Being Human - Series 5 on Sunday Nights

[WhiteCrow]

Anyone catch this?

I was flicking through the BBC website and found I'd missed it, sounded like it was going to be either great or REALLY pretensious and bad.

When a werewolf and a vampire move in together, they find the house is haunted by the ghost of a woman killed in mysterious circumstances and the three outsiders soon form a strong friendship, sharing a longing to be part of humankind.

[Dirk Gently]

When was it on?

[WhiteCrow]

Sorry - it was on last night on BBC3 at 9pm.

[michael]

i like it
and it on now on bbc 3
like to see more but just a one off
the littles hobo mad me lol

[WhiteCrow]

I've just watched it on repeat on BBC3, and I have to say it's the best drama I've yet seen in 2008.

A very adult drama, without being over the top. Kind of felt like a thinking man's Underworld meets This Life with a smidge of Ultraviolet.

Very impressed and I'll be watching again.

[enzo1701]

Is it on the old I-Player?

[WhiteCrow]

Is it on the old I-Player?

Yup!

[Dirk Gently]

I saw this last night & thought it was quite good. Not as good as Ashes to Ashes but still good. I'd probably watch more if I remember it's on.

[WhiteCrow]

What I think they've done particularly well is they've looked at the set-up then said "but hey we're BBC 3".

Consequently they don't seem to be doing a huge epic story, but instead covering characters in detail. Theres no real amazing showy special effects. In fact I don't think you actually see the werewolves form at all.

But the script is well written, and the acting is very good. The emphasis is much more on them trying to live a life with their conditions. I thought the guy playing the werewolf (Midshipman Frame from Voyage of the Damned) was particularly good, and the tense scene of him in the isolation room a brilliant piece of drama.

Overall I loved this episode on a lot of levels, and I'm hoping as a pilot it just goes from strength to strength.

[michael]

here is the link on i player


http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/page/it...html?src=ip_mp

but was just a one show hope they make some more
this is from the bbc
New, one-off drama, Being Human, is a witty, exciting, sexy and extraordinary look at the friendship between three, twenty-something outsiders trying to find their way in an enticing, yet complicated world.



The BBC Three drama stars a cast of bright, up-and-coming actors – Guy Flanagan (Totally Frank), Andrea Riseborough (Margaret Thatcher: The Long Walk To Finchley) and Russell Tovey (The History Boys) – alongside Adrian Lester (Hustle).



Being Human explores what it's like trying to find where you fit into the grand scheme of things when you live with an unusual affliction…



Mitchell (Flanagan) and George (Tovey) are two twenty-something lads who, like any of their peers, would love to hit the town, pull girls and spend evenings down the pub.



Mitchell is a hospital cleaner, good looking, laid back and a hit with the ladies. Oh, and he's a blood sucking vampire.



Mitchell's friend George works in the same hospital as a porter. He's an awkward but loveable geek who was befriended by Mitchell two years ago.



George was heartbroken after he had to move away from the love of his life; he had to leave before she discovered that at every full moon, he sprouts a snout, grows a very hairy back and transforms into a werewolf.



Having had enough of sleeping in hostels and temporary accommodation, Mitchell and George decide to get a flat together where they can indulge in their love of beer, pizza and watching TV.



They just want to have a go at being normal; being human.



Annie (Riseborough) is their uninvited lodger. When the guys move into their new creepy abode they are not expecting to share it with a ghost with a confidence crisis.



Annie used to live in the flat with her boyfriend but following a fatal accident, and now suffering from a distinct lack of self-esteem, she can't move on.



So, she spends her time wandering around the house, making cups of tea she can't drink and scaring away anyone who dares try to move into her home.



But when George and Mitchell move in Annie's surprised to find two new friends who are as unusual and weird as she is.



Rob Pursey, executive producer for Touchpaper Television, says: "Being Human is a warm, funny, aspirational drama with an irresistible twist. Mitchell, George and Annie are supernatural creatures but they are desperate to be a part of a life we all take for granted.



"It's an exciting and contemporary take on friendship and finding your way in the world. Toby Whithouse's witty, emotionally powerful script makes these three misfits come alive even though they're far from human."



Being Human is commissioned by Danny Cohen, Controller of BBC Three, and Jane Tranter, Controller of BBC Fiction, and produced by Touchpaper Television, part of the RDF Media Group.



Executive producers are Julie Gardner (Head of Drama, Wales and Head of Drama Commissioning) and Lucy Richer (Commissioning Editor, Independent Drama).



