Being Human (2008–2013) User Reviews (65)

I Really Wish This Had Ended After Season 3

[robertdegeus · 9/10 · 5 May 2013]

This show would have and should have earned a 10.

Sadly, all of the original main cast left. The first three seasons are amazing, and it is potentially the best written/directed/acted TV Show I have seen.

Really this show deserved to go off with all of the original characters, it deserved to have an epic send off after season three, where we say a goodbye to all the character's we've come to know and love.

You need to see it, but trust me, only through the third season.

You've been warned, now go watch this gut-wrenchingly good show.

Despise it's premise it is really, really good BUT

[noirink-12054 · 7/10 · 27 September 2016]

Once again, a thing they often manage only in British TV-Shows. When you read the premise you will eventually scratch your head. A ghost, a werewolf and a vampire sharing a flat - sounds like goofy comedy plot line. But the the show turns out to be one of the best things i've seen within the last years of TV-series. It's surprisingly heartwarming, quirky and sometimes damn dark.

At the beginning, in the first couple of episodes the plot takes some time to finds its way, but I was so involved with main characters it did not bother me.

Through the time the plot gets more and more grim and even with the shows limited resources they manage to deliver you to the end of season 3 an almost apocalyptic scenario.

The writer and the cast are doing a really good job here, thanks again for British Television Shows!

BUT one thing is left to say - therefore the spoiler warning - Best thing would be, if you stop watching the show after Season 3. If the show had stopped there, if I could rate the first 3 Seasons only, I would rate it with a 9. Yes I am maybe a bit of a Fanboy here. But the story arc is so well completed, and you leave the show (maybe a bit sad) at its height. After Season 3 the show really stumbles and sadly cannot live up to it's own high stakes anymore. If i had to rate Season 4 and 5 i would give them together a score of 5 stars. So that's why I have to give the show an overall score of 7.

"The Odd Couple" becomes the "Odd Triple" but in Bristol, England..

[MrMuffinMan · 9/10 · 15 January 2009]

Excellent off-beat drama about a vampire, werewolf and ghost who share a flat in suburban Bristol. The script was intelligent, with thoughtful but compelling story lines that did not treat the audience like complete idiots, was perfectly paced and matched to the main characters. The entire cast was excellent, with quality supporting performances as to be expected from Adrian Lester, Natalie Armin & others. The audience response was so good, it has now been remade by the BBC as a full series. As a whole, this was a perfect short film that deserved a lot more recognition. Sadly only one of the original main actors makes it into the remake, but hopefully the BBC won't screw up by trying to overplay their hand. If the rest of the production crew and cast have been retained this could be another classic in the making.

The Brits know how to do TV

[todgourley · 10/10 · 29 January 2011]

Drama, mystery, self discovery, angst and "desperation for relief" comedy is spattered through out this well written and acted show. In 2 very short runs (16 in all?)I care more for these unlikely group of supernatural misfits than all the seasons of "Friends". Annie, Mitchell, George, and Nina sit on the fence between worlds, running from what they are and leaving claw marks in their past. The third set of shows have just started and I can't wait to see my friends again. I think it is best to watch the show, if you can, as they aired on BBC. When the shows makes the crossing on the pond some of the grittiness gets watered down. On a personal note, if you have watched the SyFy version, it pales by comparison.

Fang Bang

[SCampbellAJC · 9/10 · 5 March 2009]

Intelligent script great acting from the three leads and a menacing performance from Eric the chief vampire. You really should give this series a go I missed the pilot so episode 1 was my first taste of this it was a slow start but interesting and has got better and better each week. I have found no-one at work who has seen this and whenever you try to tell them about it you find yourself saying " Well its about a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost who live together " you find them looking at you as if your mad or thinking you have discovered Rentaghost ( 70's BBC Kids series ). But the point is it is so much more than the thread of its story it deals with friendship,love,isolation and many other human emotions and it is very funny at times. Give it a go this series is original and you don't get that too often these days do you ........ Life On Mars was the last time that happened

