Genre: Sci-Fi | Horror | Drama
Creators: Anna Fricke and Jeremy Carver, based on the original UK version by Toby Whithouse
Directors: Adam Kane, Charles Binamé, Erik Canuel, Jeremiah S. Chechik, Jerry Ciccoritti
Cast: Sam Witwer, Sam Huntington, Meaghan Rath, Mark Pellegrino
Summary:
Being human: nobody ever said it was easy. But when you’re a ghost, a vampire, and a werewolf, like the three twenty-something roommates of Being Human, it may be completely impossible. The second season of Being Human picks up as Aidan (Sam Witwer), Sally (Meaghan Rath) and Josh (Sam Huntington) continue to struggle with their supernatural double lives. By turns frightening, witty, and romantic, Being Human continues to explore what it means to be human through the eyes of these outsiders.
Being Human – Season 2 Trailer – “Monster”
[youtube]http://youtu.be/PKIxsRryQUc?hd=1[/youtube]
If you’re new to this series, or maybe even if you aren’t, you may not know that this series, as it began in the UK, didn’t hatch in the mind of its creator as a supernatural show. It was just a drama about three twenty-something roommates and how they cope with their issues. Then he decided that the embodiment of these issues would take supernatural shape, and the series was born. The Syfy version of the series followed some of the same storylines as the UK version, took dramatic turns in different directions with others, and created entirely new ones as well. This second season of Syfy‘s Being Human is the first one that was truly on its own, with no similarities to the UK version (other than by coincidence, or “swimming in the same pond” as showrunner Anna Fricke says), and it is wild.
This second season is darker than the first, and dives headlong into the supernatural realm, but doesn’t stray completely away from each character’s humanity. The tagline is “Temptation is a Beast” and the theme is what happens when each of the main characters is tempted (and sometimes repelled) by what his or her supernatural worlds can offer them. Without spoiling, we learn a lot more about the bigger vampire world, about werewolf lore, and about other places where ghosts can go. There is a lot of new supernatural ground to cover, and it leads to some really intriguing storylines. Kristen Hager is back as Nora, werewolf Josh’s girlfriend, and new guest stars include Dichen Lachman (Last Resort, Dollhouse) and Tracy Spiridakas (Revolution).
The chemistry between Our Heroes remains intact; their friendship is tangible, their interaction is a treat, and we feel the pain when anything goes wrong between them. It is their relationship that’s the foundation for the series, and the cast, writers, and production all support it perfectly. Also happily returning is the humor that is perfectly timed and placed. Humor in this show is never for its own sake but arrives naturally and is placed perfectly. Happily, it is never just silly or belittling. It’s smart, sometimes snarky, and always completely integrated. It is a world away from what its UK cousin devolved into during its seasons 3 and 4.
Be assured that this show is not soapy. There is romance and some small amount of sex and all the related drama, but no one ever gets whiny. Okay, sometimes the music gets slightly whiny, but not the characters. It’s no Vampire Diaries; these characters are adults and mostly act like it. It’s also not campy or outrageous like True Blood, but it does have a similar amount of blood and a dash of gruesomeness. On the other hand, though it deals with life and death and afterlife, it is otherwise nothing like The Walking Dead. It doesn’t have the world weariness, the gravitas, the terror, or the gore.
Being Human is its own, well, creature. It is engaging, somewhat creepy, surprising, dramatic, funny, intriguing, and has some great twists. It’s a great show, and the second season builds upon the first quite nicely, retaining much of what was best about the first season while expanding its horizons. The third season, which is about to begin as this review posts, has a theme of “Consequences,” and this second season sets it up perfectly. The first season was great on its own, the second season is great on its own, but from what I’ve seen of the third season, the three together will be must-haves for any media shelf.
Now for the BD/DVD specifics. You of course get all 13 episodes. There are also three bonus features, one of which is great, one of which is fine, and one of which is, I’m sorry to say, completely missable. More about that below. The packaging is the standard box-in-a-slipcover, so nothing special but it will easily fit on your shelf with the rest of your BD/DVD collection, and specifically with your Season 1 set. Just like with the Season 1 set, this Season 2 box set has the index on the inside cover flap of the box, which lists the episodes by name and includes short summaries of each. It’s really ideal.
Bonus Features:
Season 2 Making-of Featurette – This is not just your usual 10 minute featurette. This is a full hour that takes you through everything from set design to character motivations and everything in between. It is wonderful, and totally worth the time. Just be forewarned that it’s a long one.
Being Human: Problems – A behind-the-scenes interview with the two showrunners and more, very well done but much shorter.
Being Human Panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2012 – I am very sorry to report that this was a clunker. I have been lucky enough to attend earlier Comic-Con panels with this crew, though I had to miss it in 2012, and have spoken with them as a group on the phone, and even was able to meet them. They are an absolute treat. They have as much fun together offscreen as onscreen. But this one particular time, the goofiness completely takes over and it’s kind of uncomfortable to watch. Do yourself a favor and just skip it. Really.
Format: DTS Surround Sound, Subtitled, Widescreen
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Number of discs: 4
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Entertainment One
DVD Release Date: January 1, 2013
Run Time: 572 minutes plus bonus features
This is a solidly entertaining season of an excellent series. Thirteen episodes of cool quirky friends who have some personal demons, some real life and death drama, some serious creepiness, and some great one-liners. Definitely give this one some space on your shelf, right next to your Season 1 set, and make sure to leave room for Season 3.
I give Being Human: The Complete Second Season [Blu-ray], Four Out of Five Stars.
Being Human: The Complete Second Season [Blu-ray] is available from Amazon now; here’s the link:
[AMAZONPRODUCT=B009T3AGVC]
