Being Human series 2

[shapinglight]

Due to RL pressures, I haven't got around to saying anything (I don't think) about series 2 of Being Human. I have been watching, though, and for the most part enjoying it enormously. So here's where I try and gather my thoughts together.

Spoilers for the whole series within.



Should say that, though I found the finale absolutely gripping, I did have some quibbles with it, but I'll get to those.

This series was a lot darker than season 1, which was already pretty dark. That said, it didn't lack humour. The banter between the three main characters was still wonderful, and the whole show for the most part continues to feel very grounded, grungy and British. Aidan Turner is very pretty, but even he lacks the Hollywood gloss the show would have if it were American, (and a good thing too IMO), but apart from him, the cast is very down to earth and ordinary looking. The new ongoing characters introduced in this series -Kemp, Lucy, Daisy and Ivan - were all well drawn and believable, and the cast of one-off supporting actors, like Annie's ghost RAF pilot mentor and the medium, and so on - were uniformly excellent. Was nice to get a cameo from the Sarcastic Vicar in the penultimate episode too.

The three main characters' arcs were very well done, I thought - and incidentally, I'm not for one minute concerned about Annie, as long as season 3 isn't all about Mitchell and George rescuing her while she sits and whimpers. I'd like to see more of Proactive Annie, as seen in the season 1 finale and the Annie-centric episode where she told the men with the chains and whips where to go. That said, I do like the idea of a Kafka-esque/Beetlejuice-ian afterlife (for my own take on which see my fanfic story Heroes in Hell) and am looking forward to how that's going to be expanded on.

I thought Nina had a pretty good arc too, and it intrigues me the way she's gone from being revolted by what she's become and angry at George for her predicament, to being the most outspokenly Supernaturalist of the four. I can see her tipping over into very dodgy territory next season, because of course it's all very well for her to speak to Lucy the way she did. She hasn't actually killed anyone yet. It's very different for George and Mitchell.

I was a bit meh! about parts of George's arc, but liked it for the most part, and Russell Tovey continues to be absolutely delightful in the role. I was about to say that George is the moral centre of the trio (because they're very much a trio still, with Nina as the hanger-on), but then I decided it was Annie. Not sure. Hmm.

Anyway, whichever of them it is, Mitchell needs them both desperately. In fact, this season, he showed us what it really means to be a vampire, because he's not only physically needy for blood, but emotionally needy, leeching off other people while trying (at times) not to do it, only to fall back into the old patterns. That was why the episode with the 60s flashbacks was so brilliant. Here is Mitchell, with Lucy, falling back into the old dependance he took up with Josie (?) in the 60s, of begging a woman to save him and ultimately draining her lifeforce, if not her blood, by his neediness. Of course, part of him must know that in the end he has to save himself, and yet his vampire instincts keep dragging him back down. At the same time, he has a touching loyalty to 'his' people, which the BH vampires (like the True Blood vampires) have, as opposed to the Buffyverse ones who kill each other with much less provocation than the drop of a hat. I like that, and I like the idea of a wider vampire society, because without that they really aren't interesting - just as Buffyverse vampires are totally uninteresting until they're given personalities and allowed to interact with each other and other people in a communal way (something that Joss kept jumping back from, I think, whenever he realised he'd strayed too far in that direction).

Poor Mitchell! He ended up being about the worst king the vampires had ever had, and having not only the blood of his own people on his hands but that of many more humans as well. I thought the scene in the finale where he's listening to the radio news story about the train massacre, until George turns the radio off, unaware that Mitchell is contemplating his own actions, was inspired. BH isn't afraid to take its characters to some very dark places. I wonder if it will ultimately shrink from leaving them there, and if so, how Mitchell can ever be redeemed. We'll see. One thing's for sure: there might be superficial similarities, but Mitchell isn't Angel.