The Greatest Thing to Come Out of Britain in Years

[amethystflames · 10/10 · 26 February 2009]

When I first saw the pilot episode, I had several problems with it, all of which were fixed in episode one. It's my first foray into British television and I'll admit I'm confused by "remakes" and other such terms, but whatever; I don't care what they're doing as long as they keep this show on the air. It's smart, witty, funny, interesting, and manages to avoid being a tired rehash of the same monster mythology running around the entertainment industry. Lenora Crichlow is a greatly improved version of Annie, and something about her performance makes it far easier to find the character likable. Aidan Turner is an even better Mitchell than Guy, and thankfully Russell Tovey is still around; he's absolutely perfect as George. I haven't been so excited about a new show in years, and I love the way they blend the dramatic, the humorous, the mystical and the mundane. This show takes all the appeal of myth and legend and flawlessly applies it to modern life, allowing us to connect to the characters on a human level while still giving us a well-done version of the occult. No other show on the air today delivers so many forms of entertainment at once.

"A ghost, a werewolf and a vampire walk into a..." sounds like a bad joke, but it's all good!!

[penelope-35 · 10/10 · 20 September 2009]

"A ghost, a vampire and a werewolf walk into a..." Okay, I'm sure you've heard it a hundred times and it sounds like the beginning of a really bad joke but it really is the beginning to some of the best spec-fic TV you'll probably ever see. George the werewolf, Annie the ghost and Mitchell the vampire are roommates in an apartment in Bristol where they try to live a "normal" life. But they find that life after life is complex and unforgiving. And the "normal" people can be as frightening as the monsters. Dealt with allegorically in the show are addictions, clinical behavioral problems and mental illness to name a few. Well-rounded characters and oddly familiar situations tinged with the supernatural keep us eager to walk the road with the series' three protagonists. Be advised...this is not Twilight. This is grown-up TV with all the blood, sex and blue language that keeps it interesting for the post-pubescent set. The writing and acting are top-notch and each ensuing episode makes you ravenous for the next. Season II can't come soon enough.

Being Human Season 1

[Mike1388 · 6/10 · 24 October 2011]

Let me make this review short and simple. First of all, I like British television, some of them are even better than US mediocre, oh and don't forget those accents, I can watch anything based on that accent only. So, when I heard about Being Human produced by BBC, I was ecstatic! The first season have 6 episodes only, with an hour long each. The first few episodes was fulfilling, the great story lines, actors and emotions were amazing! But I got irritated when the same pattern is repeated till the end of the series. I like long hours movie, I like drama and emotions, but Being Human tells story about supernatural creatures who 'try' to fit in and be as human as possible. Vampire that doesn't want to kill, a ghost that is too scared and the worst, a werewolf that whines all the time, it's unbearable. The character development is so poor and slow, and that's a shame. I promised myself I won't watch the second season, but hey! who knows things might change.

A breath of new (after)life.

[russellcarvell · 10/10 · 2 March 2009]

I expected to hate this, yet it turns out I loved it. Great first series. Can't wait for the next one. The characters were interesting and funny, and dare I say it, you actually begin to care about them, (which is the cornerstone of any good drama). This took a tired genre and gave it a breath of new (after)life. The backdrop is very ordinary and mundane, and the characters are self-loathing. It gave it a different, quirky angle which hasn't really been explored before. I really hope the BBC have the next series lined up and ready to film. UK series are always woefully small. You just got me interested, and now I've got to wait for the next episode. Best character by far is George the dorky werewolf, who I suspect has unwittingly shacked up with a she-wolf. Mitchell is good as an on-the-wagon blood junkie. The bad guys were all nasty and loathsome, which was great. The first episode was slow, but stick with it!

An interesting start, a troubled middle and an okay end

[jaybeetwr · 7/10 · 22 January 2023]

A werewolf and a vampire, co-workers at a hospital, happen to also be roommates in a house that is haunted by a ghost that only they can see. It's a lot like Three's Company if it was written by Anne Rice.

