Being Human - Any Good?

[ToddKent]

I've been trying to add some more TV shows to my Netflix queue and ever since I started watching the new Doctor Who I've been looking toward British TV (just added The IT Crowd...I hope it's good).

Anyway, I don't know much about Being Human other than the premise. Is it worth checking out? (No spoilers please)

 

[Lt. Trull]

I thought being human was a ok show to see.... it is a interesting premise... having three different (entities) sharing the same apartment... I can't wait till the third season to see what happens.... I hope they dont ruin it by bringing it to the U.S. and inserting their/our values into it....

 

[Checkmate]

Like a lot of British shows, it has a great premise but the writing and acting leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[TedShatner10]

I really like Herrick, one of the best villains in recent years.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I thought being human was a ok show to see.... it is a interesting premise... having three different (entities) sharing the same apartment... I can't wait till the third season to see what happens.... I hope they dont ruin it by bringing it to the U.S. and inserting their/our values into it....

Well apparently the US Syfy version is supposed to be very different from the UK version.

I really like Being Human, I'd recommend it. IT Crowd too.

 

[WillsBabe]

I think it's a good show. I find it difficult to quantify what it is, really, in terms of drama/comedy.

I agree with Checkmate that a lot of British shows have poor writing and acting, but I haven't really seen much of either here. Except for the ghost's actress. Think she's weak.

eta: No, I've thought about it, there are weak moments in writing and acting. Still worth catching, though.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I think it's a good show. I find it difficult to quantify what it is, really, in terms of drama/comedy.

I agree with Checkmate that a lot of British shows have poor writing and acting, but I haven't really seen much of either here. Except for the ghost's actress. Think she's weak.

eta: No, I've thought about it, there are weak moments in writing and acting. Still worth catching, though.

I wouldn't say they're particularly worse than a lot of US shows though. In fact a lot of the time I'd say acting and writing in British shows seem more natural and real than in US shows. But I don't think that makes either especially bad.

 

[Brent]

Being Human - Any Good?

I prefer being an alien personally

 

[WillsBabe]

I wouldn't say they're particularly worse than a lot of US shows though. In fact a lot of the time I'd say acting and writing in British shows seem more natural and real than in US shows. But I don't think that makes either especially bad.

No, I wouldn't say that they are worse. The acting is definately different, and sometimes, when I'm watching an American show I sometimes wonder how a British actor would have played the same moments. I've said before that I don't watch very much British drama, I'm afraid that I find most of it lousy. Sometimes, when I'm watching British drama I sometimes can't see it as anything other than ironical or farsical. I get this a lot of times with British cop shows.

 

[firehawk12]

I prefer the tone of the original pilot, but yeah, if you liked Angel or Moonlight or any number of "good vampire" shows, you could do much worse.

That said, I haven't watched S2 so I don't know if it gets better or worse.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I wouldn't say they're particularly worse than a lot of US shows though. In fact a lot of the time I'd say acting and writing in British shows seem more natural and real than in US shows. But I don't think that makes either especially bad.

No, I wouldn't say that they are worse. The acting is definately different, and sometimes, when I'm watching an American show I sometimes wonder how a British actor would have played the same moments. I've said before that I don't watch very much British drama, I'm afraid that I find most of it lousy. Sometimes, when I'm watching British drama I sometimes can't see it as anything other than ironical or farsical. I get this a lot of times with British cop shows.

Funny, I find it difficult to find American shows seriously. I hardly ever think they're realistic, or if they are they're premium cable shows. It's probably more to do with familiarity with British life, so you judge on experience.

 

[clint g]

I've been trying to add some more TV shows to my Netflix queue and ever since I started watching the new Doctor Who I've been looking toward British TV (just added The IT Crowd...I hope it's good).

Anyway, I don't know much about Being Human other than the premise. Is it worth checking out? (No spoilers please)

IT Crowd is pretty awesome, I never tried Being Human though

 

[Silent_Bob]

I've been trying to add some more TV shows to my Netflix queue and ever since I started watching the new Doctor Who I've been looking toward British TV (just added The IT Crowd...I hope it's good).

