Genre: Sci-Fi | Horror | Drama
Air Date/Time: January 16 at 9/8c
Network: Syfy
Creators: Toby Whithouse (format created by), Jeremy Carver (developer), Anna Fricke (developer)
Director: Adam Kane
Writers: Jeremy Carver and Anna Fricke
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.
Yay, it’s back! And happily, it is as good as ever, and familiar, but with just enough difference to make it feel fresh. If you are a fan of the show, be ready to welcome the roommates happily back into your home. If you are new to the series, never fear. It doesn’t have a particularly dense mythology, though it is intelligent and definitely serialized, so feel free to jump right in and enjoy what the rest of us already love.
It picks up a little less than a month after we left. Bishop is dead at Aidan’s hand, and there is now a Boston vampire community power vacuum, but She is coming. Josh is dealing with his girlfriend accidentally seeing him transform, and recover from her miscarriage that same night, and all the implications of both. Sally is learning more about the ghost world and the consequences of not going through her door.
Excellent performances by all, they haven’t missed a beat. Each of them have stories to follow in this first episode, which, according to interviews of the cast and showrunners, is indicative of what the characters will be going through this season. Separate roads must be followed for separate journeys. Never fear however, we are told, we will have plenty of the three-way platonic romance of these roommates, which they recognize as the biggest strength of the show.
The addition of Kristen Hager as a sort-of fourth is not at all a problem and she is in fact kind of smart-adorable, as she learns her way around this new-to-her world of the supernatural. Again, it’s been less than a month since she first learned that the world existed. Shortly she’ll be finding out if she’ll be joining it.
The showrunners wrote this season premiere episode, so of course every element a Being Human fan would want is here. Never too quiet, never too slow, and wonderful periodic snarkiness that is a hallmark of the series, though I could have used just one or two more snappy lines. As warned, however, this season does feel a bit darker than season 1. Some action, some wide-eyed surprises, some beautiful-but-not-cloying tender moments, and a lovely dose of roommate interaction. Most of the storylines are clearly meant as setups for more to come, but one subplot is actually complete within the episode, which is a nice touch. It is the season premiere, however, so by the end of the episode we are left with plenty to chew on. Well done.
The what-I-consider slightly too loud and slightly too whiny music also makes a return, but it’s not so disruptive as to make me want to hammer on the mute button and risk missing dialogue, as I have been known to do with other shows. If you adored the music from the first season, rejoice. The effects are generally few and far between, but when done are handled nicely.
This series is not as intense as American Horror Story or The Walking Dead, or as wild as True Blood. On the other hand, there aren’t any token goofy scenes a la Eureka or Warehouse 13. It is smart yet accessible, bloody but not grossly gory, genre but won’t give you nightmares, with dark humor so it doesn’t get totally dragged down, and best of all features characters you really care for, but won’t likely obsess over. You will be able to go on with your life Tuesday morning, but will likely want to discuss the episode with your friends.
It’s just a great, even-tempered show, and this opening episode of Season 2 represents it well. It is only because I know that key episodes have been and will likely again be even better, that I’m giving it room for an even higher score.
I give Being Human: Season 2, Episode 1 “Turn This Mother Out” Four Out of Five Stars.
