TV

Being Human (US): Mother Issues

Having been a devoted fan of the original BBC supernatural drama Being Human, I was, let’s say, less than twitterpated when Syfy announced a US adaptation. After the butcher job MTV committed with Skins, I almost refused to tune in. Man, I’m glad I changed my mind. The US version uses the original series as a foundation and starting point, but their storylines, both original and revised, have gone in completely different directions. It doesn’t try to be a shot-for-shot recreation. Plus, the eye candy is better.

Before rushing into a recap of Monday’s season premiere, newbies might appreciate a quick first season rundown. Unlikely best friends, vampire Aidan and werewolf Josh, decide to move in together in Boston and try to live a somewhat normal life. As luck would have it, they rent a house haunted by ghost Sally, the landlord’s murdered girlfriend. How’s that for a hat-trick? The three become quite the cozy clique of sexy supernaturals trying to be just like everyone else. They do a pretty good job: knocking up girlfriends with were-babies; turning children into vamps; and tormenting murderous exes in a very Grudge-like way. Sounds pretty normal to me.

After a season fighting his power-hungry maker, Bishop, Aidan dusts him in the finale, leaving the trio free. Aidan gains control of the Boston vamps; Sally misses her John-Edwards-crossing-over door; and Josh may have accidentally turned his girlfriend to the canine side. It’s great to be free!

While Season One was all about being normal and fitting in, Season Two, with its “Temptation Is a Beast” tagline, promises weeks of naked, bloody debauchery. Count me in! As long as we get to see a naked Josh in every episode.

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Those puppy dog eyes.

In the Season Two premiere, “Turn This Mother Out,” Aidan’s on a failing mission to help Bishop’s orphaned vampire rookies learn how to survive on blood bags. The housemates lovingly refer to these vamps as the “tweakers,” and they really are bugging out, afraid that “Mother” is coming to destroy them all. And they’re right; she is. Let’s just hope she gets there soon. Boston’s bagged blood supply has got to be running low.

From the start, Josh’s girlfriend Nora is obsessing about turning into a wolf. Meanwhile, all Josh wants to do is bury his dog bone. It’s been four weeks, and the full moon is coming. Will she transform or not? Nora pesters Josh for details about his transformation, but he shuts down, not wanting her to know too much about that part of himself. Poor Nora. Have you ever seen a werewolf movie, honey? Once you’re scratched, you’re done. End of story. When she’s not obsessing about her painful, hairy fate, she awkwardly tries to make friends with Sally, even encouraging her to go to her high school reunion. As she says, “It’s like going to your own funeral.” Wow. It’s called sensitivity training, Dr. Nora.

So Sally goes to her reunion, but she’s not the only ghost there. She’s joined by her class’s teen suicide, as well as the popular mean girl who still believes she’s the center of the universe. Sally actually learns a lot about herself in this episode. She can sleep, she can dream, and she can help mean girls find their door to the afterlife. Within minutes, the Cordelia Chase wannabe has an epiphany, realizes she’s been hateful and, POOF, her door appears. WAY too easy. Or maybe Sally’s just that good.

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Diggin’ up an old friend.

Even with the council’s backing, Mother doesn’t trust Aidan’s ability to lead. He’s against her plan to eliminate the new vamps. Mother doesn’t like this and announces she’s bringing in her “daughter” to run Boston. Seems Aidan’s just got too much humanity (not to mention a seriously intense bromance with a certain werewolf). Well, Mother has a cure for that. The silver bullets in Hegeman’s rifle should do the trick.

The premiere leaves almost as many questions as the finale. What’s the horrific backstory on this “daughter” they’re digging up? What crazy demon creature is Sally dreaming about? And who got that second bullet? With the dirty one-liners mixed in with some after-school special scenes, it’s sure to be a bloody riveting spring. However, there is one question about this episode that I can answer for you right now. Yes…Josh gets naked.

Jim C. is a sci-fi/supernatural/federation/superhero/Cylon teacher nerd, obsessed with TV, books and film. He spent his childhood reading comics, writing morbid horror stories and being the token tormented class homo, but he thinks he turned out pretty freakin’ awesome. image
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