BEING HUMAN The End Goal

Article first published as TV Review: 'Being Human' - Series Finale on Blogcritics.

SyFy’s Being Human brought its four-season run to a close last week in “There Goes the Neighborhood: Part 3.” It’s a sweeping wrap-up for all three of the main characters, really concluding the journeys they’ve been on, giving them one last challenge, and then sending them off into an emotional sunset. For the British version, losing the main cast was just a stepping stone. But for Americans, this is how a show is expected to end.

Sally (Meaghen Rath) dies quite early in the hour, which is sure to be a big disappointment to some Being Human fans, since she’s one of the original trio. However, she’s definitely had her share of the story this year, and it feels very right that she should give up herself to save Aidan (Sam Witwer), whom she loves. It’s her way of finally achieving the heroic quality she has sought, and it really propels Aidan into his own conclusion.

Aidan is made human again by Sally’s sacrifice. His years of life quickly catch up on him, meaning he has only about a week to live, but that’s OK. At least he gets the chance to experience life as a human being again. He tastes cheeseburgers and spends times with his surviving best friends, Josh (Sam Huntington) and Nora (Kristen Hager). We do see Aidan go through stages of grief, too, depressed that he’s going to die, and trying to bargain a way out of it. But in the end, this is part of the complete cycle people experience, so it’s fitting, and he does find acceptance.

Aidan follows Sally’s example and takes himself out to save Josh. By going into the house alone to confront Ramona (Helen Colliander), the final big bad who, fittingly, has been involved in the proceedings through the series, secretly living in, or being, the house in which the main characters reside, Aidan gives Josh a chance at happiness. Both Aidan and Sally do something completely selfless, ensuring their friends will survive.

This means, they both get their doors. Neither character expects to be rewarded in the afterlife, believing, with good reason, that they’ve done too much bad to be forgiven. Yet, as all heroes do, they find inner strength, and it redeems them. Perhaps this finale is a little predictable, but it delivers the emotional punch needed, and it’s a fulfillment of what both have been working towards.

What this means is that Josh and Nora are able to be a happily married couple, not bogged down in the supernatural drama that has plagued them any more, raising a couple of kids in peace. It’s a little creepy that they name their son and daughter after the two deceased (and doesn’t it work out too perfectly that they have one of each?), but again, this is where fans wants to see them. They (meaning both the characters and the viewers) have suffered enough and deserve a little contentment.

Being Human plays it safe in crafting the series finale because it gives viewers exactly what they want. This may make the tale predictable, but after four seasons, it also feels earned. Perhaps one could have asked for a little more drama, some twist that pulls away from the sappy, love-letter quality of the hour, but I don’t think anyone who has been watching is upset at the way things are done. It’s the ending most would have written themselves, if given the chance.

Does that mean that Being Human has solved the series finale conundrum that the creators of many popular shows have been struggling with these past few years? I think not. Being Human, while good, is a relatively simple show when compared with the others. Lost and Battlestar Galactica, among other series, had a multitude of directions they could have gone in, and different members of the audience wanted different outcomes. Being Human is more straight forward, so its mold won’t apply to everyone. But for what it is, it did well. I’m glad I tuned in.

BEING HUMAN "Old" and "New" Again

Article written for Seat42F.

Season four of SyFy’s BEING HUMAN feels very much like a continuation of season three, even though three months have passed. The same recurring characters populate the universe, and each of the main players have been in a holding pattern since we last saw them. But by the end of “Old Dog, New Tricks,” that is no longer exactly the case.

The most important change for the show is that Josh (Sam Huntington) is now only a human during the full moon. He gets about half an hour with Nora (Kristen Hager), his new wife, before and after her turn as a wolf, then spends the rest of his time prowling the woods. No one knows why he is this way, let alone how to fix it, so he’s kind of in a pickle, the full weight of which is spelled out late in the hour.

This is really depressing for any newlywed pair. They finally get hitched, committed to spending the rest of their lives together, and then they are ripped apart. Nora does spend much of her day, along with Aidan (Sam Witwer), near Wolf Josh, trying to keep him under control and caged when possible. But it’s certainly not the same, a real damper on their union.

