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Part Three: A New Beast Emerges

Published on February 29, 2012, by Samantha in 2012, life, Necessary Nerdom, samantha mason, television, TV, Uncategorized.

February 29th.

It is the rarest of days, and I have picked this magical day to finish my blog series on Being Human. I want to warn you, these blogs DO contain spoilers for season one of the British Version (in case you were thinking about checking it out…which you should) and spoilers of the American Version (but only if you have not seen the episodes yet. I promise, I have no insider knowledge).

That being said, if you missed the other blogs:

Part One: Confessions of a British Television Junkie: “Being Human”
Part Two: Similarities and Differences of Parallel Being Human Universes

How is it possible that a television show can consistently get better with ever single new episode?

It’s hard to imagine that any show, no matter how good, can maintain that kind of forward momentum. But season one of the U.S. Being Human managed to top itself every single week.

A confessed British television junkie, I was completely hooked. I’d abandoned the show’s British sister, and committed to the American show with open arms.

This is the best it can get, right?

Right?

Wrong. If I had been expecting the same greatness from season two, as I got in season one…I was sorely mistaken. Season two isn’t great.

It’s mind-blowing.

I’m not sure why I am so surprised. I mean, season one always managed to out due itself…but in television, season two is notoriously difficult. Call it the “sophomore slump” if you will. It’s always hard to maintain the success of a stellar opening season. And the expectations are always unrealistically high.

But Being Human seems to completely blow by the sophomore slump. Hell, it’s not even junior level. This is like a master’s level season and a lesson in what TV remakes should be.

I wanted the similarities in season one of the American version, versus the British version. I needed to know that the show I loved was still there somewhere, on some level. And when I found those similarities in episode two, I reveled in them. But the show’s brilliant creators also saw what I didn’t at the time.

People don’t want to watch the exact same TV show twice.

Sure, it might be fine for movies, with their two hour running times. People like to relive that magic film memory. But a TV show is weeks, months, and (hopefully) years.

So the US Being Human gave us the similarities, and blatantly, the differences.

I have already gone on for two posts about this, so I won’t again. Let me just say that I loved the similarities in the first season. It is what drove me through the series in under a month.

But I love season two for all the other reasons.

This is a new television show.

As a matter of fact, very little remains of the British plot lines. And I’m thrilled.

Nora is the exact opposite of Nina. Though she is tortured, and you don’t really know why…yet. But she and Josh are so in love, which is sweet.

And Aidan is trying to save himself and rebuild…but he’s falling and I’m still not sure how he’s going to find his way out of this.

And Sally….she is trying to move on, and trying to enjoy the new world she’s forced to stay in…and she’s haunted.

And Josh is trying to find a cure…and he’s dealing with some pretty carnal pure-breds. Which is a great twist.

And its…perfect.

I can’t even say more.To try and describe every reason why I love season 2 up to this point, would be a serious injustice for the show. So I won’t. It’s way too much to try to catch up on.

This is my final blog on all the reasons I fell for Being Human. From now on, and hopefully starting tomorrow, I will be reviewing each episode…week by week.

How can I not? How can I resist the chance to write a weekly commentary on one of the most successful story and character driver plot lines I have ever seen.

And there are adorable spooky racoons. Which is a serious plus!

So, good bye for now…all of my Being Human Junkies. Until the first review on the most recent episode, “Ties that Blind,” I will bid you adieu…

Happy Leap Day!!!!!!

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Part Two: Similarities and Differences of Parallel Being Human Universes

Published on February 19, 2012, by Samantha in 2011, 2012, television, TV.

Did you miss part I? Check it out here!

***Spoiler Alert! If you have not seen season one of the British Being Human (Or the American Being Human for that matter) this post contains some spoilers.

I think one of the big contributing factors of my new found fandom of the American Being Human is the length of the season. And its funny, because at first, I disliked that the US version was a bit slower paced.

I mean, in the BBC version the show is just action packed and gripping from the very beginning, but working with a seven episode season, I guess it has to be. I never faulted the British version for that, but I have really grown to appreciate the slow build, the anticipation, and all the character development that can evolve from a longer season.

We got back story from everyone.

In the original version, it seemed like only Annie (played by Lenora Crichlow) had much of a character exploration…because uncovering the truth about her death was so vitally important.

But in the US version we get to see a slightly different reason why Sally (played by Meaghan Rath) was murdered, which was a nice surprise.

We learn very little about George (played by Russell Tovey) and his past life, but we learn a lot about Josh (played by Sam Huntington) and even get to see his family.

While Mitchell (played by Aidan Turner – PS can’t wait to see him in the new Hobbit Movies) is always somewhat of an enigma, we get to peak in the past of Aidan (Played by Sam Witwer) and really discover the depth of his affections for Rebecca (played by Sarah Allen).

And though the plot lines in season one mirrored those of the British versions, there were enough key differences to make you, the viewer, realize that you don’t really know anything.

Mitchell never killed the boy vampire, but instead chose to turn his mother as well. And Annie still died when her fiance accused her of infidelity, but this time because of a thong…but Sally’s beau was still angry and jealous but because she lost her engagement ring…and I loved the incorporation of that ring and making it important.

