The Being Human Thread

[2099net]

Being Human in the UK

The premise of Being Human sound totally absurd, like a bad house-share sitcom. Basically a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost all "live" in the same house and struggle to retain a sense of normality.

I must admit, when first watching it, I was sceptical that it could be successful - especially as the series seems to start mid-run (due to how BBC3 commissioned the series, the in-continuity Pilot was recast and remains unmade and is unlikely to ever be released commercially). But the easily picks up the premise and runs with it.

The main reason is that the three characters, despite their supernatural trappings, are incredibly human. They experience a full range of emotions and moods. Each has their own negatives as well as positives. Everyone of them makes a mistake. None of them are perfect. They're not traditional heroes, and yet none of them are anti-heroes either. They're simply people, dealt a rough hand, trying to be the best that they can be. And sometimes they wield to temptation and sometimes they have to compromise.

The show has been criticised for being somewhat small scale - the first series especially which had a weaker, almost incidental story arc. But I tend to think that such complaints are somewhat missing the point of the series. After all, its called "Being Human" - it shouldn't be about vampire factions, ancient blood feuds or whatever's currently in-vogue with the various supernatural fiction that seems to have taken over most of our entertainment these days. Its about the humanity, and Mitchell and George falling out with each other is just as important. If not more so.

Overview made at the end of Series 1
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That said, she second series had a stronger arc, which was notable for note having any villains as such - the antagonists believed that their actions were right. The story had a dramatic effect because at the end of the second series, everything changes, and I'm looking forward to the upcoming series 3 starting this month. Annie's fate especially - as detailed
here [ http://www.bbc.co.uk/beinghuman/anniebroadcasts/ ] drastically needs to be resolved.

BBC Series 3 Teaser
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As well as the weekly series, the BBC are also running a web-based spin-off this year, focussing on a vampire character introduced in the second episode. Check out "Becoming Human" here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/beinghuman/2 ... human.html

Being Human USA

Tomorrow, the US is getting its own version of Being Human on the SyFy Channel.

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In all honestly, I can't see this being very good. The Promo just looks wrong - its emphasising the wrong things and the casting seems poor. However, perhaps I've been stung too many times in the past by US remakes. Who knows.

However, I'll be interested to see how people react to the US version.

[Escapay]

I must admit, when first watching it, I was sceptical that it could be successful - especially as the series seems to start mid-run (due to how BBC3 commissioned the series, the in-continuity Pilot was recast and remains unmade and is unlikely to ever be released commercially). But the easily picks up the premise and runs with it.

Yeah, that confused me when I first saw the series too. I thought I had missed an episode when I first watched it on BBC America, and only later found out that there was a different pilot. To be honest, while I do love the current cast, I liked the pilot's vampires better (Mitchell, Herrick, and Lauren), and would have preferred seeing how the story played out with the original actors in the role.

The show has been criticised for being somewhat small scale - the first series especially which had a weaker, almost incidental story arc.

I think that's what I loved about the first series. That it was not necessarily a large arc that had to be followed episode-by-episode, but that it was the three trying to live their lives (well technically two of them).

I still need to watch the second series, and I initially didn't plan on catching the US Syfy version. But since nothing else interesting is on at 9 on Mondays, I'll give it a chance tonight. Doubt I'll stick around after the first episode, though.

albert

[2099net]

The US "re-imagining" seems to have one fan. Screenrant.com

http://screenrant.com/syfy-being-human- ... aco-96930/

[AladdinFan]

Saw the premiere on SyFy and i liked it.

[2099net]

I still need to watch the second series, and I initially didn't plan on catching the US Syfy version. But since nothing else interesting is on at 9 on Mondays, I'll give it a chance tonight. Doubt I'll stick around after the first episode, though.

You really need to see the second series. Most people think the overall arc is better. I'm not so sure, because as be both said, really the "human" elements are more important than any meta-plot or meta-conspiracy.

However, there's still plenty of these moments. There's a moment in the first few episodes where Annie becomes invisible again to normal people, and its absolutely heartbreaking to watch. I'll just say, by deciding not to go through her door she has to face consequences.

[TheSequelOfDisney]

The Pilot is free on iTunes, so I got it. I have to say, I'm rather intrigued (and rather furious at the cliffhanger--now I have to wait till Monday). But anyway, I think this'll be a good series. I haven't seen the original UK production, but I think the US adaptation will be pretty good. I'll definitely be tuning in either on Monday nights or on Hulu Tuesday's.

[AladdinFan]

'Being Human' Renewed By Syfy For A Second Season
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/0 ... ason/86146

[AladdinFan]

'Being Human' star teases cliffhanger
http://www.digitalspy.com/ustv/s146/bei ... anger.html

[2099net]

I just got Series 3 of the UK Being Human on Blu-ray and it doesn't come with the short-form spin-off "Becoming Human".

Gah! I'm so angry. Although web only stuff has been missing from BBC video releases in the past on the excuse that they are funded by different departments, some BBC videos also have them. Plus, Becoming Human was shown on TV after Being Human finished. I truly expected it to be on and I'm angry that it's not.