Being Human: UK show that might appeal to undead fans by ImNotHere

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Being Human: UK show that might appeal to undead fans

POSTED BY: IMNOTHERE
UPDATED: Tuesday, January 5, 2010 12:46
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Sunday, March 8, 2009 4:13 AM

(Er, sorry, that should have been "fans of shows about the undead...")

OK, its a bit late seeings as "Being Human" has just finished its first run in the UK, but it has been a big success, so it will probably be on continuous loop on BBC3 for the rest of the year and/or get "promoted" to BBC2 - plus its been recommissioned for a second series. This is the UK so we're talking about 6 episodes per series. (If it sounds vaguely familiar, there was a pilot a year or so back).

Basic premise: a vampire and a werewolf want to hang on to their humanity, so they get jobs and rent a house in Bristol* - which turns out to be haunted by a lovelorn ghost.

It's sometimes billed as a comedy drama, but its more drama than comedy - pretty dark and gory (some naughty bits) I'd say that its the closest that the UK has got to doing something Wheedonesque.

File under "if we can produce stuff like this, what the frak went wrong with "Torchwood" and "Demons"?

Worth catching if it comes to a series of tubes near you. Only danger is that they've made full, 1-hour episodes (no commercials on BBC) so it might get edited to shreds if the US buys it.

The website is http://www.bbc.co.uk/beinghuman - but beware spoilers.

NB: As you may notice from the website, BBC3 is a channel aimed at an imaginary target audience of people with a physical age of 19-30 (so they can watch stuff about sex) and a mental age of 12 (so they need patronising with special yoof programs with lots of txting and OMG! LOL!). Fortunately the produers of Being Human have so far managed to avoid that pressure in the show itself.

(* Bristol: a fine English city packed with cultural and industrial heritage, including a very nice bridge and historical docks, but which - for some reason - is funnier in that sentence than "Whitechapel" or "Edinburgh" would have been).

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Sunday, March 8, 2009 4:41 AM

WAKEUPSOON

I really love this show, it has its funny moments, but primarily its a Sci-fi Drama. && I love it. Awesome to hear that Season 2 has been commissioned .. I like seeing Bristol on the tele. Tehe.

~WuS
This is not my signature, I have to write this every time I post.
Smile && Nod, it makes it seem like you know what's going on.

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Sunday, March 8, 2009 10:05 AM

CITIZEN

Quote:
Originally posted by ImNotHere:
(* Bristol: a fine English city packed with cultural and industrial heritage, including a very nice bridge and historical docks, but which - for some reason - is funnier in that sentence than "Whitechapel" or "Edinburgh" would have been).

Bristol: Short for "Shit hole".

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

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Sunday, March 8, 2009 11:12 AM

IMNOTHERE

Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:
Bristol: Short for "Shit hole".

See, there was I, essaying to convey to our cousins across the pond that Bristol was a slightly incongruous venue for supernatural intrigue without casting unjust aspersions upon the good burghers of that town, and you come out with that.

Sigh.

Anyway - I just thought it was rhyming slang for boobies (Bristol and West -> breast).

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Sunday, March 8, 2009 11:16 AM

CITIZEN

Quote:
Originally posted by ImNotHere:
See, there was I, essaying to convey to our cousins across the pond that Bristol was a slightly incongruous venue for supernatural intrigue without casting unjust aspersions upon the good burghers of that town, and you come out with that.

Sigh.

Anyway - I just thought it was rhyming slang for boobies (Bristol and West -> breast).

I've been to Bristol.

I went out drinking in Bristol.

I Know about Bristol.

In other news being human is very good. was the last one the season finale?

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

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Sunday, March 8, 2009 12:57 PM

WAKEUPSOON

Yeah, the last one was the finale ... but it'll be back!

My Dad's from Bristol, and his description of the place was pretty much the same as those above.

~WuS
This is not my signature, I have to write this every time I post.
Smile && Nod, it makes it seem like you know what's going on.