The first ~dozen episodes are great. You'll sit there watching, trying to figure out where exactly this is all going while very entertained. The story dives into the immortal vampire's past, the newbie werewolf's future and the mystery behind why the ghost is dead and haunting their house. Eventually, like all character-based tv shows, the characters get stale and the plot needs to be changed in order to keep the audience. Just as the writers get back on track, The Hobbit trilogy happens and Aidan (the vampire) leaves the show... because yeah, Peter Jackson and the Hobbit!

With the trio broken up, they reboot the entire cast and you sit there, disappointed but still watching because you need to know how it all ends.

When you finish watching the series (and you will) you will probably come to the conclusion that the second story with the second trio was far better than the first and it was a shame that the writers had to spend so much time easing the audience into the drastic changes before moving ahead. What started out as a quirky little horror-drama turned into a cohesive final 10 or so episodes.

This was a great show under poor circumstances.

And now is the time to warn you against the American version of the show with the same name. Almost 100% of the time, when there is an American adaptation of a UK franchise, it's terrible. That's all I have to say about that.

Good old fashioned comedy/drama with some horror on the side

[JackHammer69 · 9/10 · 3 February 2010]

I am very pleased with Being Human.

I believe that the US have lost sight of what's really important in film/TV, particularly depth of character. All I see in American film and TV these days are a bunch of clichéd characters who speak in one-liners and catch-phrases.

Not the case with British film and TV - apart from Guy Ritchie films, tic.

Like "Dog Soldiers", Being Human relies on old technology to make their Werewolf work. So what, the wolf looks fake. You can look beyond it as the rest of the show is excellent.

Being Human has stayed true to the crux of Horror, which is the Supernatural element. Nowadays too often we see "genetically mutated" monsters, which takes the fear factor out of it all. If it bleeds, we can kill it (and easier than we thought).

Being Human is beautifully written, superbly cast and has its own feel; one you can immerse yourself in. It's simple viewing without being too predictable or too tame.

I'm pretty sure I would be happy to watch further installments of this show for the next 5 years and not be bored with it, provided the writing remains as refreshing as it is at the moment.

For me, Being Human is about the relationships between the characters and the anticipation of something "big" happening in each episode. It hasn't let down so far!

And a half

[Headturner1 · 7/10 · 4 December 2020]

I usually avoid Vampire, Werewolf, zombie things but I have run out of things to watch so I'm expanding my horizons. Lol. I knew about this series since I watched humans( my all time fave series) it use to come up in searches so last night I gave it a try. I think I'm on the 3rd episode of season 2. I enjoyed it. I love Mitchell and his Irish accent.

SPOILERS: I don't find it laugh out funny but it is funny in parts but I cracked up when Annie tried to scare her ex and he ended up scaring her and making her cry. And when she was practicing how to confront him and be scary. I like all the characters too which doesn't normally happen but Mitchell is my fave. Good actor. I can't say I love this. I tend to like darker thriller type stuff but if your looking for a light comedic kind of thrilling Scifish show you'll probably like this.

Excellent....until season 3

[rogermsmith-68-295913 · 4/10 · 31 May 2011]

This was a 10/10 until I just watched season 3. I must say what a disappointment. Its taking a show that started with a comical perspective on some of the darker things in our minds...and ends season 3 with all the class of a cheap soap opera? The final episode was just awful! Obviously constructed off-the-cuff with no thought whatsoever. It was as if they made it up as they went. The best part was....killing an attacking werewolf with a kitchen knife?...come on...it wasn't even silver! I think reducing Mitchell to babbling fool was another mistake, he was the pivotal character in the whole series, with a depth and dimension unmatched by any other character in the story. His conflicted personality is a great touch, but to reduce a 100+ year old vampire to that level over love is to be quite honest, ridiculous. This is supposed to be a supernatural thriller, not a 'Days of Our Lives' competitor. Annie adds to the program with her illogical and irritating behavior, George and Ninas characters however just show a lack of any common sense or perspective. I can see what the writers are trying to achieve with 'monsters' trying to maintain morality, but they fail dismally as their opinions and actions lack any kind of connection with reality.

