Hex Wiki
Register
Advertisement

"Do you know how frustrating it is being a lesbian ghost?" - Thelma

Thelma Bates
Thelmabates
Gender: Female   Female
Race: Ghost
Died: 2004
Abilities: Dream Walking
Time Travel
Invisibility
Affiliation: Cassie
Occupation: Student
First Appearance: The Story Begins, Part I
Last Appearance: The Showdown
Cause: series end
Portrayed by: Jemima Rooper

Thelma Bates is a fictional character played by Jemima Rooper in Sky One's British horror dramedy series Hex.

Jemima Rooper as Thelma Bates. She has appeared in every episode of the programme. After the departure and subsequent replacement of the programme's lead character of Cassie, Thelma became the de facto protagonist as she was the only character who continued the series' narrative.

Character Biography[]

Series One[]

In the beginning of the show's run, Thelma's lesbianism was made very apparent, along with the realization she was in love with her best friend Cassie, with whom she attended Mendenham Hall. At Mendenham, Thelma was bullied by popular students Roxanne, Leon, and Troy.

In the first episode of the first series, Thelma gave her life to save Cassie's - unwittingly becoming the sacrifice instrumental in returning Azazeal's power. Azazeal staged Thelma's death to appear to be a suicide.

Becoming a ghost, unseen by most characters, Thelma aided Cassie in understanding that she is descended from witches and later helped her new young friend, 500 year old witch Ella Dee, battle against the demonic Nephilim.

Thelma is a unique character in modern television in that for the majority of the series, her interactions were limited to the series' few "supernatural" characters. With the death of Cassie, and their final kiss with both of them as ghosts, it was finally possible for Thelma to pursue relationships with other lesbian ghosts.

Series Two[]

Thelma promised Cassie she would help Ella Dee, a 500 year old witch and assassin, in her mission. She saved Ella from Azazeal's plots, from servitude to Azazeal and Cassie's son Malachi, and from execution several centuries in the past.

After giving the character Leon a potion of Ella's to allow him to see the spirit world, the three formed a group which fought against Malachi - the series' main antagonist in wake of Azazeal's mid-season departure.

In an effort to hinder Thelma's ability to aid Ella, Malachi causes the death of young lesbian Maya Robertson and positions her to develop a ghostly emotional and sexual relationship with Thelma. Maya's spirit bore Malachi's mark, naming her as one of his creatures - a succubus. To weaken Malachi, Ella had to go about destroying these creatures, including Maya's spirit, for which she and Thelma temporarily parted ways.

Malachi eventually seduces the entire student body romantically or by promising them their greatest desires, creating an army of succubi and incubi that makes him too powerful for Ella to kill. The only students who are not converted are Thelma (because the death of Maya leaves nothing for Malachi to offer her), Roxanne (who becomes a "pure soul" in her quest for forgiveness from God for seducing the character Jez and causing his apparent suicide), Tom (who is secretly gay, in love with Leon, and impossible to convert because Malachi cannot make the straight Leon love him back), Leon (after Thelma entered his dreams), and Ella (after Thelma entered her dreams to awaken Ella's real, 500 year old, personality).

In the programme's conclusion, after helping Leon to save Ella's life, an indestructible Malachi sacrifices Roxanne while the entire school is burnt to the ground. Ella, Leon and Thelma escape as Malachi's ritual brings about End of Days. The series ends unfinished, with the final fate of Thelma left unclear.

Powers and Abilities[]

As a ghost Thelma displayed the ability to enter others' dreams, doing so to make-out with Cassie, later to communicate with the living and to free comrades from Malachi's control.

While invisible to most, she seemed to retain complete tangibility, bumping into things, touching everything - even frequently eating crisps. The only exception to this is that she cannot apparently touch anything that is alive.

In one episode we find that Thelma can interact with other time periods, as she is able to save Ella in the past while standing at the same location in the present - seemingly existing in two times at once.

Thelma's Blog[]

Excerpt from Thelma's Blog on BBC America Diary Entry Day 1:

Hi, my name is Thelma Bates. I'm a lesbian at sixth form college at a place called Medenham. It's a great big old rambling place - bit spooky but alright. I share a room with Cassie, who is gorgeous and my best friend. She's the opposite of me - skinny with long, blonde hair. Cow. She's quite quiet and shy and definitely not the coolest girl in school, but I like that. She's different to the others. They spend all their time obsessing about boys, fashion, and sex.
School was pretty average today and tonight wasn't much better. I was bored and Cassie was drawing. She wasn't giving anything away about her love life - much as I tried. I know for a fact she fancies this guy Troy. He's tall, skinny, and pretty gorgeous if you're into that sort of thing. All the girls fancy him - except me of course. Spotted a new vase Cassie'd found. Shame it doesn't vibrate.

Gallery[]

See Also[]


  Series Two Characters edit
Main

AlexAzazealThelma BatesRoxanne DavenportElla DeeMalachiLeon TaylorDavid TyrelJo WatkinsTom Wright

Recurring

FelixJez HariotCassie HughesMephistophelesPerie the FaerieRaphaelMaya RobertsonMax RosenDr. Surtees

See Also: Series One Characters
Advertisement