User reviews

Let me preface this by saying I have seen all the episodes of the BBC version. I love it. I also love the new US version.

Anyone who has read anything about this show (rather than just taking to the internet to spew fury all over everywhere) knows that the US version will be following the UK version, roughly, as far as the end of the first series. The first 13 US eps will mirror the first 6 UK ones. None of the US writers or actors have seen any more of the UK show than the first 6 episodes in order to make the show different in later episodes. What I am interested in seeing is what the US version does after the first 13 episodes, because it will be "original". Hopefully.

So far, the US version has made one important improvement on the UK version: the "ghost" rules (ie How Sally/Annie can interact with the world) are much clearer. Frankly, the extent to which other people in the UK version can interact with Annie has always been a little murky (read: plot-servicing). I enjoy the clarification of the rules in the US version. I am willing to see what else the US version does. Some things may be better, some things worse. Without giving the show a chance, we'll never know.

It is important to note that SyFy (and Space, its Canadian buddy) primarily air reruns of old SciFi shows produced by others. Original in this context means they are producing it. Yes, linguistically tricky, but so is everything in Show Biz. Bear in mind that BSG was also a remake, just more time had passed and the series was darker. Also, excellent, which gives me hope for Being Human.

I have no trouble watching both shows. Liking the US one doesn't take from liking the UK one. They both have humour, likable characters, and an engrossing storyline. If you like SciFi, Fantasy, or horror genres, give this show a whirl.

I have to say that Being Human took time to grow on me and at times I felt I was being led down a path that would leave me sorry I had wasted my time watching the show. I read this sentiment in many reviews articulated in various ways, but the bottom line is Being Human is a very good show, however it isn't until its over that you truly appreciate the show for what it was and is because the end is not sloppy, hacked, or rushed. It simply brings a lot more meaning to the previous seasons and makes you appreciate the whole show a great deal more. At that final place is when you truly engage all that the show brought you through and makes you appreciate the idea behind the story and realize it is much more than you thought while on the ride.

Season 4 of Being Human was the best season of the series without question. The peculiar thing is that I believe it was the best season because it was the last season and the really big questions that this show presents in terms of our main characters can't be answered until the show ends. The other seasons gets us to know the characters, vested in them and the story, and took the viewer to the point of a unique interest in a world of monsters trying to retain what they could of their humanity while by their nature made it impossible to obtain anything but frustration and heartache. But season 4 didn't just bring the story to a close, it took us back through the story with a perspective of how things could have been much different but for the groups will to make them different and appreciate the first 3 seasons a great deal more in the process of taking the characters to a place that I couldn't have imagined in the beginning.

Interestingly after seeing it all I realize they could have made the series longer, but to make it maintain its overall quality the only way they could have done that would have been by making what is season 4 the last set of episodes (or 75% of them) the final season however they wove the story in any other seasons. But given the nature of shows like this that teeter on the edge of being renewed each year there isn't the security to allow the writers to do that. So given the unknown faced with writing each season I have to say that season 4 made my opinion of the writing go up a great deal as it was the best by far and brought a somewhat uneven story come together in a way such that I enjoyed the final episodes far more than I ever would have thought. There are some oddities that bothered me throughout the series that the end made the trip very worth the effort, and a wonderful ending that left me surprised in a day and age when shows rarely surprise me in a positive way. Season 4 makes the whole series better and I'm certain had they figured out a way to work that sort of intensity and emotion into the other seasons would lave made Being Human a more popular, longer running show. But as it is, I'm simply glad I got a chance to enjoy it.

To me TV has been a little boring of late... If it isn't forensics then it's reality or cooking shows - too much... So, if you are looking for a fun sci-fi fantasy to keep your attention, this just may do the trick. It's weird, a little quirky and dramatic to boot... Hopefully we will see some romantic possibility with Aiden and Sally - because to me that seems like a perfect match. Aiden doesn't want to kill anyone and well, Sally can't die again... So, vampire+ghost=love...

Don't avoid a show like this because you think you are above the "vampire" trend. It's not about a vampire and a werewolf, it's about "trying" to be normal, kind and morally acceptable under extremely abnormal and immoral conditions. Can they rise above and choose the high ground or will they be trapped in their violent natures, forever miserable.

