Being Human US Series 1

For any fan of the original ‘Being Human,’ the most important question that this review can answer is; how does this American/Canadian collaborative effort stack up? Is the appeal of these unique characters and their stories universal, or has too much been lost in the Trans-Atlantic transition? Let’s have a look. 

Just to re-cap, ‘Being Human’ is the story of three people who come into each others lives, all of whom are afflicted with some supernatural condition: Sally is a ghost who can’t leave the house she was murdered in; Aidan is a vampire attempting to go without fresh blood; Josh is a werewolf who has abandoned his family in the hope of starting life afresh.  

Each character has his or her own developing story, which are handled individually over the course of the series. There are common themes running through each one, such as the need to belong to a community. Josh, Aidan and Sally all meet others like themselves, and have their ideas about maintaining a normal, ‘human’ existence continually tested. Also strong is the theme of embracing or repressing one’s dark side, and the question of just how far you can take these darker urges before you cease ‘being human’ altogether.  

The most obvious difference to the British series is the length: 13 episodes for season 1, compared to just 6. It tells the same story, just in a more drawn-out, laconic and brooding way. Every character from the original series has an analogue, albeit with a different name and sometimes different abilities. The scheming vampire overlord this time is Bishop, played to very creepy and sinister effect by Mark Pellegrino. 

This incarnation is slightly darker, both visually and thematically, than the British series. There are more scenes featuring explicit gore, and more CGI effects are used.  

While they do seem awkward at first, the actors settle into their roles as the series progresses. You do eventually get to care about each one and his or her personal dramas, but it does take some time.  

The biggest (and only real) problem I had with this version of ‘Being Human’ was the way it was edited, often tearing us away from a scene right when it was becoming interesting. We’re then taken to a point in the future, after the dust has settled. This makes it confusing to keep up with what’s happened, as a lot of that missing time is left unexplained. 

Closing comments: 

This is a darker, more serious and straight-laced version of a cult television hit. Well worth a look if you like your supernatural dramas, and you’re not too vampire-weary already.