Being Human series 4: Annie as Referee

This blog post is about episode 2 of the 4th series of the BBC show Being Human. If you haven't watched the episode yet, there are spoilers ahead so don't click on 'Read more' unless you want to see them.

In the earlier series of Being Human, Annie the Ghost was just this meek little sidekick to the real stars of the show, Mitchell the Vampire and George the Werewolf. She couldn't cope with life--- or should I say afterlife? But the new series shows how much she has grown since her death.

After the staking of Mitchell at the end of series 3, and the deaths of Nina and George in the first episode of this series, Annie is now the central focus of the series. She is the protector of baby Eve Sands, the child of George and Nina who is prophesied to rid the world of vampires. And she also functions as referee in the quarrels of her two new roommates Tom and Hal.

Tom, a young werewolf, is Annie's sole roommate at the start of the episode. But there is another trio of ghost, vampire and werewolf around--- Leo, Pearl and Hal. They have been together for fifty years, and now elderly Leo is dying. He comes to Annie's place to see the 'savior' child, Eve, before he dies. (Leo the Werewolf is played by Louis Mahoney, who also played Old Billy in the Doctor Who episode 'Blink.)

Tom does not care for Hal the vampire. But when Leo dies, and Pearl the Ghost chooses to go through the door with Leo who she has been in love with for the past 50 years, Hal tells his old roommates he will join Annie's household. (He is OK with the idea that Eve will end the vampire race, by the way.)

Hal ends up staying but there will be storms ahead. Annie's already had to reprimand Tom once for hiding a vampire-killing stake in the shrubbery with the intent of staking Hal. The 1st series Annie would NOT have been up to the job of serving as head-of-household/referee in this situation. But I have confidence that Annie is up to the job now.

So--- that was episode 2, 'Being Human 1955'. What did you think of it?

Irrelevant meandering: Why did Nina abandon George and her baby after she was killed? (Yeah, I know, the actress quit/was fired).  But, seriously, she could have stayed on as a ghost. And if she had, George could have as well. And what about Mitchell? Why didn't he become a ghost? They could have turned their house into the most haunted bed-and-breakfast in the UK!

I've got a date with a werewolf....

Tonight's the night. I'm expecting to spend a little quality time with a werewolf named George.

Yes, the BBC series Being Human is starting its new season. Frankly, after what happened to a certain vampire in the last episode of last season, I'm surprised to see the series back.

In the promos they say Annie's looking for a new roommate. I guess two werewolves, one of them expecting a were-puppy, are not enough company for her. Perhaps she needs another ghost. Perhaps one that used to be a vampire.....

The BBC series, showing on BBC America in the US, is much better than the SYFY channel version of Being Human which has very intrusive bursts of loud, annoying music. Both versions of the series have unfortunate bouts of anti-Christianism from time to time. But the sheer joy of watching roommates discuss the issue of whether the werewolf should change in the living room when the ghost has just Hoovered in there makes up for the hate.

For the BBC America deprived, the show is available on DVD as well.

Being Human on SyFy--- It's Not the Same

As it turns out, the Being Human show being promoed on SyFy is not the same series as the BBC Being Human. For info on the SyFy show, here are two links:
SyFy: Being Human
Wikipedia: Being Human (US TV series)

I don't know how I feel about this. Can you imagine a British version of Star Trek, or an American version of Doctor Who? It would be hard for me to adjust to either one. But I guess I can give this new show a chance. It's scheduled to begin on Jan. 17, 2011 in the US.

For those wanting to see the proper Being Human series from the BBC, it's available on DVD (Being Human: Season Two) or as 'video on demand' --- downloads of episodes (Being Human, Episode 1)

Shirt-tail relatives of this blog post:
BBC's Being Human
AA for Vampires in BBC's Being Human


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Interview with Syzygy author Amanda Borenstadt

Don't call them werewolves. The Fir Na Gealaí in Amanda Borenstadt's urban fantasy novel Syzygy have a lot in common with werewolves, including having their 'time of the month', but you aren't supposed to call them werewolves.

Author Amanda Borenstadt shares her experiences in writing and publishing Syzygy.

Why did you choose the publisher you did and what were your experiences with the publisher?

