Being Human on Syfy

[Guri]

It started out pretty strong last night. The 3 main characters were well established in just the one show, not too serious but thoughtful and more sardonic humor than campy. The music and sets were gloomy, yet set a modern mood.

I went into it with low expectations but I'm going to tune in next week for sure - it was a great cliff hanger! I actually cared about all three of the characters in just one hour.

There are more showings of the premiere the rest of the week for anyone who missed it and wants to try it out.

From reading the reviews of those who have seen the British version as well (I haven't) it's a good remake of it, different enough to be interesting in its own right.

Only negative I can say about it was actually the reason I tuned in - Mark Pelegrino (Jacob from Lost) playing Bishop the head vampire. He had some shining moments where he was appropriately creepy and suspicious with overtones of 'insecurity mixed with power hungry' - but I think any time a script reads, "maniacal laughter" actors should run the opposite direction. Oh, and a head vampire should not dress like Mr. Rogers. I'm more than willing to overlook those things for the rest of what he brought to the role and maybe they'll make up for it in the next 2 episodes he's in.

 

[sycor]

I lost interest in the BBS series during season 1. I'm hoping this one will be better.

 

[DoctorWho]

I lost interest in the BBS series during season 1. I'm hoping this one will be better.

Me too. tried to watch it and couldn't get into it. So I decided not to watch the US version.

 

[Nwerke]

It's a fun show, I thought. You know pretty much where it's going to end up quite early on though, the bad guys are flagged well in advance.

Why remake it, though? I'll never understand that US habit. We don't remake CSI or Lost, we just watch them...

How many episodes will this be?

 

[robstyle]

I liked the BBC original until it went all drama and stale with the repetitive storyline. Was good when it was funny. Not even gonna bother with the remake, why? Same with US Top Gear, why?

 

[Wes R]

I think I just saw a commercial yesterday for the original version on BBC America. Studio execs like to make the american people think that half these shows are new or original. Most of them wouldn't know the office or even the last show cosby had on were based off British shows if not for original fans or magazine articles.

 

[Angelus Lupus]

It's a fun show, I thought. You know pretty much where it's going to end up quite early on though, the bad guys are flagged well in advance.

Why remake it, though? I'll never understand that US habit. We don't remake CSI or Lost, we just watch them...

How many episodes will this be?

Agreed. Why? It's not like it needs translating. We can understand your shows just fine, so why do the execs think you need to have ours Americanised before you can watch them?

 

[Kerr Avon]

Meh. It was okay. I think the ghost is pretty hot though.

 

[sycor]

I finally watched the first episode, I was pretty annoyed at how they pretty much copied the BBC version exactly.

 

[The Wolf]

I saw part of the American version and it looked interesting. The fact that Davis from "Smallville" and Jimmy Olsen from "Superman Returns" were in it had me curious.
I haven't seen any of the British version.
I do worry about American remakes usually.
I enjoyed "Life on Mars" but couldn't muster watching an American remake.
Then again "All in the Family", "Stepford and Son" and "Three's Company" were all rip-offs of British series.

Wolf

 

[Geniepants]

If it wasn't for vampires walking around in broad daylight, I might like it better.

 

[CB2001]

Why remake it, though? I'll never understand that US habit. We don't remake CSI or Lost, we just watch them...

Because the studios want to make it more appealing to US audiences. By just showing the original BBC series, they think the audience cannot connect with the characters because they cannot relate to them due to the part of the world they're in. And if any of the characters of the show made a joke about something in relation to UK pop culture, unless they have a full understanding of it, they wouldn't get the joke. The same is true with the vocabulary. Words like "tosser" (which is an insult), "knickers" (another word for underwear" and "dosh" (a slang word for money) would more than likely confuse US audiences who haven't seen any british shows in the past and is unaware of their meaning.

Heck, during my speech class at Full Sail, most of my classmates were shocked to learn that "throwing a deuce" (basically shooting a peace sign in a way that is sort of like shooting a bird, which is typical of most US rappers) was actually the UK's version of shooting a bird when I told them. And I happened to know about it because not only did I see it occur in Red Dwarf (awesome show), but in Are You Being Served?.

So, basically, the studios have it in their heads that any foreign made TV show or movies need to be remade for US audiences because not all of them understand the world beyond the US. And most foreign movies are remade because US audiences not only wouldn't understand the cultural context of the films, but a majority of US residents seem to hate reading subtitles.

 

[Tannim]

Haven't had a chance to watch either the BBC or the American version yet, but my friends rave about the BBC one. SO for those of you who've seen both, which one's the better watch?

 

[Guri]

I was a bit let down that the cliff hanger had that obvious a solution, and that quick, but the three main characters were still strong.

Not crazy about the way they're making the other vampires to be all evil, but the ghost and werewolf stories are still really good.

