BEING HUMAN
“ALL OUT OF BLOOD”

Season 2, Episode 3

Review by Andy Greene

A show about ghosts, werewolves, and vampires (groan) based on a BBC show that still runs airing on Syfy. That has disaster written all over it. Instead, Being Human is one of the best shows on television. Just three episodes into season two, and it’s clear the show isn’t going anywhere. This week’s “All Out of Blood” is written by Chris Dingess (Reaper), directed by BH veteran Paolo Barzman and as we’ve come to expect, packs an emotional wallop with a shocking twist.

Note: If you haven’t seen this season’s premiere, skip down to the bottom to avoid spoilers.

The show’s central core is about how these monsters attempt and routinely fail at being human (hey, that’s the name of our show), and Aidan is always at odds with his hunger for blood and his desire to be a better man. In this week’s episode, Aidan (Sam Witwer) continues to see newcomer Julia (Natalie Brown), a woman about to start work at their hospital. He struggles not to devour her every time they meet, yet his feelings for her and his vegetarian diet stay his fangs, barely. To make it more difficult, the hospital he works at has finally amped up security due to the massive amounts of blood routinely being stolen from the premises. Video cameras presumably wouldn’t capture his reflection, but now only a supervisor has the key cards to get in to the blood, so Aidan’s stash is running out. There’s probably a simple solution here, but the guy’s starving and delirious, making Julia in danger of becoming his next meal.

While Aidan battles with himself in his burgeoning relationship and seeks out alternative methods to feed, Josh (the great Sam Huntington) and Nora (Kristen Hager) prepare for their second “turn” together (but their first when they know that Nora is, in fact, a werewolf). Sam has purchased two neighboring storage sheds and enlisted Sally to keep an eye on them. Nora, as the full moon approaches, has more and more disdain for this “safe” plan, wanting to be free and to explore the wolf side of her, with or without Josh. Josh is torn on whether or not to tell her that she’s a killer (she ate vampire heavy Hegeman in her first furry go round) to convince her to follow the plan.

Sally (Meaghan Rath) continues to figure out what the hell to do with all her free time. While werewolves and vampires have been done to death (nailed it!), the ghost mythology is relatively untapped in television or otherwise. I don’t count Medium or Ghost Whisperer and neither should you. As such, I always find myself the most interested in what the writers have planned for Sally and the ghost mythology they are slowly constructing. This week, Sally meets Zoe, a nurse who can see her due to her second sight. Zoe is a cranky medium, but helps ghosts be reincarnated in the newborn babies in the maternity ward. Creepy and controversial stuff. Sally immediately becomes drawn to the idea, and tries to convince Zoe of her worthiness for reincarnation. This leads to one of the weirder ‘job’ interviews ever with the whole gang, more insights into the supernatural, and another mild epiphany for Sally on life after death.

While barely in this week’s installment, fans of Dollhouse will recognize the newest addition to the cast, Dichen Lachman as Suren, the new head of vampires in Boston and a key figure in Aidan’s tortured past. Add Julia to the mix and you have perhaps a potent love triangle and more trouble for Aidan, and it’s exciting to fathom the possibilities, because you know the writers won’t shy away from anything.

More than the action and the horror, BH is about the friendship between its trio of monsters, and it’s a real treat watching these actors develop together. They get better with each episode, as their chemistry grows and their camaraderie becomes more rewarding to watch, almost to sitcom-like levels. Despite all of the horrifying things that routinely happen, this is a funny show, and this episode was particularly hilarious in terms of banter. Any show that has a Dawson’s Creek reference and a guy drinking blood out of a refrigerator deserves to be praised. The fact that an episode is funny when a massive, potentially heartbreaking twist occurs right before the third act that will warp the relationships between Aidan, Julia, Josh and Nora is a testament to the writers.

I’ll admit I have not watched the original BBC show, so I have no inclination of how much of the plot and pace of the source material they borrow any given week, but I know good television when I see it. Most shows drag out love stories, prolong reveals till finales or sweeps, while moving at a snail’s pace to keep the show’s foundation unaffected and its audience hanging on for way too long. BH does the opposite: so many unexpected things happen in each episode that fundamentally change the characters and the direction of the show, perhaps the perfect tonic to an audience likely fatigued by vampires and werewolves. But with the consistently excellent writing, acting and plot twists that Syfy and its creators infuses into Being Human every week, I’m in no danger of growing tired of this show.

“Netflix is already the streaming home of Mad Men and Breaking Bad in the U.S. and Latin America,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix chief content officer. “AMC’s programming sensibilities have struck a chord with our members and with the overall viewing public.”

AMC Networks president and CEO Josh Sapan: “This agreement supports the cable “ecosystem” by making our content available to Netflix nearly a year following the linear premiere, it brings our content to a wider audience, and it provides additional revenue to support production of new shows.”

Subsequent seasons of the show will go online just prior to future premiere dates.  For instance, Season 2 airs this October on AMC, and it will be released to Netflix presumably in 2012, just prior to the cable premiere of Season 3.

In addition to The Walking Dead, AMC has also acquired the rights to various scripted and unscripted programs from the whole AMC Networks empire, which includes IFC, Sundance, and WE Tv.  The announcement comes just a day after Netflix announced their expansion into streaming content from across the United Kingdom, snapping up the rights to BBC television program BEING HUMAN and its American SyFy channel cousin.

Considering all the bad press Netflix has been getting lately what with its price hikes and Qwikster name changes, it’s clear they’re making an aggressive effort to both appease current subscribers and gain new ones.  Hopefully such a run will continue with even more big announcements.