more human than human

[rebl1969 · 10/10 · 3 January 2010]

one of the best shows me and my wife have seen and keep up with together.not to many shows at this level (as far as acting and interesting storyline )on TV these days.very original.we were not sure about the show at the beginning.but as we watched the show it got better and better.hopefully this show will stay on for a lot of seasons to come,just because of the potential.seems to be headed in the right direction.never before has a show defined the lines between vampire and werewolf this way ,but the ghost story is the best human story we have ever seen.very emotional.great cast and we hope to watch these characters evolve even more in the future.

The best thing I've seen since The Dresden Files

[CountVladDracula · 10/10 · 30 January 2009]

I am in love with a new TV show. I don't know if it will air here in America but if it did it would likely be cut to shreds. Each episode is fifty seven or so minutes long so that's like fifteen minutes that would need to be cut from each episode to fit in an American time slot, not to mention there's a lot of gore that they wouldn't get away with showing here and a scene of someone giving the finger.

Background: Being Human was a British special that aired last year in an hour time slot. Now one year later it's an actual on going series on BBC 3 (Since I am American I have been I having to rely on British friends to watch the show). I absolutely love it. I love it nearly as much as I loved Dresden files when it was new. It's serious but has some great moments of wit.

The plot is about a ghost, a werewolf and a vampire living together and despite that it's actually very serious. They each are trying to function in the real world. The ghost (Annie) is agoraphobic and when she gets emotional normal people might not see her. The werewolf (George) has typical werewolf angst after being turned ala the same sort of scenario as An American werewolf in London. The vampire (Mitchell) is reminiscent if Nick Knight from Forever Knight in that he tries to avoid vampirism temptation while other vampires try to persuade him to embrace his vampire nature.

The TV series continues where the original TV special left off. In episode 1 it continues after the events of the pilot / special in which Mitchell had just turned his girlfriend into a vampire without really meaning to and now she resents him for abandoning her and not embracing his vampire nature. Like with most modern stories with vampires and werewolves the vampires view themselves to be superior to werewolves and poor George is subjected to insults like dog, etc...

There's serious drama and moments of fun comedy and they pick great well known songs to set the moods of the scenes. The actress who played Annie in the film is not the actress here and it's not the same Mitchell either but I like these actors, possibly even more than the originals from last year's special.

I highly recommend this show to anyone who likes modern urban fantasy of strange beings living among us and trying to pass for ordinary.

I don't know if BBC America will ever get it but I think BBC America or the Scifi channel here in the USA need to buy this up NOW. It's great. I'm addicted.

One of the best shows ever

[lucianolvr · 10/10 · 15 April 2019]

Loved this show. Hal was the best. Wish it did not end so quickly. I never gave the US version a chance, because I know that the US often ruins things. So I stick with this UK version, and will always love it. Funny, interesting, and a good way to see parts of England that I never will. Also it does something near the middle of the series and I won't spoil it, but it has to do with characters who die, that was not done before. Now it happens in US shows, but Being Human was the first one to do this. A trendsetter.

best show on the BBC

[vix_louise_hunter · 10/10 · 13 January 2010]

Fantastic Series, better than Buffy. It has been a long time waiting for a good supernatural show to fill the big hole left when that show finished. The only criticism I would give is that more episodes are needed in the series or they need to make the break between the series shorter. My favourite character has got to be Mitchell (Aidan Turner), although they are all fantastic, great actors and great characters.

Lenora Crichlow is a great actress and I have loved her since Sugar Rush, which, if you haven't seen you should download or buy. Russell Tovey is fantastic! Funny! He is a great comedy actor, although he does not have a huge role in the Gavin and Stacey episodes he is in, when he is on screen he is great.

