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Being Human - American Style, SyFy, review

Being Human - American Style

By June Williams On January 18, 2011 In Reviews: Television 4 Comments

SyFy’s Being Human — American Style

All names have been changed to protect the innocent.

syfy being human

OK, I’ll admit it; I am not bias-free when it comes to the American version of Being Human. I’ve been watching the original series on BBC America and I’m very fond of George (Russell Tovey), Annie (Lenora Crichlow) and Mitchell (Aidan Turner). Not to mention the suitably creepy cherubic faced and oh-so sinister Herrick (Jason Watkins), who is a police captain, head of the local vampire nest and Mitchell’s mentor in blood.

For those who have never seen the original BBC version and are unlikely to ever come across it, I predict you will enjoy the American version. In the SyFy version George, the nice Jewish werewolf is Josh, Mitchell the gloomy grungy yet oddly sophisticated 120 year old vampire is Aiden and Annie the gentle, sweet, highly intelligent and naïve ghost is Sally. Three formerly human beings are living together in a modest home, attempting to reclaim at least a portion of their humanity. They have the trappings (comfy couch, coffee maker, cable TV) about them and try to modify their behaviors to fit in with their human neighbors and co-workers. The problem is they are not really human anymore and in addition to overcoming the monster within they must deal with those that would drag them away from humanity.


The vampire Aiden, played by Sam Witwer looks a lot like a square jawed superhero or at least a typical leading man. He plays the role as it is written and I’m not blaming him for the writers leaping into his blood addiction problem before we see him living a more ordinary and productive life.

Josh the werewolf played by Sam Huntington is a little closer to my beloved BBC George. But once again the writers haven’t hit that self-effacing humorous striver that made me want to bring him home, feed him chicken soup and find him a lovely lady to call his own. The funny thing is that of the three he is able to live as a normal human being most of the time. When his time of the month comes the transformation is painful beyond imagining. Werewolves are on the low end of the supernatural hierarchy in this universe. The premier episode sees Josh’s revulsion at waking next to a deer that he has gutted and the humiliation of having to grab a dress off a clothesline to cover his nudity when he has returned to human form. Once again the writers have failed to show any of the charm and wistful personality that he possesses or maybe those aren’t qualities that this show’s werewolf will have. I don’t know if they will explore that in the future, after all this was just the first episode. Also Josh/George has been suicidal since becoming a werewolf but deep down he is religious so no matter how much he has desired it he believes suicide is wrong. The fact that they had Aiden hand him his Mogen David/Star of David when he picked him up seems to indicate that they will explore those feelings and beliefs in future episodes.

Sally (the ghost) is the hardest for me to accept. I feel a little mean spirited in pointing out how hauntingly beautiful BBC Annie is. That is not to say that Sally played by Meaghan Rath isn’t pretty in a cheerleader sort of way but Annie could play Ophelia and Sally could play Chrissy from Three’s Company. The funny thing is that on a physical level they aren’t all that dissimilar. Maybe Sally will just find her own way for us to care about her.

I do believe this American version may improve as it goes along and I want to give it a chance. What will I do about watching the original and this one? I’ll probably buy the next season from BBC and watch this first season on SyFy. SyFy does get it right sometimes. I’ll just remind myself about BSG, Eureka, Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis as well as Dune and Alice. Here is hoping they find their way soon.

By June K. Williams - V.P. Buzzy Multimedia

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June Williams

June Williams

June, also known affectionately as Buzzy Lady #2, has been with the company since it began. She was born in Manhattan, raised in the Bronx (the first 12 years in the heart of the south Bronx) and spent most of her adult life living in Westchester County N.Y.

Always a Science Fiction fan and dabbler in writing she had thought herself too practical to pursue a career in the field. Before coming to Buzzy she spent over 30 years in the travel industry, then one day decided it was time to spread her wings and plunge into publishing. Everyone she knew thought she had gone slightly daft but as this was not the first time they had expressed that opinion she took the red pill anyway and now spends all of her time putting together projects that make each day a pleasure.

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  • Spikeyfan

    For me, I will be ok with the U.S. version. I will always love the BBC version. I personally feel its my duty to help Annie out in season 3. She needs help to come back from limbo and I am the one to do it. : )

  • A. Delorenzo

    Why does everyone always diss SyFy. I enjoyed this first episode and can’t wait for more. Did it ever occur to you that it may be a little looser because we like it that way? And we aren’t all knuckle dragging morons either!

  • Margaret Wlody

    Have you seen both the British and American shows lately? The one on SyFy is now much better than what became of the one on BBC.

  • reasb

    I’ve never seen the BBC version, so I cant comment on the comparison, but I know I greatly enjoy the US version. I cant wait for season 4 to start!