Discussion of Episode 12 "Noir" (Series 2, Episode 7) - 11/06/05 (SkyOne-UK)

[Black Eye Guy]

Ella is set on exacting her revenge upon Azazeal's accomplice Jez. Then she meets Malachi, and realises he's the one she's been waiting all her life to kill.

Source (http://uk.tv.yahoo.com/tvpdb?d=tvp&id=169611037&cf=0&lineup=uk&channels=europe_sk1&chspid=166005006&chname=Sky+One&title=Hex&normalized=Hex&progutn=1131339600&.intl=uk)

I like the sound of this episode!

[Allycat]

Well, this was a really eventful episode. Jes dead, David back, Azazeal leaving, and Malachi vs. Ella round 1. I really like how it all came together this episode. Turns out Malachi is a great character after all. I really felt sorry for Leon, cause it seems to me like his relationship with Ella isn't going to last long. I also felt sorry for Roxanne, even though she kinda earned it... she looked really hot in this episode with more natural colour make-up. Anyway, I'm really sad Azazeal's gone... but I'm sure he'll be back sooner or later... probably around the same time Cassie returns.... Man, I sure hope they will!

[Black Eye Guy]

This episode was very cool! I loved the storyline of the episode, it closed up some story lines, which really asks what big thing are they going to bring in for the end!
Do you think Azazeal’s really gone? I can understand why, with no Cassie to play off his character was a little lost. Do you really think they are coming back?
I like Malachi he is a very interesting character, and err! I was liking the Leon/Ella love story! And I felt bad for Roxanne as well (You are right by the way she looked sooooo hot in this episode!) I loved how they had Alex stand up to her that was really good, creating some dept for the background characters.

[Vilandra]

Recap:

Thelma breaks the news to Leon and Ella that Max has been tortured and killed. Ella is furious and despite Leon's protestations she says she's going to take the war to them. She immediately gets into training and it's clear that she's intent on vengeance.

Ella, Leon and Thelma sneak back into school just in time to overhear Sir Ralph announcing to the staff that Jez will be their new headmaster. He has no idea where Ella is, however, or that's she's on her way to get him.

Leon asks Sir Ralph and Jez if he can come back to the school, claiming that Ella has gone away without him. Meanwhile Thelma and Ella spy on them from one of the secret passageways with which Medenham is riddled.

Azazeal wants to know if it's safe for Malachi to go to the school. Jez claims it is, but Azazeal wants him to torture Leon to find out Ella's whereabouts. Jez orders Leon to come to extra kendo practice in order to do what he is told. Malachi, meanwhile, doesn't want to wait for Jez to tell him the coast is clear. He's clearly not afraid of Ella, whatever his father might say.

Azazeal tries to tell Malachi that he will be leaving him soon. Azazeal has been called away by higher powers and this will be the last time he sees him, but Malachi isn't listening.

Leon confronts Roxanne about betraying him to Jez. She's unapologetic and Alex starts to turn against her. Roxanne goes straight to Jez but he's not interested in student politics, he's just after a quickie. Little does he know that Thelma's filming the two of them in their compromising positions.

Leon tells Ella that he's got to go and see Jez later for "extra training". She seems to have a plan, but first she tells Leon that he needs to bring Thelma's camera work to a wider audience.

Sir Ralph watches the video as Jez dons his kendo outfit and prepares to take Leon out. However, when he attacks the masked figure he thinks is Leon, the figure is more than able to handle him. Soon Jez is in trouble, desperate to know who his assailant is. Ella pulls her helmet off, before smashing Jez against the doors. Jez tries to make his escape but Malachi suddenly appears. He holds the doors shut while Ella strangles his father's creature. Ella is surprised at Malachi's actions, but she knows immediately who he is.

The next day Sir Ralph and David Tyrel discover Jez's body. Sir Ralph asks David to come back as headmaster. When David announces Jez's death to the school, all eyes turn to Roxanne.

Roxanne claims to David that she was manipulated. He doesn't seem inclined to believe her but he doesn't have much choice. Roxanne is horrified to find the other students watching the video of her having sex with Jez. Leon tries to hold out the hand of friendship but Roxanne's blames him for the video getting out. She's left completely alone.

Ella meanwhile prepares to kill Malachi. However Thelma notices that she is having doubts. Could Ella possibly be attracted to her nemesis? It certainly seems so when Malachi flirts with Ella in the gym. He seems very keen to get to know her better, and when he sees her with Leon, he makes an effort to find out where Leon hangs out.

While Ella makes final preparations for her attack on Malachi, Malachi himself joins Tom and Leon in a local bar. He buys them drinks and tries to undermine Leon's relationship with Ella.

Thelma, meanwhile, has seen the boys out while she was "window shopping" and returns to tell Ella that she has her chance – she can wait in Malachi's room and attack him when he comes home drunk. Ella does indeed sneak into his room but there she finds Azazeal. He tells her he's been ordered to leave Malachi. But he wants to say something to her first. Does she really want to kill his son, or is he perhaps a perfect fit for her, body and soul? Ella is left feeling confused – is Malachi her perfect man rather than her enemy?

Malachi returns to Medenham to find the Stone of Belial and a note from his father. Malachi is suddenly devastated at being left all alone in the world.

Leon stumbles back to Medenham and tells Ella that he could have pulled, but he didn't because he loves her. She looks less than impressed.

In the early dawn, Azazeal takes one last look at Medenham before leaving.

Malachi finds Thelma in the church, keeping a vigil for Cassie. He talks to her about her mother, genuine at first, but when Thelma won't tell him much he becomes angry and offensive. Thelma storms out and tells Ella that Malachi deserves to die and she must do it soon.

Ella goes to tell Malachi they have to get things over and done with once and for all. He pretends he thinks she means sex, but when she denies this he demands a duel, with swords. Ella agrees.

Thelma and Leon are worried as Ella goes off to duel with Malachi. She says she'll be fine.

She and Malachi meet in the school church. They duel as Malachi winds her up about taking her job of Anointed One so seriously. He's a good duellist and for a while it looks like an even battle.

But then Ella gains the upper hand. Malachi pulls out a second, concealed blade but Ella pulls out the Knife of Orokiah and Malachi knows he is beaten. She has him at knife-point. He dares her to kill him. But she can't do it. She pulls away without striking the fatal blow. He tells her she won't regret it…

Source: SkyOne.co.uk (http://www.skyone.co.uk/programme/pgeepisodes.aspx?pid=5&eid=363)

[Allycat]

I agree with you Black Eye Guy, that it was good Alex stood up to Rox. I hope they'll make the characters of Alex and Tom a bit rounder, through the course of the season.