Can Ghosts, Vampires and Werewolves lead a Normal Life? Nah...

It's taken me long enough to see the show. Three years, in fact.

But I was able to check out a copy from the Neenah Public Library. It was like digging into a goldmine when I found it.

“Being Human” is a British series that's a strange hybrid of horror, comedy and drama. Though it's a well written one. Not a major classic. A minor classic. But it holds its own very well as a drama.

It revolves around two roommates living in a quiet corner of a neighborhood. They're trying to fit into a normal stride of life. They got jobs, lives and go out to eat once in a while. The only thing is this. One's a vampire and the other's a werewolf.

There's a third roommate of sorts who's a ghost. So this is a kind of “Three's Company” you never got to see. But all sorts of strange things happen when they're trying to be stay normal. But it's harder than they think.

The interesting thing about the series is that they put these characters into very normal situations such as talking with neighbors, going to a bowling alley for a few games or have a party at their house. They try to keep their secret lives from spilling into their everyday routine.

It doesn't always work.

The BBC series is the brainchild of writer Toby Whithouse who whipped up a couple more follow-up seasons ("series" in British terms) after this. Apparently it's popular enough to have a long lease of life in England.

Whithouse was responsible for writing the story “School Reunion” for Doctor Who which featured the return of Sarah Jane Smith in the series along with a certain robot dog K-9.

“Being Human” is a fun series if you want to go for Doctor Who spotting.

Russel Tovey who plays George the werewolf was also in Doctor Who in an episode called “Voyage of the Damned.” The always lovely Lenora Crichlow who plays the resident ghost was also in the episode “Gridlock” back in season three of the Doctor Who series. There are other Doctor Who veterans you can spot such as Dean Lennox Kelly who played Shakespeare in the new Doctor Who series.

There are only six shows in the first series. Same as all English programs from the BBC, the series is cut in half. They made six episodes for the first series. I was told by a friend of mine that the reason why England's shows are usually six to 13 shows a year is because the shows cost twice as much to make there. I haven't heard of that explanation before. But it makes sense. It takes twice as long to make the shows in England as well. At least the quality would be usually better.

What makes the show watchable are the major characters themselves. Yes, they fight with each other much like friends do. They get upset or run off. But you can also see that the characters do really care for each other. In the episode where the Crichlow character Annie tries to haunt her rotten ol' ex-boyfriend, she finds she is ready to give up on life. She wants to give up on everything that is normal as she lays on the sofa motionless. Her friend George lends her a hand and says, “Let me help you.” You can believe it.

My favorite character is Annie. She's like the next-door neighbor you would want. She's nice, kind and will probably share cookies and coffee with you. She's not a mean spirit at all. So if the afterlife would be filled with nice people such as her, it wouldn't be a bad place.
She starts out as hysterical in the beginning of the series. She whimpers some and feels sorry for herself. But she gains more confidence as the series progresses and becomes a rather formidable opponent.

I thought the writing on the fifth episode was rather good. Near poetic in many places throughout the episode. The story centers on Aidan Turner as the vampire Mitchell who is thinking about going back to his old clan. The perspective written in the story is very interesting.

It gives you an idea of what the monster's perspective on normal people is like. How he said something along the lines: “You live your life searching for who you are. Then when you find out who you are, then you start to live your life.” It's a beautifully written passage that gives you a sense of understanding what life is. And that is what the show “Being Human” struggles for. It attempts to put human life under a microscope and explores the flaws of it.

The British series so far is very good. But there is already an American remake of it in development. Why do they even bother? They should just show the British version on PBS stations which would be enough. But American think it can do everything better. Didn't work out well for the much lamented American made “Life on Mars.” The original British series is one of the most brilliant shows ever made on TV. The American version was basically, "Everything that can go wrong with a series."

The American remake did a crap job and gave it a crappier ending to it. The BBC should have sued for awfulness.

And they're doing the same thing to “Being Human”? No thanks. I'll stick with the original version if you don't mind.

I'm curious to know what happens to George, Mitchell and Annie of the original “Being Human.” I want to hear more about these unsung heroes. They're like friends you wouldn't mind having. And they do lead very interesting lives...