Aidan’s relationship with Kat (Deanna Russo) is progressing nicely. They are attending functions together and spending lots of time alone. Though Aidan makes excuses about working long shifts so he can get out to assist with Josh, he seems able to be attentive enough to keep her happy. It looks like Aidan might finally find some joy, though of course that’s only tentative until Kat learns who Aidan is.

But before Aidan can feel too settled, a few wrenches are thrown into his tranquility. Kat says something that makes him uneasy. Blake (Janine Theriault) and a very surprising familiar face show up in an unexpected place. And his wife, Susanna (Katharine Isabelle), makes an appearance.

It’s a sure thing that no one on BEING HUMAN is allowed to be happy. These latest tribulations threatening the romantic lives of our heroes, the details of which I’ll withhold for now, are only the latest in a long line of such occurrences. Every drama needs conflict, but it seems like Aidan, Josh, and Nora have more than their share, never even getting a moment to breathe and recover before being thrust into the next emergency. It would be nice if, for once, we learn they’ve had an extended period of bliss in between seasons, even if we only glimpse it.

Now, I haven’t mentioned Sally (Meaghan Rath) yet, and that’s because she does seem to be living her nirvana. She’s spent months luxuriating in a spa with a nicer, softer version of Donna (Amy Aquino). Although she is apart from her friends, it’s hard to complain about such a reprieve, no longer dealing with the woes of existence and other ghost problems. Sally is finally relaxing.

Of course, all is not exactly how it seems. There is more going on than Sally realizes right away, and she will soon be fighting to change her circumstances, no matter how good they might appear to the outside viewer. But, until this wakeup call hits, Sally does appear to be enjoying herself.

I really find Donna a fascinating character who has by no means outlived her usefulness. Introduced as an evil villain, we’ve seen a few more layers late in her run, and now Donna reveals some things about herself that only make her more intriguing. She is certainly more knowledgeable than any of the others on the show about the supernatural world and how different realms work, which is a useful skill. As long as she isn’t trying to actively destroy Sally or those Sally cares about, there should be no objection to her sticking around a little while longer.

“Old Dog, New Tricks” spends time catching us up with everyone before embarking on the next legs of their journeys. Some of these paths are easy to see coming and others are less so. Four seasons in, BEING HUMAN continues to surprise and find new directions to take the cast in, and this installments shows no signs of that slowing down.

BEING HUMAN airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on SyFy.

Third Season of BEING HUMAN Released

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: 'Being Human - The Complete Third Season' on Blogcritics.

Being Human (soon to be returning to Syfy for a fourth season) is releasing its third season on Blu-ray and DVD. The four-disc set contains all 13 episodes, as well as a handful of special features. It will be on sale January 7th, and is a great way to catch up on a very exciting  batch of installments.

In case you’re not familiar with the series, Being Human revolves around three friends living together: a vampire, a werewolf (actually, two), and a ghost. The friendship of these usually conflicting supernatural types, earns them attention in their social circles, both positive and negative. The series explores how they cope with their relationships and special “gifts.”

When season three begins, 15 months have passed since events in the second season finale. Aidan (Sam Witwer) has been buried in the ground, and Josh (Sam Huntington) and Nora (Kristen Hager) continue to search in vain for Sally (Meaghan Rath), still trapped in limbo. Our favorite characters are now split up, having gone through some experiences on their own.

They soon reunite, of course, and their fondest wishes begin to come true. Sally is brought back as an actual, live human. Aidan is free of other vampires, who are plagued by a contagious, deadly disease. And Josh is no longer a werewolf, having killed his maker. On paper, it looks like everyone has found their happy endings, and they can finally enjoy their existence in the house.

But, as one might expect, this utopia doesn’t last long. Nora still has to answer to Liam (Xander Berkeley) for the death of his daughter. Josh finds himself feeling a little left out, no longer being supernatural like those he loves most, which is really too bad, since he is finally ready to accept the beast inside of him. They both have to decide how much they value Aidan. This does come between them in some ways, but in others, it allows both Nora and Josh to find themselves before permanently committing to each other.

