Lip Service, BBC3

I was once told that the opening paragraph of an article will tell you all you need to know about what you are about to read. And I would think the same could be said about watching a television program? The first five or ten minutes sets the feel and tone for a show, hooks the unsure viewer in. If that is the case then the first five minutes of BBC Three's Lip Service certainly made clear what the show was about...lesbians.

The first episode starts with two girls ripping each other's clothes off in a New York apartment (one being main character, bad girl photographer Frankie). From the opening scene it is clear that there will be no caution in covering what is still strangely some-what of a taboo subject on British TV.

But as the hour-long outing continued I realised that there was nothing else beyond the fact that it was a show about twenty-something lesbians living in Glasgow. The characters and their stories seem to be dominated too much by their sexuality, the conversation stuttered in between the sex scenes.

One scene in particular where Frankie (Ruta Gedmintas) and a funeral director secretary have sex in a morgue in front on a dead body seemed to be suddenly thrust upon the viewers at home and Frankie's ex Cat (Laura Fraser) who walked in on them.

Maybe after all the creator of Lip Service was too conscious that they were making a risque, bold and in-some-ways groundbreaking drama?

But this was only episode one of this six-part drama. Opening episodes are often used to set the tone, introduce the characters and what they are about.

After last night's episode no one can have any doubts about what Lip Service is about but hopefully the characters and their relationships can be explored further in the next five showings.

Picture from The Guardian

Life Unexpected, E4

Premiering last night on E4 (7pm), US drama Life Unexpected follows the story of Lux, a 15-year-old (soon to be 16) who wants emancipation from the foster care system.

After being given away at birth Lux (Brittany Robertson) has bounced around foster homes. But with her 16th birthday approaching she goes off in search of her birth parents so they can sign a form that will hopefully grant her emancipation from the state. Lux first finds her dad, layabout and bar owner Nate "Baze" Bazile (Kristoffer Polaha) before meeting her birth mother, morning radio host Cate Cassidy (Shiri Appleby).

Predictably there are complications and instead of being granted emancipation Lux finds herself in the joint temporary custody of Cate and Baze. And that is where the story really starts, a emotional tale of reconnection and family.

With a Juno/Gilmore Girls feel, Life Unexpected is a heart-warming, gentle and funny hour of television that will one moment make you laugh and the next cry.

The show is mainly character-driven and while Cate does not look old enough to be Lux's mum (even though Cate had her in high school), the chemistry and connection between Cate, Lux, Baze and Cate's co-host/secret partner Ryan (Kerr Smith) makes this dysfunctional family dynamic work. The plot to the show feels honest and natural, a US drama with a simple premise written and performed well.

Without ruining the next 12 episodes Life Unexpected follows how everyone slots back into each others lives and deals with the issues this brings, whether it be Cate and Lux, Baze and Lux or Cate and Baze (plus the romantic complication of Cate's partner Ryan). With the Juno-type style there is plenty of teen angst as Lux yearns to be a normal teenager whilst her parents struggle with their own angst as they are forced to grow up.

And if you do enjoy the first season of Life Unexpected you can look forward to a second, which has just begun airing in the US.

Picture from Tv Fanatic