Being Human stays true to its title

As I sit down to write my blog post, I am torn between discussing Our War and Being Human. However, Being Human wins due to the fact that the show, in my opinion, transcends the trendy topic of supernatural beings and actually delves into the prospect of what it means to be human. The show essentially stays true to its title.

I have seen Twilight, True Blood, Teen Wolf, etc. While I hold some of these shows to higher standards than others, all of these American vampire-esque dramas prove to be highly sensationalized. The plot lines are often unrealistic or overly dramatized to go along with the whole “supernatural” theme. In my opinion, Being Human actually relies on more mundane yet refreshing plot elements to maintain the realism of the story line. There are three friends, living in a house, working and attempting to navigate their way through society. This particular plot line could depict any number of shows on television, it just so happens that these three friends are anything but human. Examining the day-to-day struggles of these individuals–attempting to date, denying their true identity, carrying the burden of lost love–allows viewers to actually relate to the characters.

Being Human also allowed me to feel a range of emotion that not many other sci-fi, supernatural shows are able to do. I went from being intrigued to scared to sad to amused through the course of the episode. Being Human does not limit itself to a particular genre of television or niche audience. While it may promote itself as a “young adult drama,” it certainly maintains a balance to engage a wide audience. For example, Annie’s story line where she dangerously summons her fiance in order to see him again was very touching and sentimental. No, I’m not a ghost… But I could relate to her feelings of devastation and grief. This is where Being Human strikes at the core of defining who people really are. The show attempts to find depth in the idea of societal norms. How does one fit in when they are isolated, outcast or invisible?

A final aspect that I enjoyed about the show is the simple fact that all three main characters are actually friends. Modern media loves to pin different supernatural beings against one another in a “survival of the fittest” kind of environment. The fact that a vampire, a werewolf and ghost can actually find comfort in each another creates a unique dynamic. This once again contributes to the realism of the show, in that societal outcasts are never actually alone. So far, this is the first show we have watched that I hope to continue watching.