Blu-ray Review: ‘Being Human: Season Five’

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: ‘Being Human: Season Five’ on Blogcritics.

The BBC recently released the Blu-ray and DVD of Being Human‘s fifth and final season. Longtime fans of the show may be disappointed that by the final season, none of the original characters remained. Yet, the writing is high quality, the stories are fantastic, the tone and mission of the series is kept true, and the last installments deftly balance serious character development with a larger arc, making sure that viewers actually know and care about the relatively new stars of the show, while still being entertained. It’s an all-around top notch job.

Season Five essentially picks up where the fourth year leaves off. Tom (Michael Socha), the werewolf, and Hal (Damien Molony), the vampire are now sharing the inn they inherited with Alex (Kate Bracken), a ghost of a woman Hal killed. Needing income, the boys take jobs at a local motel (as opposed to the non-active one they live in). The trio all struggle with their personal issues, figuring out the kind of life they want to leave despite their secret, supernatural sides, not realizing all the while they are being manipulated by Captain Hatch, a.k.a. the Devil (Philip Davis).

Hal may be the most messed up. That’s because as much as he’d like to pretend he’s kicked his addiction to human blood, he can’t help but be tempted by it. This leads him into a couple of compromising situations, complicating things with Alex, for whom he still harbors feelings. He also faces his brutal element in a large way.

Tom, meanwhile, feels inferior to Hal, and desperately wants to prove he is as good as the vampire. This is especially true as Tom wonders how much the wold holds him back. Finding that Hal isn’t quite reformed helps Tom’s self-esteem, but strains the bond of friendship between the two.

Alex wants to help both guys figure out what’s best for themselves, but also learns a bit about being a spirit along the way. She has some serious juju, getting a quick grasp of her capabilities, but is a little too trusting, and perhaps a bit blinded by her own emotions.

Interestingly, Being Human brings in a couple of new characters for Hal and Tom to mentor. They see these new characters as reflections of themselves, and, providing Hal and Tom with meaning and purpose for them moving forward. It’s a cool dynamic, and it’s sad the show comes to an end so soon, leaving little time to explore these relationships fully.

Rook (Steven Robertson), a supporting player for awhile, also steps into the forefront this season. He is losing the department he runs to budget cuts, which is unfortunate given the very special interest Rook takes in his work. Faced with the threat he feels endangers humanity, he must decide how important it is to restore his work in the name of saving lives, and what cost may be too high.

The ending of Being Human: Season Five is surprising, and I will not spoil it (though I did previously review it). Suffice it to say, there is a lot of personal examination and a major showdown, forcing the roommates to decide what being human means to them. Because of the nature of this confrontation, the personal stories unspooled throughout the season get closure, rather than growth being pushed aside in favor of action. And Rook gets pay off, too.

The extras are plentiful for such a short run, with a wealth of footage that could have been, but was not, used within the episodes themselves. We get deleted scenes galore, comprising all six installments. There are a number of interviews with various cast and crew members. Five bits about Alex trying to complete her unfinished business are present, and probably my favorite extra, though I wish they hadn’t been split between the discs, the only bonus divided in half this way.

Likely the best inclusion for fans is an exclusive scene that is set after the series’ finale. It neatly resolves some of the ambiguity left hanging, and provides an idea of what a sixth season or feature film could look like. I was actually content with the finale prior to watching this, but now that I’ve seen it, it feels the characters are screaming for more. Might this be what creator Toby Whithouse (who guest stars in the final season) was hoping for?

Blu-ray is definitely the way to check out this release. The effects aren’t too plentiful, but aside from some cheesy-looking werewolves, they are well used and natural. There is a lot of darkness in the color palette and tone, so it helps to have the high def version to see the detail in the shadows and the layers of blacks. There is also a great soundtrack, crystal clear and well mixed.

In short, Being Human: Season Five is a must-see for people who enjoy the show, and a fine example of how to both reboot a story with a fresh cast, and also how to end a series properly in that situation. Kudos to all involved.

"The Last Broadcast" of BEING HUMAN

Article first published as "The Last Broadcast" of BEING HUMAN on TheTVKing.