More Please!!!!!!!!!

Being Human

[jboothmillard · 7/10 · 13 April 2009]

The Amercans have some compelling dramas like Lost and Heroes, and one of the only successful British ones I had seen was Sugar Rush, that is until this fantastic series came along. Mixing fantasy, horror, comedy and drama all together, it sees three classic horror legends brought together in a present day environment. Basically werewolf George (Doctor Who's Russell Tovey, the only person from the original pilot), ghost Annie (Sugar Rush's Lenora Crichlow) and vampire Mitchell (Aidan Turner) live together and try to be like normal humans, but all have setbacks with their conditions. George is panicky (and really funny in being so) because of his transformation once a month, Annie is wanting to talk to and be seen by certain people but is invisible, and Mitchell is fighting his lust for blood as it is what has kept him alive for decades. Also starring Jason Watkins as Herrick, Dylan Brown as Seth, Annabel Scholey as Lauren, Sinead Keenan as Nina, Gregg Chillin as Owen and Sama Goldie as Janey. With fantastic performances, great writing and splendid special effects, this is definitely a series not to be missed. Very good!

Incredibly good acting.

[roedyg · 8/10 · 3 August 2012]

The premise: a vampire, werewolf and ghost live together is about as silly as you could imagine. However the acting is so spectacularly good, you are instantly sucked in. There is some humour, (such as ageless vampire cutie moon-eyeing an aged past girlfriend), but they play it with a straight face. Russell Tovey as George the reluctant werewolf is perhaps the best actor I have ever seen in a TV series. He plays with his appearance to change from a Matt Damon clone to a complete dork to Truman Capote. He plays with his voice, ranging over every possible emotion. He is always surprising you with a new angle to his character. His screams of pain as he transforms into a werewolf are unbearable. He is completely convincing. I fell madly in love with with his character. He was just so open, with such heart, complex yet easy to understand.

Annabel Scholey made me hate her so intensely the instant she came on screen. She projects such a strongly nauseating personality with just some fine control of her facial muscles. She has that knack like nobody else. She was also able to make her character gradually more sympathetic, all through body language. Other actors should study how she does this.

The other actors too are done in Kodachrome, a bit more out there, trying something unusual. This does not feel like TV or a movie for that matter, perhaps more like a play.

The episodes are quite long, and it feels like the writers could not come up with enough minor plot elements to fill them. So they pad with meandering dialogue, that feels much like real life, but left me itching for them to get on with the show. The ground rules of how reality works in this strange universe are just incidentally explained. You often see some strenuous conflict without knowing what fuels it. The major plot elements are full of big surprises, however -- very clever.

There are not many special effects. The ghost just appears without any fade-in. Most of the transformation to a wolf occurs off camera. The main thing you see are a series of bumps appear long George's back. Sometimes you watch people's reaction to what would be a special effect rather than the special effect itself. This works surprisingly well.

How is it like to be a vampire? just like 'Being Human'

[xvoraz · 6/10 · 13 August 2009]

A vampire, a ghost and a werewolf living trying to be human in the suburban areas of Bristol. They are struggling to be both human and alien, that is to be both normal and special.

About the script@: The story is in line with the new wave of sci-fie/fantasy: it does not focuses on the various ways of drinking blood, on the special abilities of a werewolf. Its not about the metaphysical world where vampires and werewolves wage their never-ending battle (ok, a little bit). It focuses on the everyday life, struggles, emotions and the psychology of vampires, ghosts and werewolves. It is not hard to see that is all about us.

The plot is complex, it offers personal mysteries and inter-race conflicts. The characters really have a side they do not know and that they have yet to discover. So they are really 3D. On the other hand there are some threads that does not suit. Mr. Werewolf being a complete idiot with woman. That is like coming from a teen movie.

