With Lost gone, there’s not only a big old hole in my weekly schedule when it comes to thrilling, mystery-filled television, but also a lack of shows that really draw my attention. I have different levels attention when it comes to TV movies. Most shows I just casually watch while reading comics or websites (I can’t do this with a regular book because I need more focus for that). There’s a few comedies that I generally sit and watch with the computer open, not minding if I have to get up and grab a snack or go to the bathroom. The shows that I watch and blog about are more involved because I take notes while watching. But Lost? We had rules when it came to watching Lost. Lights off, computers shut, phone calls banned. I can’t remember if there’s been a show like that before and there definitely hasn’t been one since, especially not Being Human, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad show.
Right away, I have to say that much like other American shows based on British ones like The Office or Life On Mars which I enjoyed the American versions of before seeing the originals, I do enjoy Being Human, but want to check out the original too. If you’re unfamiliar, the show is about a werewolf, vampire and ghost who all share an apartment. While the vampire has been a monster for a while, the werewolf–played by Sam Huntington who I liked a lot in Detroit Rock City and Not Another Teen Movie, two underrated flicks–seems to be fairly new to it as is the ghost who accidentally died in her old apartment (the one the vampire and werewolf moved into to feel more human) and has not been able to move on. Most of the drama from the show revolves around them trying to, ahem, be human in a world that’s clearly not made or ready for creatures of the night.
As far as monster rules go, the show seems to follow them for the most part. The vampire can go out in the sun, but he still needs blood. The werewolf changes every month with the full moon and has to deal with the effects of his change. The ghost is trying to communicate with her ex and seems to discover a new ability every episode from talking to other monsters, to teleporting out of the apartment to physically effecting things and even communicating with the living. So far, the show doesn’t feel super interesting because I’ve see all of this in other movies and TV shows–there’s a lot of Buffy echos–which is why I’ve wound up reading comics through the second half of the first four episodes. Of course the vampires have it in for our vampire hero because he doesn’t want to be part of their weird death club. Of course the ghost who teaches our ghost how to teleport winds up crossing over after he’s taught her what he knows. Of course the older werewolf that our werewolf meets isn’t quite as nice of a guy as he seemed to be. But, for now, I’m digging the show enough to keep coming back. Plus, there’s nothing else on. On the plus side, the effects are pretty good and I’m surprised with the amount of blood they’ve thrown around so far.
While still on the subject of Lost, I must note that Mark Pellegrino–who played the mysterious and mystical Jacob on that fantastic show–plays head bad guy vampire Bishop. He does a great job, bringing that simmering insanity that we got a hint of on Lost and lets it boil a little bit more, basically stealing every scene he’s in.
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