It is written by Toby Whithouse (Hotel Babylon), produced by Matthew Bouch (The Sarah Jane Adventures), directed by Declan O'Dwyer (Wire In The Blood) and executive produced by Rob Pursey (The Queen's Sister) and Julie Gardner.



The 60-minute drama is one of six bold and engaging new dramas for BBC Three starting with Phoo Action on Tuesday 12 February

[Alex]

What I think they've done particularly well is they've looked at the set-up then said "but hey we're BBC 3".

Consequently they don't seem to be doing a huge epic story, but instead covering characters in detail. Theres no real amazing showy special effects. In fact I don't think you actually see the werewolves form at all.

Well the big storyline does seem to revolve around the other vampires now deciding to eradicate humanity, which seems pretty epic to me And I would have liked to see a few more special effects too, but considering it was only a pilot I imagine it had a limited budget. I hope if it does get a full run there will be more, and that the storyline will be a mix of the epic stuff and the more individual character stuff, as I thought they handled their personal lives really well.

But the script is well written, and the acting is very good. The emphasis is much more on them trying to live a life with their conditions. I thought the guy playing the werewolf (Midshipman Frame from Voyage of the Damned) was particularly good, and the tense scene of him in the isolation room a brilliant piece of drama.

The only problem I had with the acting was the guy who played the vampire, he was okay but sometimes the character just annoyed me, and I found him a bit too pretentious at times as well. Fortunately I really liked the other two, including the oddly fit ghost Oh, and I'm not too sure about all this "death is a long corridor with two men with sticks and ropes" stuff going on, which sounded all a bit strange, but I guess it is an intriguing idea...

Overall I loved this episode on a lot of levels, and I'm hoping as a pilot it just goes from strength to strength.

I did like it a lot, and like you I hope it gets a series, and then that way the can iron out the minor quibbles I had with it.

[WhiteCrow]

The only problem I had with the acting was the guy who played the vampire, he was okay but sometimes the character just annoyed me, and I found him a bit too pretentious at times as well.

That's how I find most vampires ...

Yes Angel I mean YOU!

[Alex]

Aw, but he's so lovable in a brooding miserable way!

I'm quite liking Moonlight, which has the main vampire as a 50's style private eye, it's all a bit cheesey but not a bad series, and it's nice to see vampirism handled in a different way for once.

[FlyingBeastie]

i'm JUST catching up with the series cos' BBCAmerica is airing it now on Saturdays- i'm up to episode 3 and i'm really enjoying the show- especially the third one with Gilbert- he was such a favorite of mine. He was like Rik from the "Young Ones" sans the lisp and lameness

i agree with the general consensus that it's a very well acted show and well written as well- my only problem is Lauren-the annoying leech that keeps following Mitchell- i really hope she gets staked.

[SiHart]

Being Human is getting an American Remake.

Following the news that SyFy has commissioned a US version of Being Human SFX emailed the show’s creator Toby Whithouse for his response. Here’s what he had to say:

“I'm really pleased there's going to be a US version of the show. The way these things work though, I have no idea what they're planning for the series. It could end up being about giant mice living on the moon. I don't know. I don't feel any sense of rancour about this. It's the nature of the system we've entered into. And SyFy has a better understanding of the US marketplace, so is in a better position to determine what will work and what won't. My priority always has been and always will be the UK version.

“A lot of Being Human fans have already voiced misgivings about a US version, and it's fair to say that UK formats have met with... mixed success when transposed to the States. But every single significant step in the life of Being Human has been either fraught or needlessly worried over. When we moved from pilot to series, the notion of recasting Mitchell, Annie and Herrick was met with wails of despair. As it turned out, all three new cast members delivered extraordinary performances and now it's impossible to imagine those parts being played by anyone else. So who knows, in a year from now, we might be rhapsodising about the US version and toasting its staggering success. Obviously I'll be sitting on my yacht, but I'll be with you in spirit.

“Also, whatever happens in America, it doesn't have a backwards effect. The UK version won't be affected an iota. Expanding the Being Human world can only be a good thing. If the US version is a success it might inspire its audience to seek out the original version.
So I'm going to approach it with a completely open mind and watch it as if I were watching a brand new show with a brand new format.”

Si xx

[Philipnet]

That 'reboot' is being trashed on io9:

Syfy's Americanization of Being Human Is Just Wrong

Syfy Channel got its mitts on the amazingly dark and witty BBC series Being Human. And the network plans to subject this clever series to an Americanized reboot.
We. Are. Not. Happy.

