued by the premiere episode — thought it was well executed, well acted,
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Question: Every once in a while you mention the great programming on BBC America, but it's been a while. This summer they are showing the entire Sharpe series with Sean Bean. The last one is a new, never-before-seen one. Did Sean do this one, too? Have you seen or heard anything about the new show coming up called Hex? Love your column.
Answer: Actually, I filed a review in May on the BBC America political comedy The Thick of It, which is one of the funniest things I've seen in ages. The last half of the season has been a little busy with regular network fare, so BBC America fell a bit off my radar for a while. Still love it whenever I get a chance to watch. As for the Sharpe episodes: Sean Bean is in all of them, to my knowledge. And according to a BBC America press mailer, episodes new to the USA will start airing July 22, with Sharpe's Regiment. (Episodes previously shown on PBS are already airing on Saturday nights.) The series ends with a new two-parter, Sharpe's Challenge, filmed
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