Sally gains a new boyfriend, Max (Bobby Campo), who runs a funeral parlor. Their relationship gets complicated, though, when she begins to rot and develops a taste for human flesh. She really struggles with what to tell Max about the weird stuff, if anything, and it seems unlikely they can maintain a relationship while death hangs between them. Especially when the witch that resurrects Sally, Donna (Amy Aquino), sees something special in Sally that she wants for herself.

Aidan’s story is more rooted in the past. We see flashbacks of his relationship with Susanna (Katharine Isabelle), just after he turned, and how is family is torn apart. This informs his present situation, as he falls for a girl named Kat (Deanna Russo) and considers making a sick boy, Kenny (Connor Price), his new son. If only Blake (Janine Theriault) and the rest of the vampires would continue to leave him alone.

The American version of Being Human has the luxury of a lot more time to serve larger stories than the original British series. One thing I really like about the American series is that is often brings back characters seemingly killed off. Death does not necessarily prevent a character from popping back up when not expected. The series has definite through lines over multiple seasons with its recurring players, and it will be exciting to see how this element informs the show over its lifetime. Season three leaves fans with some major, excellent cliffhangers that will definitely have lasting impact into the fourth run.

As far as extras go, this set is a little light. There are no deleted scenes or audio commentaries, the two most common inclusions in such releases. There are a couple of minutes of OK bloopers for each installment, organized by episode, though they go a little long, and a minute and a half teasing the cliffhangers, but not providing any information about them at all, really. Better is a forty-five minute behind-the-scenes featurette, and fifty minutes of the cast at last summer’s Comic Con are included, which is actually very cool. I wish more shows released their Comic Con panels on disc.

This season is a terrific one in story, even if the special features could use just a little more. Being Human The Complete Third Season is available for pre-order now and will be released this week.

Being Human has no shame, about Ray or otherwise

Grade: 95%

BEWARE! SPOILERS BELOW!

SyFy’s American remake of BEING HUMAN is back for a third round this week with “It’s a Shame About Ray,” airing Monday at 9 p.m. ET. It’s been fifteen months since we last saw the roommates, and fifteen months since they last saw each other. Josh (Sam Huntington) and Nora (Kristen Hager) search in vain for Sally (Meaghan Rath), still trapped in limbo, and Aidan (Sam Witwer), still buried in the ground.

Fifteen months. I can’t believe that the series make such a time jump, but it really works. The past year plus hasn’t been all that interesting for the characters, with little happening, so it makes sense to skip over it. It also allows a reset, of sorts, and puts everyone in different places from where we left them. It really starts the year off interestingly.

What a way to live, though! Josh’s frustration as they visit with psychic after psychic is understandable. For over a year, he and Nora have been looking for a way to bring their friends home, and to no avail. It’s amazing that Nora still has the patience she has, and that Josh is still participating. Most people would give up after a year. Which just goes to show how strong a bond the main characters of BEING HUMAN have.

Of, course, Josh has other issues, too. He definitely feels guilty about killing Ray (Andreas Apergis), and that doing so only cured him of the werewolf curse, not Nora. Apparently, murdering one’s maker does not extend the fix to the next limb of the family tree. For Nora to be a human again, Josh must die, and Josh has to live with the knowledge of what he has done to her, and that he can’t do anything about it, other than killing himself, which would also hurt her deeply.The U.S. version of BEING HUMAN has differed pretty drastically from its UK counterpart by this point, and Josh being human again is just one of the many ways. One wonders if Nora satisfies the werewolf contingent for the series, or if Josh will have to be turned back, possibly by Nora in some sort of poetic justice. Josh as a human or as a werewolf both present intriguing possibilities, so hopefully the human thing will be explored, at least for a little bit.

Nora and Josh do catch a break when they find a witch named Donna Gilchrist (Amy Aquino, The Finder, Harry’s Law). Donna can bring Sally back, but she needs $2000, the heart of someone Josh or Nora have murdered, and Sally’s body. And the spell will return Sally as a human.

It’s a dark spell, to be sure, but I like how it all ties into Ray’s body, and Josh and Nora’s story. I do think that Donna has some dark plans having to do with Ray, as glimpsed at the end of the hour, and I don’t know what her motivations are to help, because I doubt it’s just for the money. There’s a mysterious and enticing character here, and I hope Aquino sticks around for awhile.