I chose to self publish with Smashwords.com and Amazon.com. I queried agents for a while, but couldn't find anyone interested. Many are not taking new writers and I hadn't a thing to my name when I began. Now I have several short stories published, so perhaps it would be a different story. Who knows? I love Smashwords. They made it so simple. I ran into a technical glitch but Mark Coker, the Smashwords founder himself, helped me fix it. I'm very pleased. And their site is easy to use. Amazon gives a writer more exposure, but it doesn't feel as intimate. Both have their place in the world.

What are your three favorite books?

Tough to narrow down. I sometimes say my favorite book is whatever I'm reading at the time. LOL

My nine-year-old twins and I just discovered The Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley. I get a kick out of fairy tale spin-offs. My all time bread and butter book is Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams. I can pick it up any time and smile. And for my last one, I'll pick, C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters. I was fortunate enough to see that performed live. It was the coolest!

What are your three favorite authors?

Once again, only three? Okay. Tolkien, Karina Fabian, Douglas Adams, and Neil Gaiman. Oops, that's four. ;)

In your mind, what is your book about?
Good question. I think the running theme is love- all sorts: friendship (the real and true kind), romantic love, parental love, and loving your neighbor. It's about people reaching outside of their safety zone to trust and become trustworthy. It even touches lightly on loving God. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but one character reveals they might be called to a religious vocation.


What modern fiction books have some similarities to your book?

This is the toughest question because- number one- I don't know that I'm good enough to compare myself to anybody else and -number two- I don't know of anything like Syzygy.

I asked a couple readers what they thought and they came up with books they said it wasn't like- which means they must hold some resemblance to Syzygy. Rachel Hawthorne's Dark Guardian series was mentioned. I think what people are doing is thinking "werewolf society."

I don't even have werewolves, just a race that's not entirely unlike werewolves. Also James Patterson's Maximum Ride. Loved it, but no. It's not like that.

One writer friend mentioned it weaves ethical dilemma and moral obligation with action and suspense like Animorphs by K.A. Applegate. Hmm, never would have thought of that. I'll take her word.

I searched for something else like it when I was trying to decide what genre to put it into. Romance is only a one portion of what Syzygy is about, but it is a paranormal romance.

It's a fantasy set in an urban environment, but it's not as full of fantasy as many of the other urban fantasies. The characters deal with some very human issues. It deals with serious stuff like depression and self harm and yet it has a lot of humor.


What do you think is the strong point of your book?

My characters feel genuine. People tell me they become attached to them. Each has real growth during the novel. One lady says she's simply in love with Finn. LOL


What do you think is the weak point of your book?

It's not as well polished as it could be in places. The overall plot is not air tight.

What writing project are you working on next?

Aside from the occasional short story, I'm writing a novel called "Twelve Keys" which will be heavily illustrated by my niece, Jasmine, who did the cover art for Syzygy. It's set in a sort of post apocalyptic time warped California where old time California is fused with modern California.


Why did you call it 'Syzygy'? How do you say 'Syzygy'? If you use the word 'syzygy' while playing Hangman, will you always win?

LOL Super questions. It went through several name changes. The most recent was To Be Human, but as you know, they came up with a TV show called Being Human. I didn't want to appear as a copycat, so I changed it. Some of the teenagers in my life voted for Syzygy. There's a humorous line in the book, "Hey baby, what's your syzygy?" which they liked.

Syzygy (SIZZ-uh-jee). The term as it's used in the novel refers to the new or full moon. As to the last question, well, if I were playing, no. I would lose. The other player would guess for sure because I do tend to go on and on about my book. LOL


Amanda Borenstadt's blog: A Fortnight of Mustard




Fans of urban fantasy will probably like the BBC TV series Being Human
Being Human: Season 1
Being Human: Season Two

Shirt-tail relatives of this blog post (with werewolves):
BBC's Being Human
Doctor Who: Queen Elizabeth I mystery solved!


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Talk Like a Pirate Day 2010: Pete the Pirate gets Ordained!

The Ironic Catholic has come out with her Talk Like a Pirate Day post. In this episode, Pete the (former) Pirate gets ordained.

On the subject of Talk Like a Pirate Day--- this year it falls on the day of the season finale of BBC series 'Being Human'. Isn't that kind of a conflict of interest? Or at least too much excitement for one day? My hope for the episode? That the evil Christian villains turn out to be atheists in disguise and are defeated with the aid of actual Christians, possibly including Pope Benedict.