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TV REVIEW: 'BEING HUMAN' - SEASON 1 (UK)

Now Streaming: Horror Fantasy Dramedy From BBC Stays True to the Genre

By: Jesse Livingston

January 17, 2012

(BBC) Being Human premiered on BBC Three and is currently being remade in a North American version by Muse Entertainment, broadcast on SyFy in the U.S. and Space in Canada. Now, I haven't seen the remake, so I can make no comparisons; however, I can say that the original series is surprisingly engaging for a story about a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost sharing a flat in Bristol (UK).

'Being Human' buzzine.com Don't get me wrong: I love supernatural thrillers more than life itself, even when they're somewhat absurd. In fact, the more absurd, the better, I say, because a lot of times, as with Doctor Who, the absurdity compounds and convolutes into what becomes essentially surrealist art. However, I do find myself shying away from shows about ghosts and vampires. Maybe it's because I love the genre so much that I hate to see it done badly or treated with contempt. Too many supernaturally themed shows and films, it seems, are made by people who appear to have little respect for the genre and are, presumably, just trying to make a quick buck with some pulp trash. (A notable exception to this would be Eric Kripke's phenomenal series Supernatural, which displays a remarkable faith in its writers, actors, and characters, and veritably drips with genuine love for the classics of the horror genre.)

Thus, it was with trepidation that I started watching Being Human. I had heard good things about it, but that did little to overcome my ingrained skepticism. “This isn't going to be very good,” I said to myself. How wrong I was. The series, true to its name, doesn't get bogged down in the details of folklore and mythology, nor does it obsess over coming up with new takes on the old legends — rather, it uses the trappings of supernatural phenomena to explore the characters' basic humanity. In essence, it's not a show about vampires, werewolves, or ghosts; it's a show about human beings dealing with their own fears, doubts, and insecurities.

There's a theme throughout the series of the characters trying to fit back into normal society after their traumatic life changes: for Mitchell (Aiden Turner), it was being turned into a vampire; for George (Russell Tovey), it was being attacked and infected by a werewolf; for Annie (Lenora Crichlow), it was dying and finding herself in limbo as a spirit trying to find resolution to her life. All three are obsessed with holding on to their humanity, despite their secret conviction that they are monsters and deserve to be shunned.

The show cleverly uses these three creatures as archetypes for more earthly problems. Mitchell, the vampire, is basically an addict fighting his compulsion in the precarious balancing act of sobriety. George, the werewolf, is a meek and nervous man possessed by rage against those who have mistreated him in his life. Annie, the ghost, is only as insubstantial as she allows herself to be, fighting against a deep insecurity that has caused her to spend her time in abusive relationships. These are the personality types that the legends were invented to describe, and Being Human is very aware of that.

'Being Human' buzzine.com The number-one strength of the show is the commitment of its actors. What at first comes off as a silly comedy of manners quickly evolves into an at-times harrowing social drama. The fearless writing takes on subjects as diverse as pedophilia, disease, bigotry, and mortality, but it's ultimately the fantastic cast that sells it. With less talented actors, the plots would fall apart or just come off as pretentious. The utter dedication of Being Human's young stars to inhabiting fully rounded, distressingly human characters keeps you wanting more. It won't be long before you discover that you've developed an addiction of your own.