Dead Gorgeous volume 1 (TV DVD review).
The 2010 series “Dead Gorgeous,” although spanning 13 episodes, has been challenging to access outside of Australia, particularly the last 6 episodes, i.e., Volume 2. This co-production between BBC and Australia introduces us to three ghostly sisters – Rebecca (played by Melissa Howard), Sophie (played by Poppy Lee Friar), and Hazel Ainsworth (portrayed by Alexandra Coppinger) – who’ve been granted a second chance after dying prematurely in a coach accident. This new lease on life is courtesy of an appeal made by Rebecca to the Ghost Council, claiming they had not lived their lives fully.
The catch, however, is that they’ve returned 150 years later and their former home is now a co-ed boarding school, where they’ve been enrolled. Although still specters, they can be seen and retain certain ghostly abilities, such as passing through walls or vanishing at will. Other unseen ghosts are present too, including Agatha (played by Julie Eckersley), who, when prompted, serves as their mentor. The time lapse poses a significant challenge for Sophie, whereas her younger sisters adjust more seamlessly.
The bulk of these seven episodes unfold within an Australian co-ed institution, presumed to be a boarding school, but the evidence is scant since dormitories are never shown. The visibility of the ghost sisters provides a fresh twist to the narrative, and it’s only in the seventh episode that it’s revealed Sophie is cold to the touch. Fortunately, none of the sisters were subjected to any medical examinations.
Additional content provides insights into each episode. Interestingly, Poppy Lee Friar is the only British actress in the cast, prompting her ‘sisters’ to master the English accent. Friar, known for her roles in the teen SF show ‘Eve’ and ‘Ackley Bridge,’ delivers a performance closer to her real age in this series.
Clearly, “Dead Gorgeous” is targeted at a teen audience, yet it distinguishes itself by presenting unique resolutions to the plot challenges, typically centered not on their spectral existence, but rather on their struggle to acclimate to the present.
GF Willmetts
July 2023
(pub: ABC DVD, 2019. 2 DVDs 210 minutes 7 * 25 minute episodes with extras. Price: varies. ASIN: R-110549-9)
cast: Melissa Howard, Poppy Lee Friar, Alexandra Coppinger, Julie Eckersley and many others
check out website: www.abcshop.com.au
