Hit & Miss

Hit & Miss

Company type	Television drama series
Industry	Television
Founded	May 22, 2012 (2012-05-22)
Founder	Paul Abbott
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom, United States, Australia
Key people	Paul Abbott (developer), Sean Conway (writer), Chloë Sevigny (lead actress)
Products	Television drama series

Hit & Miss is a UK-based television drama developed by Paul Abbott and aired on Sky Atlantic. The series features Chloë Sevigny portraying a transgender assassin who unexpectedly learns she has a child with a former partner, navigating the complexities of parenthood alongside her lethal profession.

Abbott created the show by merging two distinct concepts. All six episodes were penned by Sean Conway. As Sky Atlantic's inaugural original drama, it debuted on 22 May 2012 in the United Kingdom and later premiered on DirecTV's Audience Network in the United States on 11 July 2012.

On 4 September 2012, TVWise announced that Sky Atlantic had decided to discontinue Hit & Miss. The network subsequently clarified that the series was designed as a standalone drama with no intentions for continuation.

Overview

Mia, a pre-operative transgender woman and professional killer, discovers she has fathered a son named Ryan with her deceased ex-girlfriend, Wendy. Entrusted with guardianship of Ryan and his three half-siblings residing on a secluded farmhouse in Yorkshire, Mia strives to juggle her duties as an assassin with her newfound role as a parent.

Cast and characters

• Chloë Sevigny as Mia – a transgender contract killer who uncovers that she has a son following Wendy’s passing.
• Peter Wight as Eddie – Mia’s criminal employer based in Manchester, who holds her in high regard.
• Jonas Armstrong as Ben – Mia’s love interest.
• Vincent Regan as John – proprietor of the family farm.
• Ben Crompton as Liam – Wendy’s brother.
• Karla Crome as Riley – Wendy’s daughter and Mia’s adopted child.
• Reece Noi as Levi – Wendy’s son and Mia’s adopted child.
• Jorden Bennie as Ryan – the biological son of Wendy and Mia.
• Roma Christensen as Leonie – Wendy’s daughter and Mia’s adopted child.

Production

Following its 2011 launch, Hit & Miss was among Sky Atlantic's earliest original productions. Creator Paul Abbott fused two separate storylines—a transgender mother caring for five children and a hitman—into one cohesive narrative, overcoming initial developmental hurdles. Writer Sean Conway undertook extensive research into gender transition processes and firearm handling. Despite the unconventional subject matter, Sky Atlantic welcomed the project.

In 2011, Sevigny accepted the lead role, drawn by the script but conscious of the transgender community’s perspective. Executive producer Nicola Shindler mentioned that although casting a transgender actor was considered, acting skill was prioritized. To prepare, Sevigny studied medical literature and autobiographies about transitioning and learned an Irish accent. She also wore a prosthetic phallus for authenticity, which proved emotionally demanding.

Filming took place over five months in Manchester, with production resembling an independent film environment. Scenes involving Sevigny’s nudity were essential to character development rather than gratuitous. Prior to broadcast, Sky Atlantic showed interest in producing a second season; however, by July 2012 no renewal had been confirmed. Unlike other cast members, Sevigny was not contracted for additional seasons.

On 4 September 2012, Sky Atlantic officially announced the cancellation of Hit & Miss, emphasizing that it was always intended as a self-contained story despite earlier suggestions of future installments.

Broadcast

Hit & Miss made its UK debut on 22 May 2012, airing on Sky Atlantic. The initial series attracted an average of 120,000 viewers live, capturing a 0.68% audience share. In the United States, the show premiered on DirecTV's Audience Network on 11 July 2012. Additionally, Australian audiences could watch the series on ABC2 beginning 5 November 2012.

Reception

Overall, the series was met with favorable critiques, with Chloe Sevigny’s portrayal receiving notable acclaim.

On Metacritic, it holds a score of 72 out of 100, aggregated from 16 reviews.

Tom Sutcliffe from The Independent characterized the opening episode as "wonderfully unexpected and unpredictable," highlighting it as an impressive original drama venture for Sky Atlantic. Phil Hogan of The Observer acknowledged some conventional genre elements but commended the show's writing, performances, and pacing. Keith Watson of Metro appreciated the narrative’s "offbeat charm," though he recommended a more nuanced treatment of its surreal comedic aspects. Chris Harvey from the Telegraph expressed reservations about the concept but awarded it a rating of 3 out of 5.

In America, Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times lauded the actors’ work and the genuine unpredictability of characters despite occasional plot predictability. Matt Roush from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer showed enthusiasm regarding the series’ trajectory. Conversely, The New York Times critiqued the program for its somber tone and sluggish pacing, suggesting it lacked humor despite tackling provocative subject matter.

Awards and nominations

Year	Organization	Category	Nominee(s)	Outcome
2012	Satellite Awards	Best Actress – Television Series Drama	Chloe Sevigny	Template:Nom
2013	BAFTA TV Awards	Best Director – Fiction	Hettie Macdonald	Template:Nom
2013	GLAAD Media Awards	Outstanding Television Movie or Miniseries	Hit & Miss	Template:Nom

Home releases

Season		Number of episodes	DVD/Blu-ray release dates
			Region 1	Region 2	Region 4
	1	6	5 March 2013 (2013-03-05)	2 July 2012 (2012-07-02)	12 December 2012 (2012-12-12)

External links

• Official website