The British series Being Human recently aired their final season finale, "The Last Broadcast," on BBC America. Capping a short, six-episode run, the central trio face who they are, what they want, and battle the Devil for control of the world. So, just another day for our heroes.

I had my doubts about this fifth series, mainly because all of the original characters are now departed. It's rough to put three newbies front and center in a final season, even if they have appeared on the show prior to it. I wondered if Being Human would concentrate solely on a villain, pay homage to the former stars, or develop the fresh personalities.

"The Last Broadcast," and the rest of the series leading up to it, focus mainly on the last of those three, and that is a good decision. Being Human has always been about supernatural creatures finding their way in a world run by human beings, and discovering how they might fit in. That's what people tune in for, and the show really captures the drama of each spirit, as well as what their internal struggles are. This last season is remarkable in that regard.

There's Hal (Damien Molony), the vampire who likes to pretend he has the evil streak beaten, his craving for blood tamed, but he does not. He has a past that haunts him, and if the red stuff spurts in his field of vision, his carnal needs come raging to the surface. He will never fully defeat that part of himself, and keeping it locked in a cage isn't a cure.

Tom (Michael Socha) is also ashamed of himself, or rather, the wolf inside of him. Rather than celebrating the physical enhancements that come with the werewolf curse, he dwells on the dangerous creature he becomes once a month. This prevents him for bettering his position and career, in his mind anyway, and so he is kept in place.

Finally, Alex (Kate Bracken) has unresolved romantic feelings for Hal, since he killed her on their first date, not to mention that being a ghost keeps her separated from her family and former life. She isn't happy with her limitations, even as she is empowered by her abilities, and wishes for something different.

The Devil (Philip Davis) wisely exploits all of these shortcomings in the final battle, giving the three an opportunity at a normal existence. They can live as people, not as freaks. They resist, though, because as much as they war with who they are, they are deep down proud of the life they've built together. Hal says it when he boasts to the Devil that if the Devil really wanted to win, he'd have put them together.

This is a very interesting observation, and one that feels right as the trio wakes up in one place, defeats their foe, and become human once more. It's everything they've wanted, the best of both worlds, not forgetting the trials they've been through, and also getting to be an average person again. This is the best possible ending for the characters and fans of the series.

But the writers are smart, too, leaving plenty of clues that the Devil may have actually won. We see the paper wolf on the mantle. The ritual to defeat the Devil was supposed to kill the trio, and somehow they survived as humans. Everything is a bit too perfect. This is the ultimate bad guy, and while a film where he is defeated once and for all might be cool, the ambiguous, creepy, sort of depressing ending is kind of neat, too, even if it never goes past this.

Plus, there's always the debate, if Hal, Tom, and Alex truly believe they have won, fooled or not, isn't that still a happy ending for them?

Being Human and "The Last Broadcast" additionally serve up a juicy part for Rook (Steven Robertson), too. He is the bureaucrat who believes in his supernatural-control department whole-heartedly. It's a shame the Devil is able to convince Rook that there must be sacrifice for the greater good, so Rook helps with evil deeds, but Rook's end goal is still a noble one. Rook even is willing to sacrifice himself, which stills holds meaning even if the sequence isn't real, because it fits his arc. This indicates he is a misguided savior, but still someone to remember fondly. It's a complex portrait, beautifully acted and written.

Everything about this final hour is well crafted. From the contrast between Hal's song and dance and his brutality, to the bringing back of former characters for the Devil's offers, to Tom's grief, to Alex's inner strength, to the banding together despite all of their ill will, these roles are served, and the result is incredibly entertaining. Even if this had been taken alone, "The Last Broadcast" stands well on its legs, besides being a pay off for the earlier install

It's a little sad that there are only scant references to George, Annie, Mitchell, and Nina, and yet, this isn't their story anymore. The fifth series is fully about Hal, Alex, and Tom, and so it makes sense for the finale to be about them, too. This is a whole different story, almost a whole different show, but it ends as it should. The finale is to be lauded.