Being Human is a breath of fresh air for the whole "Creatures of the Night" genre. If you think it's just another Twilight rip-off I'm gonna stop you right there. Aiden is not just some Edward. He's believable as a Vampire. When he's jonesing for some blood he looks like he's going to puke and start ripping out his hair. His love interests, unlike in some other vampire shows, are based either on him acting like a normal human being (with humans) or drugs (with vampires). Blood is crack to him. He's not a monster, really (none of them are). He's just a very old drug addict. He's also hilarious. ("Really? The vampire bit doesn't freak you out but the male nurse thing does?") Josh is a brilliant werewolf. He's a stereotypical Jewish man and former honor student with OCD. He had everything; close friends, loving well- to-do family and the girl of his dreams. But every full moon now his heart stops, his organs fail, his skin rips apart and every bone breaks and relocates itself and he must suffer through every last second and give his mind up to a serial killer (who looks awesome by the way). He lost everything and it's obvious to see why. He's also hilarious. ("Great, we're living with Sally the peeper ghost") And Sally is just plain lovable. She a free-spirit who had everything to live for but ended up living more dead with her new friends than she ever did alive. Ghost have the obvious trait of going insane if they stick around for too long. They also have many addictive abilities that look fun but are incredibly dangerous. The second season will have a plot twist that will make your head spin with delight. Sally has many problems to deal with being a ghost. But hopefully her loving friends will keep her sane. She's also hilarious. ("You two gonna go all Twilight on each other at some point?" - "I'm not a peeper... much... I would get that mole checked out if I were you.") These are just real, likable people under extraordinarily circumstances.

Compared to the UK version, I'd say there both equally great. The US version has more depth to it (more in it to like while the UK version I'd say is deeper (the characters are closer and more it's more emotional). I've watched both and I'll say this; there's no forth season of the US version (UK watchers know what I mean).

I've kept right up with all of the episodes, and the characters have grown nicely. Anyone who can be critical after just one or two episodes is not a critic. I decided to watch the British version after I began watching this one, and, frankly, I decided not to watch it again. I'm very satisfied with the characters in the U.S., and the acting is excellent, as far as I'm concerned, with just the right amount of humor, which is delivered well, and the expected (and sometimes not) horror action that goes with it. The show is unique, as far as I am concerned, and I put it in a class with "Supernatural", which is at the top of my list for good entertainment and acting. People need to decide for themselves rather than have someone promote another version that they have become over-familiar with. It becomes like "the movie just can't compare to the book". I love British TV, but, in this instance, it can't compare to this version, and I'll stay a dedicated fan for what I hope is a long run. Thanks, SYFY!

Seems like a number of people commenting about the UK version (negatively mostly) don't know that it started with a pilot that was much different than the rest of the series. A bigger difference than comparing the US to UK version in fact.

The first two episodes of the US version combined are a remake, with a number of changes, of the UK pilot. However, incorporating a lot of the character traits/backgrounds of the rest of the UK series. Anyone having started to watch the UK series with episode 1 missed a very important introduction to the characters. Find the UK pilot and watch it if you haven't. It will add a lot of background for the rest of the UK series as well as provide a better basis for comparison to the US version thus far.

Both series are good. The US version has been a pleasant surprise, I didn't think it would be half as good as the UK version.

I'm more vested in the UK version at the moment, which just started its third season. It will be interesting to see where the US version goes and to find out how many episodes they plan to film per year/season. In the UK it's only 6, which feels rather short.

I give it 10 stars because it is perfection in the art of storytelling. I am an American viewer, and I prefer the American cast. Let me first say that if you are like me, you haven't watched Twilight saga or True Blood and generally you feel sick of vampires at the mere mention. That said, what made me tune in to Being Human? I saw the ad on a city bus and it struck my curiosity. I looked into it and loved the premise - modern roommates, cursed in 3 different ways, all trying to be normal. I watched the pilot and fell in love. This series has been at the top of my list since. I can't wait for it to start again, and it kills me when a season ends - always a great cliffhanger!

I adore the werewolf, Josh. I sympathize with Aiden, the vampire. And Sally, well, Sally is just irresistible fun! Nora is also a great character and actress ... sincerely, I give this series 10 stars because for me (and I am quite picky about storytelling practices) - this series is FLAWLESS. Perfectly written, which above all is a must. Perfectly cast. Perfect performances each week. Fabulous direction, editing. And the makeup artists and CGI artists are cream of the crop!

Being Human makes me look forward to Mondays!

This is show is great. I know there's so much werewolf and vampire movies and shows being thrown about now days but this breaks away from the brooding vampire werewolf combo. You have a serious but humorous vampire living with a puppy dog faced and funny werewolf living together in a house with a ghost who can't move on. The cast is pretty dang good in my book. They all have a chemistry that makes you believe their actually real life friends. You have some eye candy and also a great plot and storyline. It's not all about hot vampires and werewolves beating each other up for a girl...to be honest it's nothing like that, but it draws you in with the drama. You forget that their superhuman but people going through some difficult times. It's fun to watch...you'll laugh and may even relate. Also if your a big fan of syfy, you'll love tuning in to watch 45 mins of fantasy, drama, and humor. Don't shoot it down till you choose to sit down and watch it with arms open and enjoy.