About other things@: There is nothing about the cameras. The special effects are a bit creepy, especially the werewolf. I don't know why they do average special effects instead of mysteriously hiding the transformation and then we could perfectly fill it in with our fantasies....

The acting is the worst part. It is very much overacted. Too accentuated emotions, cries. It nearly spoils the show.

To sum up: I will keep watching the show because I find the basic story and the plot advancements fascinating. But I don't consider this a good show because one of the important aspects of it (namely the acting and some parts of the plot) are very much below average.

So what I can advise is to: Check it out for yourselves!

Finally human?

[foreverknight47 · 10/10 · 11 March 2013]

Last ever episode of BEING HUMAN last night and it was a stonker. That's a Brit term for a huge bombardment (from the First World War, IMDb spell-checker, but now it means it was a genius episode).

Beautifully written and acted, this series just got better and better, surviving even the total replacement of its cast with an even better cast. How many times does that happen? Not a perfect ending but satisfying, depending on which version of reality you prefer. Don't read on if you don't want spoilers but I applauded the final ambiguity even though I wanted to believe that BEING HUMAN finally delivered on its inherent promise.

That said, BEING HUMAN was never afraid to step into the melodrama ring with the big American champions like SUPERNATURAL and swing way above its weight with a fraction of their budgets. It did it with wit and charm and a genuine love of its characters and was never afraid to put its characters through hell to pull out those brilliant comic moments.

Last night it was the return of the Potter's Wheel at just the right moment. I can't explain that any further. You have to see it to appreciate the genius of it.

Can't wait to see what Toby Whithouse (creator, writer and, as it turns out, a bloody good actor) gives us next!

Being Human (UK) Falls Short of US

[ElessarAndurilS · 6/10 · 26 July 2014]

Being Human (US) was a show that you really couldn't evaluate until it was all over. The (UK) version is considerably different and not nearly as good. First is the huge difference in that the UK version was essentially 3 shows: 1st = Seasons 1-3, 2nd = Season 4, and the 3rd = Season 5. Each served as a backdrop for its successor, but when you entirely change the cast (-1) and redirect the storyline at each of those points your telling a new story based on a the same premise; being monsters (Ghost, Werewolf, and Vampire) working together to try and retain your humanity. Three other huge differences: the UK version stuck much more to the old myths about the power and limitations of the monsters, had a much longer history with a bigger scope of plot where the afterlife was clearly grounded in Catholic religious beliefs and finally that the UK version was more bloody while having fewer and poorer quality of special effects. There were many basic plot points that were the same, but the how they were written into the stories are vastly different. With far fewer shows and a rotating door of main characters (Only Annie made it 4 seasons) there was simply little time to introduce characters for the viewer enough for them to develop any empathy for them. Specifically the 3 main characters relationships with each other were not nearly as tightly bound in supporting each other. They were not only not consistent over seasons they didn't have the history painted in the "species" given out in the US story line. A main theological key to being human is the role of love in the US version. The UK version it was not even material in the big picture in the UK version except for a few episodes.

If not for liking the US version I would NEVER have made it through the UK version. Having done it a main reason was because there was fewer shows and the continuing hope that like the US version I would be rewarded for all the unexpected developments and major changes happening fast in the story in the end. But it never happened, there were just major changes to trying to make for a bigger story but all it did was introduce to much change to fast and in reality only to effect the current story. Having George and Nina fall in love, her get pregnant and have a human baby only to kill them off in two episodes was just a whole lot of major story development with no real payoff, just disappointment. The baby was given a larger purpose it was only around that seasons story except for being the key to the trigger for Annie to be able to get her door.

The whole tying out the story to the old ones and the deal made with the devil yet another larger story base, but written out as having a small focus with a scope effecting the last two seasons. If this wasn't Science Fiction it wouldn't get a 6 rating, but we are talking about a genre that has produced a low bar for quality so a 6 is my the line of watchable, 5 or lower for watching for the sake of finding the humor in how bad it is or worse simply shutting it off because it is intolerably bad. But overall Being Human (UK) was just good enough that I made it through all the episodes driven by that hope that the end would justify the time with an ending that made me like the rest much more. Given all the original characters are long gone by the time you reach the series finale that is kind of hard, but I still made it. The end was limited in that it really only effected characters introduced in the last two seasons with the devil being surprisingly weak and easy to defeat.

