Being Human [Syfy, Monday, 10/9C] is a re-imaging of a very good British series about three supernatural beings – a ghost, a vampire and a werewolf – who share an apartment. The Syfy version starts in the same place but then takes some very interesting – and different – directions. As someone who has seen the original, I found the American version to be different enough to be enjoyed on its own merits.
When Josh [Sam Huntington] wakes up next to a disemboweled deer – and Aidan [Sam Witwer] gets a little carried away with a girl from work – the two decide that they might be able to survive better if the share a house together. Josh is a werewolf and Aidan is a vampire – and neither is happy about that. The problem is, they have to fight/deal with their natures, and that isn’t easy to do when they’re on their own.
So, they rent a townhouse and before long, discover that they’ve got an unwanted guest – a ghost named Sally [Meaghan Rath]. Sally died in a tumble down the stairs from the second floor and is unable to leave the place – she also can’t touch anything, or be seen by anyone other than other supernatural beings. Now the three of them have to coexist and try to figure out to be human again.
Encroaching on Aidan’s world is vampire leader Bishop [Mark Pellegrino], who really wants Aidan to give up his efforts to fight his nature and rejoin his legion of undead – recruiting well-placed humans to help vampires take over.
While Syfy’s iteration of Being Human starts from the same basic place as the original series – sticking three supernatural beings together – there are some similarities, but also some obvious differences.
Where British vampire John’s accidental killing of Lenore is covered up by vampire leader Herrick, here, Aidan doesn’t get off as easily – leading to some gruesome consequences, subtly orchestrated by Bishop, that cause him further angst. Where we learn the circumstances surrounding British ghost Annie’s death by the show’s third ep, things are both similar and very different in the American version – at least in terms of timing, and, potentially, other ways, as well. Where British werewolf George appears to be alone, American werewolf Josh has a family he’s left behind – and we meet his sister in the premiere.
So far, Jeremy Carver and Anne Fricke, the creators of the American Being Human seem to looking at character points and character decisions and considering what might happen if different choices were made – or if different events occurred in the characters’ backstories. Another difference is in the overall tone of the series – although pretty dark, it’s not as bleak as the original, nor as graphic. The shows share similar senses of humor, but, again, the American version is neither as dark, nor as subtle. Overall, the writing isn’t as fresh and imaginative as the original, but it’s close.
A big difference is the production values. Syfy’s Being Human has better production values, better FX and a better looking [though not by much] cast. In terms of casting and chemistry, the two shows are pretty much even – though the American version has a marginally better antagonist in Mark Pellegrino’s Bishop. He does a remarkable job of making both his disdain for Aidan’s efforts and his genuine concern for Aidan’s well-being believable.
In the three eps that Syfy provided for critics, the series gained in quality every ep – and the differences from the original are very promising. The series looks to be an intriguing mix of horror, drama and humor with genuinely scary moments and heart. If you’ve seen the original series, you’ll find the differences here to be intriguing. If not, the series is involving from the opening shot.
Final Grade: B