Where, Annie always wore hers.

And Josh…still awkward and adorable as ever…but again, new surprises. George morphed into his wolf and willingly killed Herrick (the British version of Bishop) but in the American version, of course, Aidan tricks Josh to save him the pain of murder.

So key differences that make the viewer realize they have no idea what is going to happen. It makes it exciting, and keeps you on your toes. I mean, no matter how much you love a show, do you really want the remake to be exactly the same?

So, when was the moment that I was hooked?

I’m gonna say it was somewhere in between episodes 4 and 5. Watching Josh try to ask out Nora (played by Kristen Hager) by “letting his wolf out” was so uncomfortable it somehow managed to be adorable.

And then Sally started to discover the truth about her death, and Aidian’s feelings for Rebecca intensified, and Bishop’s evil became addicting (Bishop is played by Mark Pellegrino – Any Lost fans out there?)…and it just spiraled out of control.

I was watching 5 episodes at a time, tweeting (to Being Fans of course) and squealing about the joy of my new found fandom. And I thought I knew what was coming, but the shows producers added twists and turns and plot changes and new characters and romance and comedy!

Sally wasn’t solid as Annie had been, at least not to the guys and that introduced a whole new group of challenges…but then suddenly she was solid because she turned down her door…which at least made sense.

I couldn’t stop watching, and in a mere 5 days from the moment I began episode 2, I had finished an entire season.

I knew I was hooked. I knew I would now join the fandom and follow the show to the ends of the universe….but if I thought I couldn’t love the show more, I was wrong.

My love for the show was only scratching the surface.

To be continued…

1 Comment.

Confessions of a British Televsion Junkie: “Being Human”

Published on February 16, 2012, by Samantha in 2012, life, samantha mason, television, TV, Uncategorized.

I need to be honest about something really important. I just…don’t think its good to let things build up and fester. So I have to get this off my chest.

I love the BBC.

I’m sorry. I can’t help it. I do. I love all their shows both old and new. In just the past six months I have blown through every single episode of Dr. Who (well, the last three reincarnations anyway), all of Torchwood (though that does include America’s Miracle Day), Coupling, the Jekyll and Hyde miniseries, and both seasons of Steven Moffat’s Sherlock.

However, one of my first experiences with BBC television was with the show, Being Human.

It was a few years ago and I was lying in the living room of my old apartment. My roommate was out of town, and Mark was staying the night. I’m pretty sure it was Thanksgiving weekend, and while channel surfing we came across episode 2 of the series.

Without really caring that we had missed an episode, we jumped in and tore through the next 3 episodes that evening. It only took 1 or 2 more days to finish the season (British Season’s are way short) and we were hooked.

The problem? A few days after finishing that season, we discovered a new one wouldn’t come out for over a year.

We were devastated, of course. How could we live without a show that portrayed werewolves, ghosts and vampires? This was a problem.

But like all things, time healed the pain…and we actually forgot about the show. We never did go back and find season 2 when it aired, and the show had left my mind until last year, when I heard about the American remake.

I scoffed at it, of course. Americans always mess up remakes. And a series? No, that must be awful. I tend to be judgmental about things of which I know nothing. Its a flaw.

Fast forward to this year, about two weeks ago. The second season of the US version is well underway, my good friend Kristi is now running a Being Human fan site with her sister, and my boyfriend is hooked, swearing that especially season 2 is better than the British version.

What? No, surely not.

But the show is gaining serious chatter at this point, and I respect the opinions of both Mark and Kristi…so I give it a go.

I’m going to be honest about my feelings for episode one. It took me two days to get through the show. Sally’s personality was grating on me, and I couldn’t stop making comparisons to the BBC show. What bothered me the most?

Their names.

I respected and even appreciated that SyFy was trying to take the show in a new direction. But if you wanna be unique and different, why dress Sally in the exact same outfit as Annie?

I don’t know why it bothered me so much, but it did. Sally is dressed the same, but acts totally different. No similarities in personalities, while the guys at least share common traits. That sense of danger Aidan/Mitchell possess…and the adorable awkwardness of Josh/George. But there is Sally/Annie, looking all identical and being nothing alike.

I wasn’t super impressed with episode one, but I didn’t hate it. I even found a bit more humor in this version. It wasn’t quite as sulky as the Brit’s.

It took a few days, but I finally started episode 2…and really enjoyed it. Episode 2 of the US version is basically episode 1 of the BBC version, except you get to see a bit more back story on the characters, and I liked the addition of Josh’s sister.

Now I was intrigued. I was starting to understand why SyFy gave the characters new names. They wanted to change the show up, while paying homage to its predecessor. I was happy to finally find the similarities, which somehow made me more okay with the changes.

But I wasn’t hooked. Not yet…

To Be Continued…

6 Comments.

Part Three: A New Beast Emerges

Part Two: Similarities and Differences of Parallel Being Human Universes

Confessions of a British Televsion Junkie: “Being Human”

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