There’s a lot of television programming out there, and it’s all clamoring for your attention. It can be hard to sift though the mishmash, and, like many, I’m a fan of the supernatural genre and am always on the prowl for great shows in that vein. Notably, there was the recent run of American Horror Story, and the record-shattering The Walking Dead. While are both great, what is out there to satisfy those looking for something featuring more classic monster types? There is an answer in the one surprising gem that I’ve found amongst the rest, and that is Being Human on Syfy.
Being Human is a psuedo-remake of the original BBC series of the same name. The show revolves around the lives/afterlives of a werewolf, a vampire, and a ghost that all share a house. The concept sounds more like a joke than a show, but it works. The strange mixture creates interesting dynamics, and often results in three plots that intersect and divide along the way.
The US version of the show is in the middle of its second season. While the first season mirrored a lot of the plot points from the BBC original, the second season is its own beast (pun intended). The behind-the-scenes snippets released prior to the season two launch told us that this season is all about temptation, and they’ve so far held true to their word. Aidan (Sam Witwer), the show’s vampire, is dueling with his bloodthirsty instincts and a past that’s come back to haunt him. Sally (Meaghan Rath), our ghost, is trying to figure out what to do as it appears she is trapped on the mortal plane. She’s also become a bit of a “possession junkie” by hijacking the bodies of the living. Josh (Sam Huntington), the werewolf, and my personal favorite, seems to be dealing not only with his own temptations, but also those of the people around him. The humanity all three so prize is getting harder and harder to hold on to.
One of the things about Being Human that sets it apart from other shows in the horror genre is the sense of humor. There’s a lot of serious topics and it definitely has its fair share of drama, but there’s always some levity to be found which keeps the series from seeming overly mopey. The leads are characters you like and want to see succeed.
The other beautiful thing about this program is how they show humanity and deal with basic emotions through the use of monster archetypes. It harkens back to many of the classic Universal film monsters that were a reflection of problems we face every day. Inner duality (Wolf Man, Jekyll and Hyde), desire (Dracula), not wanting to be an outsider (Frankenstein’s monster), and so on. Who honestly has never felt like a monster, or at the very least, been unable to sympathize?
Being Human is a must watch for monster fans. If you’re not a monster fan, give it a try. You might be surprised.
While I’ve not had an opportunity to watch the American adaptation, I’m definitely a fan of the UK original. I also encourage monster fans to seek it (or them) out.
I completely agree about the UK version. It’s an excellent show and well worth watching.