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Monday, March 9, 2009 2:11 PM

CORNCOBB

Being Human: a wonderful, wonderful, fantastic, shiny, awesome show. Pure gold.

"Gorramit Mal... I've forgotten my line."

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Tuesday, March 10, 2009 12:03 AM

MAI

So there were only 7 episodes? Or was there a new one this week as well? If so I missed it. :( Love the show. I want a pet werewolf of my own now. :P

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Tuesday, March 10, 2009 4:09 AM

CITIZEN

Quote:
Originally posted by mai:
So there were only 7 episodes? Or was there a new one this week as well? If so I missed it. :( Love the show. I want a pet werewolf of my own now. :P

6 episodes, most British series are 6 episodes.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

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Tuesday, March 10, 2009 1:41 PM

MAI

Oh well there are 7 listed, but maybe they counted the pilot.

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Tuesday, March 10, 2009 2:05 PM

CITIZEN

Quote:
Originally posted by mai:
Oh well there are 7 listed, but maybe they counted the pilot.

They must have done, last weeks (the last one) is listed as episode 6 on iPlayer

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

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Tuesday, March 10, 2009 3:30 PM

DREAMTROVE

with luck, even the living will watch

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Tuesday, March 10, 2009 3:43 PM

MAI

nah. surely not.

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Wednesday, May 27, 2009 8:40 AM

CLJOHNSTON108

How did I know there'd be a thread about this here?

Quote:
Originally posted by ImNotHere:
I'd say that its the closest that the UK has got to doing something Whedonesque.

Saw this mentioned at SF Signal this morning, and checked out the first episode, and was hooked instantly, just like with Buffy! (Or, of course, Firefly!)
Perfect balance of comedy and drama (y'know, like all Whedonia!), and the casting is wonderful! (I'm madly in love with Lenora Crichlow now!)

________________________

"Spry for a dead fella!"

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Sunday, May 31, 2009 4:06 AM

CLJOHNSTON108

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Sunday, May 31, 2009 5:30 AM

WAKEUPSOON

Thanks for sharing! That was great xD

~WuS
This is not my signature, I have to write this every time I post.
Smile && Nod, it makes it seem like you know what's going on.

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Sunday, May 31, 2009 8:10 AM

CLJOHNSTON108

Quote:
Originally posted by WakeupSoon:
Thanks for sharing! That was great xD

~WuS

You're welcome! I only just discovered that we can embed YouTube clips here!
(How long has that been available?)

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Sunday, June 7, 2009 8:58 AM

CAMPHILLPAWHEDONITE1956

this looks coll how come only 6 epis, cant the BBC produce more shows in a season.Oh well i agree that the usa would chop it up for BBCAMERICA. i liked the ROBIN HOOD AND TORCHWOOD series, dont like Primevil much tho. are they planning to release a dvd?

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Sunday, June 7, 2009 11:34 AM

IMNOTHERE

Quote:
Originally posted by camphillpawhedonite1956:
this looks coll how come only 6 epis

Its coming back next year.

Short runs, 6-13 episodes, are common practice for most UK "non-soap" drama - e.g. the original UK "Life on Mars" ran for two series of 8 episodes and came to a natural conclusion.

Personally, I think this is a good thing, especially for shows with a story arc: the USA-style 20+ episode season produces a lot of mid-season "filler" episodes and the stories get too padded out. Plus, since the entire series is in the can and paid for before it airs, it is less common for a show to get axed or re-tooled mid-story.

(the main soaps go to the other extreme: 3 episodes a week 52 weeks a year. ugh.)

There's a Region 2 DVD - not sure if they'll do a US one. The fact that they've gone for full hour-long episodes suggests they're not going for the US market much.

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Tuesday, January 5, 2010 12:46 PM

IMNOTHERE

Quote:
Originally posted by ImNotHere:

Its coming back next year.

Bump.

New series starts on BBC3 this Sunday (10th Jan).

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