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Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde and Gina BellmanLori and I stumbled across BBC America's fantastic drama series Jekyll a few weekends ago when we were surfing our On Demand channels, and by the end of the first episode, we were hooked. The six-episode first season, which went out with a bang this past weekend, is a suspense thriller with an excellent cast and an old story that somehow comes across fresh. James Nesbitt is brilliant and believable as both Tom Jackman and his alter ego Mr. Hyde, the lesbian private detectives drive the plot forward and provide some necessary comic relief, and Michelle Ryan, who did not impress us in the Bionic Woman pilot, nails her role as Tom's mysterious assistant/nurse perfectly here.
But the one who really impressed me the most was Gina Bellman as Tom's wife Claire. I'd only ever seen Bellman previously on the very funny British comedy Coupling, playing the fairly limited, over-the-top and occasionally annoying role of narcissistic bisexual Jane.
Beyond thinking "Hey, that's that actress who played the bi chick on Coupling," I didn't pay much attention to Bellman in the first few episodes of Jekyll, because Claire's role was initially fairly small and mostly limited to wondering why her husband kept disappearing for days at a time. But once she discovered his secret in episode three, Claire suddenly started to get interesting, and in episode four, it was like "forget Tom's alter ego, who is this other Gina Bellman?"
In the second half of the series, Bellman showed a range I had no idea she possessed. From her teasing seductiveness in flashbacks of her first meeting with Tom, to her mix of confusion and curiosity when she learned about Hyde, to her bewildered outrage when she was taken captive by the evil corporation out to get Hyde, to her steely determination to protect her husband against himself and the evil corporation, both the character and the actress began to steal the show. (The best moment of the fourth episode was when she flung the hot coffee on her captor/former friend while remarking evenly, "Apologies for the coffee" and stalking slowly off.) Add this to the lesbians' hilarious banter, Nesbitt's brilliant transformation from Tom to Hyde, and plot twists that keep you guessing, and an already good series got even better. If you're a fan of Gina Bellman or well-written psychological dramas — especially ones with smart, funny lesbians and a sleeper wife — you must give this series a try. If you don't get BBC America (which is re-running the episodes and has them available On Demand), you're in luck — Jekyll will be released on DVD in the U.S. on Sept. 18. Submitted by on August 27, 2007 - 11:01am. |
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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
It was probably the best 6
It was probably the best 6 episodes of drama I've seen so far. The acting was superb and the story kept you on your toes the whole way through, right to the last possible second. James Nesbitt was absolutely amazing as was Bellman.
Oh my god, I can't believe make the connection... Michelle Ryan, so THAT'S why she seemed so familiar in the Bionic Woman pilot. Jekyll. Riiiight :D yeah, she was terrible in Bionic Woman, really good in Jekyll. Go figure.
Gina
I was already a fan of Gina from her Coupling days but had no idea she had the kind of range she had until I watched Jekyll. I had assumed she'd play the usual damsel in distress roles that most wives or girlfriends would have in these kinds of sci-fi dramas but she really suprised me. Once Clarie met Hyde, she didn't run from him, but rather confronted him, challenged him, and basically stood up to a man who could literally and metaphorically rip her heart out. Steven Moffat (the writer and creator of both Coupling and Jekyll) really knows how to write strong, interesting female characters (he and Joss Whedon should do a project together).
Regarding the show itself, brilliant, as the English would say, although sometimes I'd roll my eyes a little about Nesbitt's performance as Hyde (Dr. Jackman, though, esp. at the end was, was perfect). Add in the small but charming and tough roles of the two dectives and this was one of the best sci-fi shows I've seen all year. Don't know if they will have another series or not, but if so, I'm there.
I am Sold
After readin this blog, and people's opinion about the show.. I am stunned that I judged the show a little too quickly then I should've.. I guess I am more of a fan for what comes out from the States to us.. and viewing very little English programmes, such as Jekyll is a shame.. so I am gonna try and get myself into the show once more rather then changing to another channel.