Anyway, I don't know much about Being Human other than the premise. Is it worth checking out? (No spoilers please)

I've only seen the first series thus far but what i've seen of it was pretty good. Biggest thing in it's favour is that vampires are still a credible threat, sure one of the main characters is the cliche of a good vampire but the rest are nasty enough to believe people would be terrified of them. Unlike say Twilight and the like.

But it's no where near as good as The IT Crowd, which is the second best british sitcom running at the moment. If you like it, i'd also recommend checking out its predecessor 'Father Ted'. Oh and 'Peep Show' which is the best sitcom around in my opinion.

 

[Etched]

I'd definitely recommend Being Human, I've thoroughly enjoyed both series so far. It has its flaws but there's enough good stuff to keep you coming back and it has a nice mix of dark and funny.

And I second Silent Bob's recommendation for Peep Show. If you're checking out Brit comedy that has to be on your list.

 

[WillsBabe]

It's probably more to do with familiarity with British life, so you judge on experience.

I agree. And I rarely see anything in British drama that really reflects my own life. I can accept US drama because I don't know if it's "realistic" or not, so I can accept it at face value. I think we are both seeing the same things, but they are having the opposite effect on us.

 

[HappyDayRiot]

Definitely recommend it. It's a little slow to hit its stride, but when it does...

 

[Bob The Skutter]

It's probably more to do with familiarity with British life, so you judge on experience.

I agree. And I rarely see anything in British drama that really reflects my own life. I can accept US drama because I don't know if it's "realistic" or not, so I can accept it at face value. I think we are both seeing the same things, but they are having the opposite effect on us.

Yeah, I think I like the irony and rather depressing outlook on life we tend to have in our shows. So it makes the optimistic stuff in the US ring false to me... Probably where the difference lies.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I hope they dont ruin it by bringing it to the U.S. and inserting their/our values into it....

Are you kidding??? I want to see how the Bible thumpers and Tea Baggers react to learning that there are vampires and witches in their midst. That's what Heroes should have done with the mutants. If you're going to pussyfoot around that, don't even bother with it.

The vampire character should be a decent if troubled guy, doing his best to retain his morals despite his "affliction." But now he's a Hollywood superstar with his own reality TV show and a legion of insane fans who are far scarier than he could ever be. Plus a popular televangelist has declared him the antichrist and he has to live surrounded by burly bodyguards just to avoid assassination. The irony is, his vampirism is the least of his troubles.

Damn, this shit writes itself. What are the odds Skiffy will do anything half as interesting. Maybe I should stop kidding myself and start watching True Blood.

As for the werewolf and the ghost, I dunno. A ghost doesn't seem like a particularly interesting character type. Can we have a witch instead? I'd go for a voodoo witch type. She regards her voodoo not just as a skill but a religion and takes a very dim view of the bigots who hound her for it. The other two are loyal to her, but her gleefully antagonistic attitude towards the world and tendency to cast hilarious little spells to make people's hair fall out or give them boils, just brings trouble down on all three of the roomies. And she's getting nastier and nastier. It's only a matter of time before she kills someone...that televangelist better watch out...

 

[Nowhere Man]

I don't know about bieng human, but Becoming Human on PBS is pretty cool if you believe in evolution. It's on Netflix instant que.

 

[Reverend]

As for the werewolf and the ghost, I dunno. A ghost doesn't seem like a particularly interesting character type. Can we have a witch instead? I'd go for a voodoo witch type. She regards her voodoo not just as a skill but a religion and takes a very dim view of the bigots who hound her for it. The other two are loyal to her, but her gleefully antagonistic attitude towards the world and tendency to cast hilarious little spells to make people's hair fall out or give them boils, just brings trouble down on all three of the roomies. And she's getting nastier and nastier. It's only a matter of time before she kills someone...that televangelist better watch out...

The mix of a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost is not arbitrary. The way I interpret it they reflect the state of mind and personality of each character; the recovering addict, the closet case and the girl with low self-esteem. Or to render it down even further; the struggle with self control, self hate and self doubt. Anna isn't "weak" because of a fault by the actress or the writer, she's weak because that's who she is; intensely co-dependent.

But yes, the series is defiantly worth watching. A nice little sleeper hit that does very well by mixing the mundane with the fantastical.