There are a lot better shows and this has many flaws but when streaming for free the show is just good enough to watch and find entertaining, especially when so much bad reality TV is its competition. Don't spend money to watch it, but it is entertaining enough to watch when streaming.

Decidedly underwhelming

[mnpollio · 2/10 · 14 July 2010]

I have to admit that I am completely underwhelmed by this series. Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer my vampires, werewolves and ghosts to have some sort of scare factor going for them. Being Human reduces their existence to a particularly irritating episode of Thirtysomething. The supernatural elements seem like extraneous flourishes to a show that is basically just about a trio of whiners trying to make the best of the crappy hand that life has dealt them. I have endured five episodes of the first season and so far they are pretty much uniform in that the three leads basically spend the episode moping and whining about the unfairness of the universe. Rather than anything especially seductive or magical about any of this, they remind one of a psychotically depressed person who entered a party and then tries to bring the entire room down to their level of hopelessness. There are some fairly impressive werewolf transformation effects, but they are usually followed by the subsequently human werewolf kvetching about his sorry lot in life and how hard he has it. The acting is fairly solid, with both Aidan Turner (the vampire) and Russell Tovey (the werewolf) offering hints that they are better than the material they are handed. Some unintentionally comic elements emerge if you catch this on BBC America where the often naked Tovey has his bits blurred to protect us poor prudish Americans from being corrupted. This could have been an interesting concept if the makers offered some degree of levity, imagination or good old-fashioned entertainment value, but the final result comes off as little more than a yammering reunion of the worst relatives in the Debbie Downer family.

They'll have to cut this to bits for the US remake.

[middleagedspread · 10/10 · 10 March 2009]

It's not just the swearing, the blood and the nudity. It's the unaffected emotion at its core. Annie's abusive relationship with Owen continues after death, George emits pitiful shrieks of agony and terror as he transforms, and Mitchell's attempts to shake off his bad-boy persona lead him to make a terrible mistake. Watch the final scene with Bernie and Fleur in Ep 4 and tell me you slept well. Watch the clumsy but affectionate sex between George and Nina and tell me you didn't laugh like a drain. Mitchell's last goodbye to his old girlfriend is a real tear jerker. Watching the hospital chaplain vomit with fright, you realise that's how real people behave. And in between, they bicker just lie real flatmates. I've lived in houses where every flat surface contained a dirty cup.

OK, the werewolf is ridiculous. The hair's wrong, the posture's wrong, everything's wrong. An accurate wolf would have been worse. George turns in to a skinny grey Alsatian and knocks over dustbins? Pffft.

I also think that at least some of the vampires could have worn pastels or tweed; the Reservoir Dogs/emo/gypsy look has been done to death. Tully's pikey getup was spot on though.

Roll on Series 2, and the Creepy Psychiatrists.

The original (and the best) version of Being Human...

[Chalice_Of_Evil · 9/10 · 25 July 2009]

Everyone's already commented on how a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost trying to live "normal" lives together sounds like the start of a bad joke...but it actually makes for great viewing. The cast helps. Unlike a lot of other shows, this show has a small regular cast. I like every one of the main characters and the close 'family' vibe that they've got going on. All 3 of the main actors are perfectly cast in their roles. I LOVE Lenora Crichlow as Annie, in large part due to Lenora's portrayal. Oftentimes, I find perky/cheery characters grate/annoying, but not so with Annie. Her upbeat personality is very endearing and she contrasts nicely against the two guys. She's funny, emotional and kicks major butt on occasion.