So Sally is brought back to life in “It’s a Shame About Ray,” as a human. Before you say “like Josh,” though, there are complications with Sally’s resurrection. Namely, she stuck close to Nick (Pat Kiely) and Stevie (Robert Naylor) while in limbo, and brings both of them through the door into her body with her, not realizing the consequences.

From the way that Sally lies gasping on the bed, one has to wonder, is she suffocating because three souls don’t fit in one body? Or is that just a symptom of her recovery from the traumatic ordeal of being resurrected? Will the three take turns sharing control of Sally’s body? If so, will the writers make the obvious sex-related jokes out of the situation? Or might the boys have woken up in their own bodies, buried under ground and decomposing, not having the suave made from Ray’s heart to restore their physical forms, like Sally did? What will happen next? So many questions, AND we get a Stevie Nicks joke out of it! Well done!

The third member of the trio, Aidan, is the most alone, as usual. And yet, he’s not. He hallucinates Sally and Josh with him every step of the way, below and above the dirt, proving his feelings for them are just as strong as how they feel about him, something that one might have doubted earlier in the series.Aidan has been through a terrible experience, being buried alive and left there, then dug up by a crazy member of the Amish cult, who subsequently dies after trying to kill Aidan. He needs Josh and Sally, and yes, Bishop (Mark Pellegrino), too, to help him will the motivation to survive, being close to a final death repeatedly. Aidan isn’t as much a loner as he would have his friends believe, and with their moral support, imagined or real, he should eventually be able to get home.

As “It’s a Shame About Ray” gives us this very personal story for Aidan, we also get clues as to bigger going-ons in the vampire world. Mother (Deena Aziz) is dead, as is much of her order, due to a very timely human flu. Their civilization is crumbling around them. Will Aidan want to get involved, and if so, how might he see himself in the new power structure?

The only thing I didn’t like in the hour was the flashback where we see Josh not turn into a wolf, and Nora does. It seems unnecessary, and as the only glimpse we get of that time period, extraneous. It is already explained well enough without showing it, and the scenes does almost nothing to add to what is already understood about the characters.

This episode of BEING HUMAN is probably one of my favorites of the series, giving three separate stories for the three main characters, and yet, connecting them in intimate ways. It balances the character-driven plot with the larger action arcs, and does so in a way that feels completely organic. It may have taken three years, but if this episode is any indication, BEING HUMAN is truly finding its stride.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first posted on Seat42F

Death dominates 'Being Human' season two finale, but what comes after?

In SyFy's second season finale of Being Human, "It's My Party and I'll Die If I Want To," each of the central characters are forced to face their mortality. Sally (Meaghan Rath) decides to destroy herself to go to limbo and try to help the ghosts that she sent there. Aidan (Sam Witwer) makes a play against Mother (Deena Aziz). When he fails, she kills Suren (Dichen Lachman) and buries Aidan alive. Josh (Sam Huntington) attempts to murder Ray (Andreas Apergis) to end the curse for both himself and Nora (Kristen Hager), but the three end up in a stand off, and someone shoots as the screen goes black.

Josh faces the most immediate threat in his cliffhanger in "It's My Party and I'll Die If I Want To." Ray is pointing a shotgun at him, while Nora has her own weapon trained on Ray. With no visual given for the gunshots, it sounds like both firearms are discharged. But it is not clear who is shot, if anyone.

The odds are, all three are still alive, though someone may be injured by a bullet. The reasons for this are clear. First, Josh is one of the central Being Human trio, and since this isn't the British version of the series, the American producers are unlikely to mess with the essential formula, at least not this early in the show's run. Similarly, it's hard to imagine that the werewolf curse will be lifted from Josh and Nora because it screws up the premise, so by that logic, Ray is safe. Unless the theory about murdering him to save the ones he passed his curse on to is merely a myth. Nora, the most expendable, has no gun aimed at her, so she's probably unharmed. So what at first appears to be the biggest cliffhanger, actually might be the plot with the lowest stakes.