The show also wasn't afraid (or possibly wasn't aware enough of the implications of what it was saying, I'm not certain), to equate religious persecution of vampires and other supernatural beings with other kinds of intolerance. Of course, as Lucy pointed out to Mitchell, it can only be a partial equation, because vampires do kill people - lots and lots of people - so one can hardly blame humans for wanting to get rid of them. Dodgy ground. Maybe the BH vampires work better as a comment on the ills of modern society - a dark reflection of ourselves, what we could become if we're not careful? In fact, didn't someone say this in last night's episode?

This brings me to the things that didn't work quite so well for me. Firstly, the very overt religiosity. I know - and sueworld2003 did point out to me - that vampires and religion go together. Maybe it's because real, actual religion (as opposed to the odd reference to nuns) in the Buffyverse is barely a footnote, that it makes me uncomfortable here? I'm not sure. I just know that I felt it was overdone and that I felt quite annoyed that Kemp's second exorcism of Annie worked. I suppose he just wasn't trying the first time? And ultimately, whether I feel the religious stuff is overly intrusive or not will depend on how the Rescue Annie from the Great Beyond story works out in the next season.

The other thing that didn't work for me was the return of Herrick, I'm afraid. Yes, great character and he's been missed (which was why it was so great to see him in the 60s flashback episode), but I thought he had his story, plus a great sendoff at the end of season 1. I don't want or need him back permanently. In fact, if any dead character deserved to be brought back, I thought it was Ivan, because all he is so far is potential, and if that's really all we're going to see of him, it's wasted potential IMO.

I also don't see Daisy making sacrifices like that to bring Herrick back. Cara, yes, Daisy, no.

Of course, Ivan may still return. I can't really work out why he's dead, in fact, seeing as his body looked relatively undamaged after the explosion. We'll see.

All in all, great stuff, and I wish we didn't have to wait so long for season 3.

Minor point: was sorry Tully was disposed of like that, though the little note he left for George was a nice touch.

Comments

[elisi]

Good thoughts, and quite like my own. Esp the religious aspect, which annoys me too. And Mitchell needs a chip.

I also don't see Daisy making sacrifices like that to bring Herrick back. Sadie (?), yes, Daisy, no.
Cara. And I'm right there with you. More Ivan, less Herrick, and wtf? is up with Daisy?

It's odd, I've loved the show all season, but this last episode just didn't really work for me. Ah well, let's cross fingers for next year!

[shapinglight]

Esp the religious aspect, which annoys me too

I think my biggest gripe with it is that it's not consistent. On the one hand, we have this mysterious and not very attractive afterlife that they've been hinting at since the pilot and which doesn't jibe with any view of the afterlife in any of the major religions, let alone Christianity, (basing this on the fact that it's obvious to anyone that Annie is a good person who doesn't deserve to go to hell), and on the other we have this very conventional bell, book and candle exorcism and people waving crucifixes about. It just didn't gel.

And thanks for telling me Cara's name. I'm hopeless with names. Have forgotten what almost everyone was called already.

[elisi]

It just didn't gel.
My feelings exactly.

And thanks for telling me Cara's name. I'm hopeless with names. Have forgotten what almost everyone was called already.
Oh me too! But I had to go look up her name a few weeks ago, and somehow I've managed not to forget it again.

ETA: Re. Annie's exorcism, then I think it was due to the door. (Last ep: "She says there's supposed to be a door. Did we bring a door?")

[shapinglight]

ETA: Re. Annie's exorcism, then I think it was due to the door. (Last ep: "She says there's supposed to be a door. Did we bring a door?")

Yes, I suppose so, and Kemp had to murder the poor psychic first. All the same, in the exorcism scene at the pink house, it looked like Kemp didn't really know what he was doing, but suddenly he did.

[esmerelda-t.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed most of the series after what I thought was a fairly dull opening episode, but the last two episodes have just put me right off the show. I feel they've gone too far with Mitchell's actions in the train and I'm sick of seeing him complaining about how hard it is to be him and how nasty the humans are cause they don't like being eaten.

Resurrecting the dull Herrick is the final straw, I found the vampires plan to take over the world subplot the weakest thing about series 1, I don't plan to watch series 3.