Russell Tovey is also great as George. He's the least likely guy you'd expect to be a werewolf, but works SO much better than the typical angst-ridden, brooding 'dark' traditionally "handsome" model werewolf guys. Kind of tired of those. Like Annie, George is oftentimes hilarious. Though, unlike her, he can also be a jerk sometimes (the Season 2 premiere springs to mind).

Aidan Turner's Mitchell has a personality so unlike traditional vampires. He actually has a fun/human side to him, which makes him so likable...at least until the end of Season 2, when he becomes quite dark. In a way, Turner being cast in The Hobbit benefited the show in the long run, as not only was it really the only proper end for his character, but it also kick-started the gradual addition of our new regular cast members.

Not many shows could survive losing all their original main leads, and even harder was making the new characters as likable as the original three who we'd grown to love/care about. But they succeeded here. Instead of just being a carbon copy replacement for Mitchell, Damien Molony's Hal had his own distinct look/personality and brought a freshness to the show, along with Kate Bracken's ghostly Alex. She provided quite a bit of humour, and was very different to Annie, yet still worked. I wasn't invested in the Tom character or his plot in Season 3 (my least favourite season of the show), but the new trio of Hal, Alex & Tom worked well. It was a shame we only got one season with them. Then again, it was probably better that the show finished while it was still good, instead of wearing out its welcome like so many shows do.

Sinead Keenan's Nina, who started off as a recurring love interest for George, but later got more involved in events and finally promoted to regular was good for the series. Sure, she started off bitchy and sometimes didn't get along with the others (mainly Mitchell), but she provided a different perspective on things. The way Nina was written out really did a disservice to both the character and actress. In comparison, George's wasn't THAT bad, plus it was emotional. Annie's was quite fitting & she got to kick arse.

Of all the villains on the show, Jason Watkins as Herrick was the best. He brought just the right amount of menace (combined with a wicked sense of humour) to his character. Speaking of, the show's humour is one of its strongest aspects. There are some very funny moments throughout the series which helps lighten the mood, and best of all it's *unexpected*. You're not expecting to laugh, they don't telegraph it with obvious/silly jokes, but when it happens it'll make you laugh out loud. There were just so many memorable funny moments. The show balanced this well with the 'horror' elements. There were some genuinely freaky moments throughout the series. They went to great lengths to create a creepy atmosphere and some actual genuine horror in the show (not to mention some truly gory moments, like in the Season 2 premiere & Season 4 final).

What's also great is seeing an actual *attempt* at having a proper werewolf transformation on TV. Most take the easy way out and either don't show the changing, have bad CGI (like the US remake) or simply have people with bad teeth and in need of manicures instead of actual proper-looking werewolves. Okay, so the finished wolf in the first episode was a bit dodgy, but it got better as time went on. The transformations were what really stood out, though, thanks to their excellent use of prosthetics, animatronics & Tovey's performance. The music used in the show is also excellent. Many a moment is made just that much better due to the choice of songs used, as well as the show's score. Really, the only negatives of the show was some annoying/pointless side characters who were introduced (mainly in Seasons 3 & 5. Season 4's Cutler was pretty good, but Allison was far too irritating). The early seasons actually had some decent side characters (like Ivan & Daisy), but had some horrible ones too (Cara).

We're kind of over-saturated with supernatural-related TV shows, and there's only so many ways they can put a new spin on the stories before they start being retreads of the same thing, but this Being Human went for something different & fresh, which certainly paid off. Seasons 1 & 2 were excellent, 3 was by far the weakest, then the show started coming good again with Season 4 (I actually didn't mind the War Child plot. At least they tried to make an effort with the apocalypse, unlike some other supernatural related shows. Gina Bramhill as Eve also helped. She and Annie had some good moments together). The final season, while not the best, was still a pretty good season to end on. Summing up, this show has great characters, acting, storytelling (for the most part), directing and originality...so why aren't you watching it? Forget the crappy US remake, I gave it a go and it paled in comparison to this amazing series.