SYFY.COM RISES 24 PERCENT IN PAGE VIEWS

NEW YORK – March 1, 2011 – Led by the new hit series Being Human and Face Off, along with returning powerhouse Ghost Hunters, Syfy leaped 14 percent in total viewers, 25 percent among Adults 18-34 and five percent among Adults 18-49 in February prime compared to February ’10.

During the month, Syfy averaged 1.16 million total viewers, 485,000 Adults 18-49 and 180,000 Adults 18-34.

Online, Syfy.com jumped 24 percent in page views, 22 percent in unique users and 12 percent in visits, also versus February 2010.  Boosted by the launch of Battlestar Galactica Online, Syfy Games delivered its best month ever in uniques (177K).

Syfy.com is one of the leading imagination-based websites, averaging nearly 3.5 million unique visitors per month. Syfy.com includes the lifestyle blogs Blastr and DVICE; Syfy Games featuring popular games such as the MMOG Battlestar Galactica Online; major show sites for the channel’s scripted and unscripted programming, from Warehouse 13 and Ghost Hunters to Eureka and Destination Truth, video hubs showcasing original short form content such as Riese: Kingdom Falling and the upcoming The Mercury Men, and video blogs along with Syfy Rewind, which presents full episodes of Syfy’s critically acclaimed programming.

Watch the first episode below.

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Being Human – Premieres Monday, January 17, at 9PM (ET/PT) – In Syfy’s new original series Being Human, leading normal lives is a lot harder than it looks for three paranormal roommates – vampire Aidan (Sam Witwer who played Dracula in Greg Nicotero’s short The United Monster Talent Agency), ghost Sally (Meaghan Rath) and werewolf Josh (Sam Huntington from Fanboys) – who share their secrets and a Boston brownstone. Together they try their best to be human while navigating the complexities of living double lives. Mark Pellegrino (Lost) co-stars as Bishop, Aidan’s charismatic but menacing vampire mentor.

Executive Producers are Michael Prupas (The Kennedys, Pillars of the Earth), Jeremy Carver (Supernatural) and Anna Fricke (Men in Trees, Everwood), with creators of the original series, Rob Pursey and Toby Whithouse taking up some of the writing duties. Irene Litinsky is series Producer and Adam Kane (The Mentalist, Heroes) is Co-Executive Producer. Muse Entertainment is producing the show’s 13 one-hour episodes, which is based on the acclaimed UK series created by Toby Whithouse.

The original BBC series is pretty awesome and should be returning for it’s 3rd season in 2011, which will be set in Cardiff. Being Human has one of the creepiest mythologies concerning what happens after death. This will not likely be a straight story conversion since the first American season will be twice as many episodes as the British version.

Face Off – Premieres Wednesday, January 26, at 10PM (ET/PT– Face Off is a competition/elimination series exploring the world of special-effects make-up artists and the unlimited imagination that allows them to create amazing works of living art. The contestants are tasked with elaborate feature challenges including executing full body paint make up on models and creating their own horror villain.  Not only will the show incorporate effects make-up, it will include a wide range of skill sets including prosthetics, 3-D design, sculpting, eye enhancers, casting and molding. Each episode involves incredible reveals of the competitors’ finished work, and the drama of one contestant being sent home by the panel of expert and celebrity judges. It all culminates in one winner and one grand prize that will launch a career.

Face Off is a production of Mission Control Media with Michael Agbabian and Dwight Smith serving as executive producers.

Premiering in the 1st quarter will be the first two of eight After Dark Originals created specifically for SyFy Channel.

Scream of the Banshee – Premieres 1Q – Starring Lauren Holly (NCIS) and Lance Henriksen (Aliens), Scream of the Banshee is directed by Steven C. Miller (Automaton Transfusion). Holly plays an archeology professor who unearths a dangerous artifact, unwittingly releasing a creature that is able to kill with the power of its bone-splitting scream.  The movie is a production of After Dark Films.

51 – Premieres 1Q – Starring Jason London (Monsterwolf), Bruce Boxleitner (Heroes) and Rachel Miner (No Ordinary Family), and directed by Jason Connery (The Devil’s Tomb), 51 chronicles what happens after political pressure from the American public forces the Air Force to provide a few well-known reporters with limited access to the most secretive base on the planet: Area 51.  When one of the base’s hidden “long term visitors” exploits this unprecedented visit as a chance to liberate himself and his fellow alien captives, Area 51 turns from a secure government base to a horrifying destination of terror. The movie is a production of After Dark Films.

Guess who’s attending this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego?

In support of BBC America’s U.S. Premiere of four Doctor Who specials, the Doctor himself, David Tennant, will appear alongside writer/executive producer Russel T. Davies at the 2009 pop culture event. They will take part in a Doctor Who panel along with executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn, Sunday, July 26 10:00-11:00 PT.

You can also catch Davies and Gardner at a panel for Torchwood, alongside director Euros Lyn, Sunday, July 26 2:15-3:45 PT.

At the same panel, check out the talent from the sci-fi drama Being Human. Creator and Writer, Tobey Whithouse, lead actors Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlo and Aidan Turner will give you the scoop on what it’s like to play characters with double lives as a werewolf, vampire and ghost. All four of these panelists are also signing exclusively at the BBC America booth, Saturday, July 25 3:00-4:00 PT. 

For the first time, cult comedy favorite and BAFTA-nominated, The Mighty Boosh, is coming to Comic-Con. On Friday, July 24 from 4:45-5:45 the creators and actors will hold a discussion about their magical world. They’ll even sign autographs beforehand in the autograph area. 

Check out what’s coming up next at this year’s 2009 Comic-Con in San Diego.