Being Human has completed its run, but all five series are out on Blu-ray and DVD, so there is plenty of time to re-live it, or check it out if you haven't done so yet.

BEING HUMAN Gathers "The Trinity"

Article first published as BEING HUMAN Gather "The Trinity" on TheTVKing.

BBC America presents the final series of Being Human, starting this week with "The Trinity." The events of last season are calming down, but all three house guests, the new vampire-werewolf-ghost trio, have their own matters to attend to, while getting used to each other and finding their equilibrium.

The central premise of Being Human, one that sort of takes a back seat last year, is a ghost, a vampire, and a werewolf sharing a home. With the original three gone, a new group takes their place, which makes it feel like a different show. But it's still about them all finding ways to get along, and help each other control their more undesirable urges.

I really like the parts of "The Trinity" that have the roommates together. This is a dynamic that is still being worked out, and they aren't completely comfortable around one another. Tom (Michael Socha) really wants to trust Hal (Damien Molony), but is finding it difficult to do so. Hal is used to worrying mainly about himself, and has to figure out how to rely on others. Alex (Kate Bracken) has a sense of humor the others consider inappropriate. Give how natural the previous series stars had grown with one another, this is an interesting reset, to explore new personalities clashing all over again.

Interestingly, "The Trinity" shows us that this sort of alliance is nothing new. Ninety years ago, Hal teams up with werewolf Catherine (Victoria Ross) and a man named Emil (Jeremy Swift, Oliver Twist) to trap the Devil in a human body. This goes horribly wrong, and the Devil escapes.

So this season of Being Human will have to not only focus on the chemistry of the threesome, but also a battle with the Devil, currently in the form of Captain Hatch (Philip Davis, Whitechapel), who happens to be in town. This is a heck of a villain to face, certainly with bigger stakes than past bad guys.

Which is not to say that the Devil is all this year will be about. There are several other stories going on, too. Hal is fighting his urge to drink blood, and turns a dying guy named Crumb (Colin Hoult) into a vampire to save his life. Mr. Rook (Steven Robertson) is still trying to recruit Hal, and also faces seeing his department downsized. Alex wants to complete whatever unfinished business she might have, which "The Trinity" rules out as being finding her body. And Tom is working on trusting Hal.

I really like Rook's story. It's funny that government cutbacks could threaten the safety of the country or the world. Every slash in the budget risks unintended consequences, but this is taking that to a whole new level, providing social commentary, and giving a previously detestable character something interesting to do.

Flash backs have grown into a tiresome trope on television, but "The Trinity" seems like a fresh take, really setting up the first chapter of a larger arc, and deepening the mythology of the show in an unexpected way. This may be a biased view, but I do think this is one of the best examples of such an element that's been shown lately on the small screen.

I admit to being skeptical going into "The Trinity," missing the original cast, and having to ease into the tale. But by midway through the hour, I was completely engrossed, and am already sad these characters only have this year to complete their journies. Rebooting a show is risky, but it's done very well here. It should be a great season.

Being Human airs Saturdays at 10 p.m. ET on BBC America.

Being Human Series Four scares up disc release

Article first published as Being Human Series Four scares up disc release on TheTVKing.

The British series Being Human, not to be confused with the American remake that airs on SyFy, had a very dark fourth series last year. As the season begins, Nina (Sinead Keenan) and Mitchell (Aidan Turner) are dead, leaving an unraveling George (Russell Tovey) and Annie (Lenora Crichlow) to care for George and Nina's baby, Eve, as well as stop any forces that may seek to harm what's left of their small band.

Unfortunately, since the baby is the first known to be born of two werewolves, there is an evil gang of vampires that would definitely like to get their hands on her, fearing a prophecy that says the baby will wipe out all of the blood suckers from the face of the Earth. Griffin (Alex Jennings, Whitechapel, The Queen), the new head vampire, isn't about to take any chances, so he orders a death sentence.

