Review – Being Human: Pilot (1.0)

BBC America brings U.S. viewers a dark and quirky fantasy drama. The story revolves around a vampire (Mitchell), a werewolf (George), and a ghost (Annie), and their struggle to be “normal” while living in an English flat together. Annie starts the pilot by dying and telling us a monologue about death that introduces us to each character. During the pilot we learn Annie died from an accidental fall, Mitchell was a soldier during the great World War and was made a vampire, and George was made a werewolf during an attack while on a trip to Scotland. The show’s writers waste no time and the audience is dropped into the story which skips the drudgery of the main characters meeting for the first time.

When the episode begins, Mitchell and George have already moved into the flat that Annie haunts, and they all are enjoying new found friendship. The plot picks up when we learn a full moon will be out and George will transform.  Mitchell and George, who both work at a local hospital, have a plan to keep George safe during his transformation and prevent him from attacking others. This goes awry when George’s safe room is compromised with a new office build out. George must leave the hospital and regrettably transforms in the flat, while Annie willingly watches the transformation. Meanwhile, Mitchell has to contend with the reappearance of the vampires whom he thought to have left behind him. They have a few warnings for Mitchell: do not “turn” just anyone into a vampire, give up his blood fasting and choose to be vampire before it is too late.

Through the episode Annie is dealing with being a ghost and that other living people are seeing her now. She tricks Owen, the landlord and her ex-fiancee, to come to their old flat with a text message supposedly sent by George, however Owen and his new girlfriend Janey cannot see Annie. Annie becomes distraught and is comforted by George.

Back at the hospital, Mitchell’s blood lust is getting harder to control. While dealing with his urges, he runs into Herrick, a local vampire leader who delightfully relays his upcoming vampire conversion plan. He tells Mitchell it is best to choose wisely concerning his loyalties. Later on George is attacked by another vampire who almost feeds upon him until she realizes he is a werewolf.  She then delightfully tells George that Mitchell is her maker.

The finale is fast paced as George rushes to prevent Mitchell from feeding on Becca, a new hospital employee, during their date. Ironically, it is Lauren’s sudden appearance in the bar that prevents Mitchell, but Becca is later killed by Lauren, in an attempt to convince Mitchell where his loyalties should be. Mitchell refuses to “turn” Becca and she slowly dies in George’s arms as he weeps. Later, Mitchell is once more visited by Herrick at the hospital where he smooths over details surrounding Becca’s death. He warns Mitchell again that a “change” is coming and that he best choose whom to stand with, humans or vampires. The three flat mates survive the show’s pilot no worse for the wear, and quite a few plot “nuggets” have been dropped for the upcoming season.

I think Being Human, is a bold new show that offers us something new. A supernatural drama, with “heart”. This quirky show could be very popular with the fans of Buffy and True Blood, it may also draw in those who love the “classic” monsters of film. Be advised tha myths regarding these classic monsters appear to have been spun in a new direction. Mitchell, a vampire walking in the sunlight, and not burned to a crisp, is hard to miss even by a horror genre amateur. The special effects thus far are good, and George’s transformation might make some viewers reminisce about scenes from An America Werewolf in London, a horror film from the early 1980′s, whose effects at the time were top notch. I am very excited about this show and feel it has great potential, as long as the writing holds true to the concept of monsters trying to be “human”.

I recommend this new show to fantasy and horror fans alike. I need to digest a few more episodes to truly call it a winner or to be destined for cancellation. I have read it is doing well with English viewers, lets see how it does with American viewers and horror/fantasy fans. Its time slot of Saturday may seem strange, but it might dominate a mostly empty television playing field. Well, my Saturday nights are now booked by Being Human, and to be quite honest, I cannot remember a time when Saturday night television was something to be watched.