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!

Being Human: So, Werewolf Blood kills Vampires Now....

On this season's first episode of BBC's Being Human, it turns out that werewolf blood can kill a vampire. That would explain the hatred vampires have for 'dogs'.

However, in the first season, a girl vampire bragged to Mitchell that she had almost fed off George before she realized he was a werewolf. Mitchell DIDN'T tell her that werewolf blood would have killed her.

As for the rest of the the episode, the best I can say without resorting to spoilers is that fans of the show are likely to be very sad at certain events. But George and Nina's baby is cute and there are some intriguing developments as well. So I don't completely despair for the season.

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.