[shapinglight]

I don't plan to watch series 3.

I do. I also don't think they necessarily intend to try to redeem Mitchell at all. We'll see.

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

"I just know that I felt it was overdone and that I felt quite annoyed that Kemp's second exorcism of Annie worked. I suppose he just wasn't trying the first time?"

I just saw it as a combination of Annie's panic and fear and Kemp having killed that bloke thus getting the 'whatevers behind the door' the perfect opportunity to really go for it, so to speak.

Now you know I prefer Herrick, but now that he's back, there's no reason that Ivan might not show up later on too. As you say his body looked pretty unharmed.

[liliaeth]

That and I think that Daisy helped Cara, because she was told that if this worked for Herrick, Herrick could help them in either bringing Ivan back, or in avenging him.

[shapinglight]

Perhaps, though I would have liked to be shown that.

[shapinglight]

I just saw it as a combination of Annie's panic and fear and Kemp having killed that bloke thus getting the 'whatevers behind the door' the perfect opportunity to really go for it, so to speak.

I suppose so. It's just that back at the pink house, Kemp didn't seem to know what he was doing at all with the exorcism. He didn't seem to have a clue about the doors. And suddenly, he did.

I like Herrick fine. I just think he's had his day, that's all. I would have been quite happy to see him back in more historical flashbacks, but resurrecting him completely just didn't work for me. I was really disappointed when it was him that crawled out of the grave and not Ivan.

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

For me I saw it as the last remaining vamps wanting a 'proper' leader back after Mitchel's awful cock up of things.

I imagine that they would have gone for someone who they thought would get them back to the good old days, and that would be Herrick of course.

[shapinglight]

I can accept that from Cara. Not from Daisy.

We'll see. I daresay they'll do something good with it.

[vampirefever.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed the series, generally, much more than the first season. Although I wasn't struck on George's relationship with the single mum - that was a bit dull.

I was also spectacularly unimpressed with the final scene. Herrick didn't seem a big enough bad to be reincarnated as the BIG BAD.

Aiden Turner is very pretty though and on his own guarantees my interest in the 3rd series *g*

[shapinglight]

Although I wasn't struck on George's relationship with the single mum - that was a bit dull.

I didn't mind it, but I was expecting more from the little girl. She seemed to have this fey quality and I was thinking she would turn out to be something supernatural herself. As it was, the whole thing was just an object lesson to George that he'll never ben normal, which I thought he already accepted. But I didn't mind it, and the scenes at the language school were priceless.

I was also spectacularly unimpressed with the final scene. Herrick didn't seem a big enough bad to be reincarnated as the BIG BAD.

I agree. I like Herrick, but he had a good story in season 1. We don't need him back.

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

"I agree. I like Herrick, but he had a good story in season 1. We don't need him back."

Now I imagine hats the argument that was given when a certain peroxide vamp returned in later seasons of Buffy, and look what they did with him. *g*

[shapinglight]

I'm sure. I'm not saying I won't watch, just that I'm not that enamoured of bringing the character back, that's all.

[gillo]

I loved the series and was utterly gripped by the final. I was sure something horrible had to happen to one of the core three, but that it was Annie shocked me. I think the success of the exorcism was thanks to the murder of an innocent and Annie's panic - and her ambivalence, perhaps. I thought the Kafka-esque hell was a very effective touch.

I didn't really see the motivation for the resurrection of Herrick, though I think both character and actor are extremely good.

The religion thing - it is clearly a warped version of religion that is under attack, not genuine faith - note that Mitchell couldn't cross the invisible barrier to the Sarcastic Vicar's church, but had no trouble dealing with the godsquadders' paraphernalia.

There are holes to pick, yes, but I found the whole thing amazingly powerful. Can it be S3 soon, please?

[shapinglight]

I think the success of the exorcism was thanks to the murder of an innocent and Annie's panic - and her ambivalence, perhaps. I thought the Kafka-esque hell was a very effective touch.