So, thanks for the blog and member's comments about the show I will give it a go and will come back with my own opinion about the programme.
:]
I need you like a heart needs a beat, It's nothing new.
James Nesbitt and other things.
Sarah,
you should seriously check out the now long gone British tv series "Cold Feet" - if you haven't already. It's a brilliant little show about the usual; relationships and things like that. But with a twist. Just steer away from the last couple of seasons for they ran out of ideas. James Nesbitt (Adam) is freaking brilliant in it, as is the entire casting (especially the woman who plays Jenny, can't think of her real name right now). I think you'd probably like that show a lot. It had the best one-liners ever. Such classics as
Adam: So tell me, who was your driving instructor? Stevie Wonder?
Rachel: At least I had one.
Adam: My god, I'm dating Matahari.
It's honestly absolutely brilliant. The writing is so spot on. And to stay on the lesbian topic: Helen Baxendale (Rachel in the series) plays a lesbian in this British film, The Investigator (1997) and kisses girls in two other films ;)
I second the little lady's
I second the little lady's suggestion about Cold Feet. It really is brilliant, well written and such a great comedy. James Nesbitt is flat out funny but my favorite character is Jen played by the oh so talented Fay Ripley, the woman is hilarious.
I feel strongly you and Lori will really enjoy this British little gem.
Third for Cold Feet
I loved Jekyll and am a huge fan of Cold Feet. I just wish that Seasons 4 & 5 were available in America. James Nesbitt is very talented and Fay Ripley is great. Hermoine Norris won me over in Wire in the Blood, and she does not dissapoint in this series either. To me, it perfectly balances humor and drama.
Helen Baxendale
yes
she was on the show before she went on friends [i think]
I need you like a heart needs a beat, It's nothing new.
tobad coupling punkt out
In one of the last episodes where Jane and Susan have one of the hottest girl/girl kiss scenes ever seen on TV Jane reveals that she isn't really Bi at all nor is she has dumb as she plays it was all just an act. Pisst every fan off Im sure and got the show rightly canceled. The show was really over once Jeff left anyhow.
-Nathiest
Gina Bellman
you guys a few weeks ago talked about Jekyll, lesbians couple... So i watched the first ep... i was hooked ! the lesbian couple ? doesn't matter ! James Nesbitt performance was amazing ! and in ep 3 or 4 (do not remember exactly) Gina Bellman gave a good perf too... But most of all she was fucking hot !!!! Can't take my eyes off her !!!
it was a delicious summer !!! thanx guys for the info....
I agree; some of the best 6 hours of TV this year
I posted a review of Jekyll on my OurChart blog. Here's what I said about Gina Bellman:
She is my hands-down, favorite character. When Claire confronts Hyde and wants to know how much sex he’s been having with other people he replies, “I’m not your husband Mrs. Jackman. We just share a dick.” She dope slaps him and says, “Yes and it belongs to me.” (Gotta love a woman who can mete out a convincing dope slap.)
http://www.ourchart.com/node/135394
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MELKOR: Got the shinies!
UNGOLIANT: Not enough shiny. Want more shiny!
MELKOR: You can't have 'em.
UNGOLIANT: Grar.
MELKOR: Eeek! *runs*
FEANOR AND SONS: We're gettin' our shinies back.
Blackeyes
Gina Bellman got her break in the 1989 BBC miniseries Blackeyes, written and directed by the very peculiar British television auteur Dennis Potter.
Bellman plays the object of the sexual obsessions of a number of men, and the series is supposed to explore the objectification of women as well as the nature of male desire, though some viewers found the series sexist and exploitative - and plenty of others (back in 1989) thought it was too explicit.
Whatever you think of the content, Gina Bellman certainly does look beautiful in Blackeyes. My 13-year old self sneakily stayed up late to watch it, and thought it was horribly misogynistic, but I was magnetised by Gina Bellman even while I was wondering, Why is that pretty girl having sex with all those ugly men?