Aidan's situation is more dire. With Suren dead, he is dealing with some heavy grief. He really loves the girl, and the initial burst of anger he feels at watching her murdered quickly subsides. As Mother tosses dirt onto the coffin Aidan lies in, there is a sense that Aidan may think he deserves some form of punishment for not protecting Suren. At minimum, he will take some time down there to deal with his sadness. But eventually, he will come out, of course, and then Mother had better watch her back.

While Josh and Aidan have wonderful arcs in "It's My Party and I'll Die If I Want To," the best story is reserved for Sally. Wrestling with her own sanity, and facing some very dark deeds that she does while going crazy, Sally feels responsible for the fate of a number of ghosts. So she does the only thing that she can to save them: rips herself, essentially killing the last vestiges of her soul.

What will limbo be like? From the murmurs of spirits that reappear during the eclipse, it is not a pleasant place. Given what Sally has been doing, a number of the people that dwell there have great reason to be furious with her and want revenge. So Sally is willingly going into a place that is not only highly unpleasant, but also very dangerous for her. There is little doubt that she will succeed in her mission, but there is no telling what obstacles she will have to overcome to do so.

Having left the original show it is based on far behind by this point, anticipation as to where the writers take things next is high! Being Human has been renewed for a third season, and will return to SyFy in 2013.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Please click here to read every Being Human review I've written. Click here for streaming episodes and DVDs of both versions of Being Human.

"Turn This Mother Out" Being Human!

     SyFy's Being Human begins its sophomore year with "Turn This Mother Out." Mother (Deena Aziz) comes to town, with the Council, to decide what to do with all of the new vampires in Boston. Aidan (Sam Witwer) recommends mercy, but Mother not only disagrees, she puts her daughter in charge of Boston, with Aidan regulated to Second. Meanwhile, Nora (Kristen Hager) keeps her upcoming werewolf transformation a secret from Josh (Sam Huntington), who is being hunted by vampire council member Hegeman (Terry Kinney). And Sally (Meaghan Rath) attends her high school reunion, as do a couple of dead classmates.

     At first, it appears that Being Human might choose a different path for Nora than her UK counterpart, sparing her from the wolf curse. Alas, this is not to be. However, considering that she isn't captured and experimented on while Josh thinks she just dumped him, Nora does have an improved outlook. If Josh can get back to her, he can help her through the process, and she will have a relatively smooth transition. Plus, this should cement their relationship more than ever, since she appears to have forgiven him already for his unwitting part in her bad luck. Of course, that could change when she realizes the pain and trouble that comes with the werewolf transformation.

     Josh, though, may not be able to get back to her, as while he is turning, he is shot by Hegeman. It's no secret that the vampires have no respect for the weres, and think Aidan would be more integrated into their society, as they desire, with his pal Josh out of the way. The risk here, for them and Aidan, is that their machinations are exposed, and that would backfire on the other vamps in a big way. If Aidan knows that the Council has hurt Josh, he won't play their game anymore, instead turning on them, and likely destroying several before being killed in the process. Let's face it: there are too many who are too skilled for Aidan to survive such an assault. So hopefully he never finds out, even if what is happening, or might happen, to Josh deserves some justice.

     Aidan, himself, plays more into the other vampires' hands in "Turn This Mother Out." He asks for mercy for the newly made vampires, and seeks a way around Mother's decision when she denies it. But he doesn't openly defy them, nor does he refuse a position within their hierarchy. This demonstrates his willingness, or perhaps even a want, to get along with his larger society. It wouldn't be surprising if Mother orchestrates the newbies attacking her in front of Aidan, so that when Aidan kills one to defend her, it figures into his head that maybe Mother is right. Going forward, he may defer to her more and more. Which isn't going to be a good thing to his morality, which he struggles to maintain as it is.

     Sally's story in "Turn This Mother Out" is more pedestrian than her roommates'. She attends her reunion, and hangs out with a boy who commits suicide while in school, and a girl that she hates. Which means, that even though only those two can see her, she has a 'typical' television reunion experience. It doesn't help when the girl Sally hates gets her door and crosses over, leaving the ghost with some resentment.

     However, then things take a different turn when Sally sees another door. Opening it, the lights within turn dark and something attacks her. What is it? What's going on? In the UK version, the main ghost is trapped in the spirit world as a lure for the vampire. Does this mean Aidan is being set up by someone or something? Or might this US remake continue to take more creative liberties, and have something entirely different in mind?