Syfy president Dave Howe explains to the Hollywood Reporter:

"We've always been keen on vampires and werewolves, and we loved the originality of Being Human, the fact that the fantastical creatures in it are very young, accessible and charming."

They loved the originality of it so much, they decided to remake it.

Syfy has ordered 13 episodes of a remade Being Human, which could appear on screens as early at next fall. Across the pond the original Being Human gears up for its second season this January. Howe promised this won't be a poor recreation of the series, seeing as most Syfy watchers probably have seen the original, but we've been burned before.

I was one of the loudest haters of the American-ized Office before it aired, because British humor and sensibilities don't translate well in the States. But the show hired good writers, invested in the production and found a wonderful cast. It's engaging, even though it lacks that dry British wit that made me fall in love with the original, and despite the lack of Ricky Gervais and the arguable fact that the American version has been around for far too long, it's still funny. (Though I shudder to think of Jim and Pam, "the baby years.") That said, for every successful Americanized show, there are many dismal translations, such as Life on Mars, Coupling, and a host of other terribly translated or poorly copied series.

Being Human is a completely different show from The Office. You can not translate the kind of dark humor that parallels the main characters lives, without the flippant British style that manages to just slip in a turn of phrase here and there. That humor is what makes the whole idea that a ghost, vampire and werewolf all living together in real life believable, the whole casualness of it all.

The writing is woven together so perfectly. Take the shocking weirdness that comes when we see one character's vampire porno, in which one person cannot be recorded because they're a vampire. The vampire porno itself becomes a whole other plot point, which I won't ruin here. But it's a good example of how Being Human blends darkness and humor together so perfectly. I highly doubt we can make these kinds of jokes on the Syfy Channel, with American writers and actors.

You can also bet that any and all edge will get stripped away, in hopes of garnering more viewers, so kiss the amazing sex scenes goodbye, along with violence, blood and realistic humor.

Plus you will never, never, never be able to recreate the chemistry and timing the trio over at Being Human have. It is by far one of the better ensemble casts working today.

In short, this is a disaster. The worst case is, we'll end up with just another CW-esque dramedy show about pretty white kids and their magical issues. To me, this is on a par with an Americanized Doctor Who, — it's not needed, and all but impossible to adapt properly.

How can this be saved? If Syfy decided to spend lots of money on hard working writers and producers that can actually Imagine Greater. Even then, they'd have to attempt at translating the dark humor without throwing in a green screen, adding reality-show components or trying to make it any darker than it already is. Then they have to cast three people who can sell this crazy premise. But they could always take that money and create new material, and just air the original Being Human along with said new series, instead of butchering a great UK show. Because if it ain't broke...

If this makes more people watch the original, then that's one thing this new reboot has going for it. Still I honestly just don't think it can be done. And now with the internet making foreign shows more accessible to the masses, I think there will be a surprising amount of push-back from U.S. fans.

[WhiteCrowNZ]

Lets face it with Vampire lovin' riding high thanks to Twilight, it was always tempting for the Americans to remake it.

[WhiteCrowNZ]

Is there a second series due soon? I was getting something on my phone from Facebook, but couldn't follow the link.

[SiHart]

The trailers have begun on the BBC, so I'm guessing it's coming in January.

Si xx

[Lord President]

Starts 10 Jan! I can't wait! ;-)

[WhiteCrowNZ]

W00t!

[SiHart]

That was a dark first episode- much darker than the first series was. It was great stuff though- some really chilling moments- the vampire and her daughter especially so.

I think this is going to shape upto be another fine series, with a new threat from the throughly evil Donald Sumpter!

Si xx

[Perry Vale]

Seems you weren't alone.

The first episode of series two aired on 10 January with an overnight audience of 1.4 million – a 50% increase on the first series opener.

I was a bit disappointed to be honest. It was ok, but the casting just doesn't seem to work for me. I'll stick with it for now though.

[Lord President]

Seems you weren't alone.



I was a bit disappointed to be honest. It was ok, but the casting just doesn't seem to work for me. I'll stick with it for now though.

I think the casting is excellent Perry, what problems do you see with it?

[Perry Vale]

I think the casting is excellent Perry, what problems do you see with it?

Russell Tovey just seems miscast to me, even though I think he's a fine actor, and as for the other two, I preferred the casting of them in the pilot (again, I think Lenora Crichlow is excellent in other roles).

It just doesn't quite work for me, but then I'm certainly not in the target audience of the show's makers.