They'll get me another night next week, but I'd be more likely to let the DVR pick it up and watch it at leisure than to be anticipating it when it's on.

 

[piehead]

i love the u.k version. episode 1 of the 3rd season kicked off in fine style this sunday just gone. ive seen the pilot of the u.s. version too and was realy unimpressed. especialy the c.g.i. werewolf transformation. it looked awful. the u.k. has practical puppets, chango heads and animatronics and is similar in feel to american werewolf. the fx over here were created by Neill Gorton and his team at Millenium F.x.

 

[Nwerke]

Because the studios want to make it more appealing to US audiences.

I do get that - it was a rhetorical question, but thanks for taking the time to answer.

By just showing the original BBC series, they think the audience cannot connect with the characters because they cannot relate to them due to the part of the world they're in.

The problem is that this is self-sustaining. If you're never exposed to foreign culture, you'll never get foreign culture, in which case you'll never want to be exposed to foreign culture. The rest of the world - Anglophone and many non-English-speaking countries too - watches an awful lot of US tv, and 'gets' a lot of US culture as a result. In my household we watch a good bit of Italian and German and Japanese TV too, and French and Hong Kong and Korean movies and so forth, and you don't have to be into niche geek interests like anime, there's dedicated foreign-language broadcast TV so anyone can watch it, any time. (Have you got foreign-language channels? I mean multiple languages, not just Spanish. If not then you miss out big time. I mean, boobies, for a start.) :lol

And if any of the characters of the show made a joke about something in relation to UK pop culture, unless they have a full understanding of it, they wouldn't get the joke.

I love it when people think they've nailed UK slang. It leads to people saying things like "my boyfriend has a big ******". I swear I overheard that, for real. LOL. Edit: holy crap, the word filter speaks English English now. Shat on a turtle!! It was the W word, needless to say.

Heck, during my speech class at Full Sail, most of my classmates were shocked to learn that "throwing a deuce" (basically shooting a piece sign in a way that is sort of like shooting a bird, which is typical of most US rappers) was actually the UK's version of shooting a bird when I told them. And I happened to know about it because not only did I see it occur in Red Dwarf (awesome show), but in Are You Being Served?.

Bingo, see, foreign programming broadens the mind. BTW the verbal/written equivalent is "up yours". Supposedly it's an archery thing originally, dating to Crecy - could be an urban legend of course. It's not like a peace sign in that the outside of the hand is shown to the recipient, rather than the palm. Winston Churchill was notorious for getting it wrong constantly, causing his minders great grief (and Winston great private amusement, I suspect). If you give a proper peace sign in England it will not provoke violence, provided you don't do a Winston.

So, basically, the studios have it in their heads that any foreign made TV show or movies need to be remade for US audiences because not all of them understand the world beyond the US. And most foreign movies are remade because US audiences not only wouldn't understand the cultural context of the films, but a majority of US residents seem to hate reading subtitles.

Yeah, I know, it's been often discussed here over the years. It's a great loss for them. I mean seriously, watch The Grudge in Japanese. Same director, story, almost shot for shot remake with Gellar and about half the scares, somehow.

Guri - toldja. Um, is it over already? Was this the climactic reveal, do you mean? I'll shut up if not...

 

[Guri]

Guri - toldja. Um, is it over already? Was this the climactic reveal, do you mean? I'll shut up if not...

I don't think they revealed anything last night... You do know why I'm even bothering to watch this, right? :lol He's got one more episode and if they don't hook me good by them, I'll likely not bother.

 

[MrGzilla]

i think another reason for the american remakes is because of all the sexualitly and profanity, i havent seen much of being human but i know for sure that thats the reason for the american remake of misfits. american audiences are just too censored.

 

[Guri]

Great episode last night! I'm going to keep watching...

 

[Guri]

Question for UK folks...

Those who've seen the series ours is based on, I'm going to guess have a better understanding of the vampire, ghost and werewolf 'rules' being used for this show. Without giving away any of the plot they may copy, can you please answer me a few questions?

1. How do you make a vampire? Do you need the spit/germs of TWO vampires or something? Just biting them once in a bad way will not always turn them, but could make them bleed out and die. But then the new chick vamp told Aiden, if he 'took a sip' he could 'save her' - or change her. And that seems to be what Bishop did to the new chick vamp as well - Aiden left her for dead, but instead of doing a clean up, they turned her...

2. What is the deal with the vampire ***** house? Are the girls in there volunteers and they just don't bite them enough to kill them? Or are they hypnotized into submission and end up getting eaten? Or are they vampires too - since we've just seen vampires like to eat each other too...

3. Are they really sticking to the old rules that vampires can't go into your home unless you invite them? They did this crazy music when Bishop entered someone's house one episode... what happens if you don't invite them, because Aiden went in without any trouble at all? Can they just not 'turn' you if you don't invite them?

Thanks for the help!