     Catch Being Human Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on SyFy.

     Please click here to read every Being Human review I've written.

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Being Human (US) - "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Me Killing You"

     It's going to be hard to write a review based solely on this episode after so recently watching all three series of the British version. Comparisons are easy to make, such as that the American Being Human on Syfy goes a little more for the humor than its counterpart. Look at the episode titles, and it's apparent. So perhaps a little look at the differences before the real reviewing of the episode's own merits begins?

     Despite packing in plot from much of the first two series, Syfy's chose to end differently. In the British, George (who is the equivalent of Sam Huntington's Josh) went through with his plan to tear Herrick (Bishop (Mark Pellegrino)) to pieces. Mitchell (who is like Sam Witwer's Aidan) didn't get the chance to fight the foe. In the American finale, Aidan beheads Bishop, sparing Josh the feelings that will come with killing. Also, no surprise resurrection of the dead vampire leader at the end, so no idea if Bishop will ever be seen again.

     It's not clear if the American ending is more satisfying, but it certainly explores a different avenue that could have been taken. In the British, Herrick is scarier, and so it seems doubtful that Mitchell would have had the ability to take him down. Herrick was never shown to have a human girlfriend, which makes Bishop more sympathetic. That being said, Aidan still needs a distraction to finish the job, so it's not Bishop is fangless.

    One other major difference is that George and Nina (think Kristen Hager's Nora) got pregnant in the third series, after having intercourse as wolves. As such, it is perfectly reasonable to think that the baby is going to be different, and aging rapidly isn't out of the question. In the American, Nora is still one hundred percent human, and Josh hasn't even changed yet when she gets pregnant. This is an inferior choice, with the biology not making as much sense. Also, Josh and Nora have not had as much time to grow as close and understand each other as George and Nina did, so it's likely to be a whole different situation. While the change with Bishop is neither better or worse, this difference is not as good as the original.

     Because of these shakeups, both pretty large in overal effects, it looks unlikely a second season of the Syfy show will continue to recycle the British series's plot, as is mostly done during season one. From this point on, the two shows will likely diverge into entirely their own enterprises. Which, while not complaining about SyFy's freshmen year, will be better for fans on both sides of the pond.

     Syfy's Being Human has been a fun ride thus far. With many supporting characters coming in and out, the finale really refocuses on the central trio. Josh (Sam Huntington) and Aidan (Sam Witwer) both face down a serious fear, and both are willing to stand up to their enemy when the going gets very tough. Josh, especially, is maturing into a braver, more stable man, possibly at least partially owing to the fact that he is expecting child, and is already thinking like a father.

     Aidan's time spent dealing with Bishop (Mark Pellegrino) and his vampire cronies is at an end. He has taken down his own maker, his friend, in a way, and now is put in charge of Boston's vampire population. Aidan has never seemed completely comfortable with the other vampires, except in flashbacks set prior to the series's beginning, so he likely will not embrace the mantle willingly or enthusiastically. Will he set the coven free to take care of themselves? Or will he actually commit himself and try to change them? Either option could set up a good second season.

     Josh looks primed to reconnect with his family. While they flitted in and out, especially his sister, during the first season, it appears he may be ready to make a serious go at reconnection, especially now that he is starting his own family. Expect to see more of Josh's kin when the series returns.

     Sally (Meaghan Rath) discovers she has more power than she first imagined. Now that she can interact with physical objects and make herself seen when she really wants to, she can do more than stand around and bemoan her fate, as has been her main purpose thus far. This sets her up to be far more integral and interesting in season two.

     Sally really gets the shaft in season one. Her revenge plot is fascinating, watching what evil acts will turn such a sweet girl into, but she is mostly annoying and incapable of improving her situation. That is going to change, and Sally should at least become equal to the other two. As to what her range of powers are, and what she will be able to do, and why she is still on earth, all of that is still anyone's guess. 

     Being Human has already been renewed for a second season on Syfy, being a ratings and creative winner. If you missed it, it's time to check it out.

Article first published as TV Review: Being Human (US) - "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Me Killing You" on Blogcritics.

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