Being Human (UK)/Being Human (US)

[DanaC]

I mentioned in another thread that series 3 of Being Human had started on BBC3, and that at the same time, across the pond, SyFy have launched their own version of the show, with different character names, and a different arc, but the same basic premise.

I've talked about this programme before, because I am a huge fan of the original show. But given it is a bit of a niche programme and only shown on BBCAmerica, I know very few people are likely to have seen it outside the UK.

So, with the new North American show launched, I'm intrigued to know if anybody has seen it, and what they thought of it? Has anybody seen both versions? If so, how did they compare for you?

If you've seen just one version, whichever that might be, what are your thoughts on it?

When I first tried the US pilot, I was unconvinced. But I didn't hate it. It struck me that had I not seen the original I'd probably have loved it and found it a really exciting new angle on the whole supernaturals living amongst us theme. Which, I suppose is the point really. There's a chance here for SyFy to do something really marvellous. To take a gem of a story and give it a longer treatment than it can get on British TV (series 1 was just 6 episodes, and series 2 was 8 episodes) and throw the kind of budget at it that (imo) it deserves.

I went back and rewatched the two part pilot again and then followed through and watched the third episode. Not fair to judge a show on it's first episode, after all. I admit, I am now hooked. Where they take scenes from the original and port them across with a few changes it feels weak. Like something trying to be something else, it feels uncomfortable. The rhythm and pacing isn't right : why would it be? It was originally designed for a different audience who have different expectations from a scene. Where they just take the basic idea and twist it, or do something different it's really quite good. It's different. It pushes an entirely different set of buttons to the original, but in its own way it works.

back to Britain: the third episode of the third series just finished. I loved it. Really strong. Introduced the most pathetic and tragic 'zombie' i've ever seen :P Funny and heartbreaking in equal measure, and with some great character development. The main themes pf the series arc are starting to crystallise and there's a sense of paused momentum about to let rip.

[Happy Monkey]

I've seen both, and British is better, but the American is good. I'm not sold on the acting chops of the ghost; we'll see if she gains complexity when she learns the whole story of her death (if they keep that in this version). I like the boss vampire. Just as menacing, but a very different take than the British one.

[DanaC]

K. It's official. I'm now a total Sam Witwer fangurl. Lovin' his vampy antics in Being Human (US).

The more I see of this remake the more impressed I am. There have been a few scenes in particular that were so well-directed, and well-conceived they blew me away. Sally's revenge fantasy in episode six was stunning.


Meanwhile back in Blighty: the main villain from season 1, who was George's first and only (so far) kill has returned from the dead. I was worried that this might be Being Human's shark-jumping moment. I really should have had more faith. His return, rather than being the grandstanding villain I'd expected, was a lot quieter and more destructive than I could have imagined. The episode as a whole was a tightly drawn piece, taking place entirely within the confines of the ex-guest house they are renting. The Guardian's review described it as pinteresque, and I'd say that fits.

They are slowly making the vampire, Mitchell into an unsympathetic character. He's losing his grip on those fragments of humanity he was trying to hold onto, and at the same time is almost more human for his descent into paranoia and selfishness. I'm intrigued to see if the SyFy series is brave enough to make their vampire as unlikable when he starts to fall away.

[DanaC]

Here's the opening to the most recent episode of the SyFy series. It's a wonderful opening, I think. Don't watch it if you are avoiding spoilers though, because there's a 'previously on' segment before the opening sequence: the episode proper starts about half a minute in. I should probably give a NSFW warning for the vampire porn around 5 minutes in...well worth watching to that point, because it is a piece of directorial beauty.

For the uninitiated: Aiden is a vampire trying not to backslide into his blood addiction, George is a werewolf, and Sally is a ghost who died in the house.

[DanaC]

Nooooooo! Noooooo!

Being Human (UK) came to a devastating conclusion on Sunday night. I'm still slightly shellshocked by it.

Won't go into detail just in case any of you US dwellars are following, as I know BBC America is a few weeks behind us on broadcast.

Without doubt the strongest series so far. Managed to keep the disturbing darkness that came with series 2, whilst re-establishing the warm camaraderie of series 1.

I read a review recently that said John Mitchell is just about the best supernatural character to be created on tv. I have to agree. Of alll the vamps and wolves and oddities roaming the cable channels right now, John Mitchell is my alll time favourite. Wonderfully flawed. A young soldier from the ww1 trenches, he's spent a century killing and stacking the cards in a game with fate. I am so impressed with how brave the show is. It's rare a show is willling to take its central and most loved character and unravel him completely, in such a way that for half the series you actually want him to face justice, so far from grace has he fallen. A brilliant tragedy, a timeless love story and a tale of two 'brothers' in arms, the road to damnation and redemption.

And God they've alll grown up so much! As actors I mean. Aidan Turner, Russell Tovey and Lenora Crichlow all put in stunning performances in this last series, as did Jason Watkins who plays Herrick, but he's a veterann performer, so that's to be expected. This was Aidan Turner's first tv job. He's a baby in acting terms! But such a brilliant actor.

I've focussed on Mitchell in this post, because to a large extent series 2 and 3 were Mitchell's story. His actions have driven the arc, his growing paranoia led the way.

Also still loving Being Human(US), and am wondering if they'll make Aidan half as unsympathetic as they have recently with Mitchell.

[bluecuracao]

I love Being Human US, but will need some time to warm up to the UK version. So far I've seen all of the US episodes to date and just last night watched UK episode 1.

After I saw the US pilot, I remember thinking it might be too silly to stay interested in...which is exactly the way I feel now after watching the UK version. I will probably love it as well after watching episode 2.

[bluecuracao]

Oh great. Comcast took all the UK episodes off On Demand, and they don't give me BBC, either.

[Clodfobble]

Holy cow, I didn't realize this thread is already a year old.

So, yeah. Completely hooked on the US version. I don't do the whole vampire aesthetic, but I can relate well enough to Aiden. And Josh is adorable. Sally is still a tiny bit irritating in her pouty way, not particularly special, but Danny can carry her half of her storyline so far, so it's cool.

Gonna try to fit another episode in before the kids' bathtime.

[Happy Monkey]

I also had reservations about Sally (as per my previous comment). She got much better.

[DanaC]

Loving where they've taken this latest series of Being Human (US). Really good story. Totally didn't see that character progression coming for Nora.

Also...my fears that being Human (UK) had totally jumped the wolf with the latest series have been somewhat allayed. I still think series three would have been the perfect place to end the story. Would have been narratively satisfying. Instead they've used the aftermath of the third season to launch a new story. Very different from what went before in key ways.

Though I miss the old Being Human, I can see this one might be able to stand on its own terms. I like the characters theyve brought in. Not sure I'm fully on board with the meta story though.