I agree that the Kafka-esque hell was good, though what happens to people after death in this 'verse seems rather arbitrary. Not to mention whimsical and cruel. You'd think Kemp might be aware of this and it would have an effect on his faith.

I didn't really see the motivation for the resurrection of Herrick, though I think both character and actor are extremely good.

I agree. I was disappointed by that, even though I like Herrick.

Like you, though, the holes aren't bad enough to put me off wanting season 3 yesterday. :)

[flake-sake.livejournal.com]

I pretty loved the season, even a bit better than the first and I love to read your take on it.

Your take on Mitchell speaks exactly whatI thought. He's an emotional vampire as well as a physical one and actually those were the moments, where he got really creepy for me. I would have run like hell in Lucy's place and part of me feels sorry for her too, because her emotions seemed genuine.

On Herricks resurrection: I'm a bit torn. On one hand, herrick was a superb character with a great actor and I can see what they want to do with him. Interaction between him and Mitchell, now that Mitchell has worn his shoes for while is going to be very interesting. Also the resurrection scene was powerfull, more powerfull than one for Ivan, who was after all mostly unrealised potential would have been (I'd rather he hadn't died in the first place).

On the other hand I want Ivan back to see more of him and I agree hed be daisy's priority. Also if Herrick can come back like that, that makes all BH vamps pretty much indisdructable, so a resurrection for Ivan should be no problem. It makes things a bit easy though.

On the relegious stuff, I quite like the idea of the not so good god, but I can't say I want to see much more of it.

[shapinglight]

He's an emotional vampire as well as a physical one and actually those were the moments, where he got really creepy for me. I would have run like hell in Lucy's place and part of me feels sorry for her too, because her emotions seemed genuine.

I felt very sorry for Lucy. I do think her feelings were genuine. She did love him, and much though I love Mitchell, he's not worth it. He can only cause her, or any woman, pain, whether he means to or not. Ultimately, if he moves beyond the magic circle of himself, George and Annie, he just ends up spreading destruction in his wake.

On the other hand I want Ivan back to see more of him and I agree hed be daisy's priority. Also if Herrick can come back like that, that makes all BH vamps pretty much indisdructable, so a resurrection for Ivan should be no problem. It makes things a bit easy though.

Not necessarily, I suppose. It would depend. The other vampires must have buried what was left of Herrick in the countryside, so it was possible to bring him back with this blood sacrifice ritual. It wouldn't be possible to bring back Lauren, I think. And I still can't see why Ivan is dead at all.

On the relegious stuff, I quite like the idea of the not so good god, but I can't say I want to see much more of it.

Shades of BSG? The theology is very muddled, which sort of leads me to conclude that they don't really know what they're doing with it and thus it might better have been avoided altogether. They could still have done the creepy stuff with the doors opening, just left out all the bell, book and candle stuff and the praying.

[vampirefever.livejournal.com]

Sorry to but in on your thread, but the other thing wrong with the religious aspect is that its all Christian (crosses, bibles, churches etc) and George is Jewish. Makes the whole thing a bit weird and redundant.

[shapinglight]

I agree. In fact, I can't remember any mention of George being Jewish this season, yet it came up quite a bit in the last. And you'd think he would have mentioned it when he found himself confronted by Kemp and all those people waving crosses about.

Perhaps he thought it would be rude?

[coercion88.livejournal.com]

Didn't rate Mitchell this series - more because I thought his story was very jumpy than any bad acting. In the penultimate ep he was promising to bring war to the humans and chasing George/Annie away, by the finale he was trying to save them. Don't get me started on the 'point' of Ivan - wasted talent, there. Fab actor. Didn't look dead AT ALL.
Loved George.

[shapinglight]

Hi. Very sorry to have been so slow answering. Have been pretty out of it this weekend.

I think we were supposed to infer that Mitchell changed his mind about bringing war to the humans because he came down off his blood-induced high and realised George and Annie were in danger.

Agree 100% with you about Ivan, though. If he really is dead, what a waste!