... that would be a better title for the series. Not because it is so bad, but because that is a phrase you will hear a lot. And I mean ... A LOT.

The idea of some supernatural creatures who just want to be normal is interesting and promising. And some episodes are captivating.

It is a nice series to watch (or rather listen to) during some activities, like ironing and folding clothes or putting together a Lego set.

But other than that the overal storytelling is too bland and sometimes everything is getting too complicated.

When i first heard this was being made my first instinct was that it would be a poor imitation of it's UK brethren. How right I was.

From start to finish the opening episode was devoid of any of the charisma and humour found in abundance in the original. Sam Witwer as Aiden (Mitchel) was emotionless, unlikable and seemed to be under the impression that he was still on the Smallville set playing Doomsday. Sam Huntington as Josh (George) lacked any of the fantastic comedic presence which Russell Tovey brought to the part in the original and it felt as though he'd been cast simply because he looks... a little odd. Meaghan Rath as Sally (Annie) is the shows only saving grace in the cast department as far as i'm concerned, she played a fair imitation of her counterpart Annie.

Quite bluntly they've taken a great fantasy/comedy television show, stripped it to it's bare bones and put it back together in a new form, but lacking any of the parts which make the original good.

If you haven't watched it yet, try out the UK original version which is in it's 3rd series as this one isn't even comparable.

This mirror of the British show is not unenjoyable -- I mean... it's a fine show! But what ever was the motivation to remake a show so precisely? EsPECIALly while the original is still on the air and readily available on North American TV? It seems that SyFy just bought the BBC scripts and used "find and replace" to change the characters' names. I mean... did they think it was too hard for Americans to read the British subtitles? And the British cast is truly brilliant, while the American cast is... just okay.

SyFy has done some great stuff (most notably, of course, Battlestar Galactica) but this one is a real head-scratcher. In sum: watch the REAL (original) show on BBC America, it's wonderful, and on NOW. I suppose if English accents truly give you a bee up the bum you could turn this one on; but that would be really really silly.

I was surprised to find myself enjoying the US version so much more, but I think the BBC version is suffering from the 'corny-cool-campy' setup that so much British TV sci fi employs. Also, the American acting for the main characters is much much better than the BBC character version. That BBC vamp with his hair, clothes and his pouting brooding faces makes me embarrassed for humanity at times.

I think the difference between the BBC version and the US version is that the BBC version is more like Buffy The Vampire Slayer was in the US at first. Low budget, likable characters and plots, bad acting, bad effects, but it generated a rabid fan base due to some endearing qualities.

The US version seems to have taken the best elements, and coupled it with really great camera work, screen direction and atmosphere, and thus raised the quality of the show. The American version is funnier too. The humor is more subtle and less 'big' in the US version.

Basically the show some interesting characters like werewolves vampire witches half/pure bread, but the whole show can be done in just one season. Plots are really weak, the characters keep on whining and pitying themselves over and over again. The plots present you with problems where the solution is very obvious and easy to see, yet the characters keep on doing the same mistakes over and over until you're fed up with the show but you feel you cannot abandon because you really don't want to feel like you've waisted your time. the episodes are so predictable. you know exactly whats going to happen at every second you will even tend to fast forward conversations between characters because you know exactly the message of the scene. Scenes that needs 1/2 min they tend to do it in like 5.

I seriously can not recommend this enough

This is a U.S. show based on a U.K. show. Typically the Brittish version is good/great and the US one fails. This is the only one I've ever heard of where the US one turned out to be much better!

I like vampire moves & shows but don't usually care for one's based on warewolves or ghosts. This one is the best vampire series I've ever seen and I even found the wolves and ghosts to be highly compelling. Very original and surperb writing & acting.

I was skeptical after seeing the American remake of Shameless and it being such a rip off of the original Brit series. I just knew that a Syfi, Canadian remake of Being Human had to be even worse then if it was a US remake.

I have to admit that I was pleased. I also saw the Brit version online and loved it. I am hungry for season 3. I really didn't want to see another shameless rip off and I didn't. Yeah granted there are some similarities to the original and that's a good thing in my opinion. It means the writers will come up with original scripts for this show.

I'm hopeful this series. One detractor though is that I'm almost guaranteed not to get any cussing or nudity like in the British version. I really think this show is more a Showtime cable for the rated R crowd not the PG-13 set. So I hope they will give us some grit in future episodes. I mean for god sake its a Vamp and Wolf TV show.