The season is full of revenge plays and all-out war. There are a variety of new characters tossed into the mix. There are good guys, like the Vampire Recorder, Regus (Mark Williams, the Harry Potter films), and there are bad guys, like Cutler (Andrew Gower, Monroe), a vampire far more suited to the modern world than Griffin, and thus, more dangerous. There are also those who we aren't sure which side they are on, including the mysterious Mr. Rook (Steven Robertson), who is just getting started in his own tale when the series ends. We go deep into a vampire nest, and venture into a dystopian future. In the end, grave sacrifices must be made to save others, and the fate of the entire world hangs in the balance.

Besides the larger story arcs, Being Human undergoes a transition in its basic premise. At the start, the idea is to see how a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost could live together. With Mitchell dead, that leaves a hole in their threesome. This defeats the purpose a little bit, and it's not an imbalance that will be preserved.

So we meet the newest central cast member, Hal (Damien Molony), a vampire who has also been living as part of a very similar trio. However, his werewolf pal is now dying of old age, so it seems an appropriate time for him to transition into a new group. Hal is not the only possibility of who might become a new housemate, with others introduced as candidates, too, and the make up of the group does undergo a transition in series four.

Between Hal and the return of Tom (Michael Socha), now upgraded to main character, there is an infusion of new blood into the main cast. Annie and George need the extra help to fulfill their own destinies, and, without giving too much away, the end of series four sets up yet another shake up for series five, which should air later this year. Annie, especially, gets to shine in series four, so I look forward to seeing who will step up in the next run of episodes to match her.

Series four has been released on DVD and Blu-ray in a three disc set. All episodes are present, and it is ripe with extras, including a trailer, prequels, sequels, and deleted scenes. We are taken behind the scenes in a featurette, and interviewers with the people who make the show are included. It's quite a bit for a short-format series, and definitely much better than some other recent British releases

Being Human Series Four is available now.

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Being Human sacrifices "The War Child"

BBC's Being Human, not to be confused with the SyFy remake, brings its fourth season to a close last night in "The War Child." Annie (Lenora Crichlow) tells the boys about her encounter with grown-up Eve (Gina Bramhill, Coronation Street), and how she must let baby Eve die to save the world. This proves easier said than done, as Annie cannot help but act when Cutler (Andrew Gower) risks everything in a final attempt to kill Eve. Yet, in the end, Annie does the right thing, destroying both herself and the infant, denying Mr. Snow (Mark Gatiss, Sherlock) and his ilk their world domination.

Annie's sacrifice is touching, if regrettable. After losing Mitchell, George, and Nina this year, Annie is the only one of the principal cast left. Each plays a part in saving mankind from extinction, and each pays the ultimate price individually. All except Nina, sadly, get their heroic ending on screen. But Annie's may mean the most because it is last, making it the final piece of the puzzle. At least they all seem to get to enjoy a happy ending together, with baby Eve, though a reunion isn't exactly shown on screen, perhaps for logistical reasons.

Which leaves a brand new trio to continue Being Human next season. Tom (Michael Socha) and Hal (Damien Molony) are drawn together because they have no one else. Each has lost their loved ones, and so they come to stay with Annie. While it's a tad curious that Annie accepts them so readily, the boys bonding is completely within character, given the circumstances. Add in Alex (Kate Bracken), a woman Hal is interested in, until Cutler kills her and she becomes a ghost, and a new set of central characters are firmly established.

In "The War Child," Hal, Tom, and Alex all try to assist Annie in her mission. They protect baby Eve the best way that they know how, and are present for the final show down. But, in the end, this is Annie's sacrifice to make, and her journey to complete, and so they are left on the sidelines to witness the finale. Which is fitting, as they will have their own adventures.

And those adventures are already getting started. The Old Ones may be dead and scattered, but viewers are introduced to Mr. Rook (Steven Robertson), a mysterious human who helps keep the supernaturals a secret from the world at large. Mr. Rook tells a college student that his kind has always been around, but by showing them to the audience in "The War Child," a story seems to be beginning, and it will likely involve the new trio. Why will they get involved with Mr. Rook? Perhaps because Mr. Rook has hidden Alex's body, her unfinished business? And once the truth is known, will they be trying to help or hinder his activities?

Being Human has been renewed for another series of six episodes, and will return to BBC America.

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