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On Supernatural Saturdays, BBC America brings viewers the fourth season of the UK hit, Being Human. Like the US series of the same name, Being Human revolves around a supernatural trinity (a werewolf, a ghost and a vampire) sharing a house and trying to navigate their increasingly complicated lives.
The new season has brought several cast changes, yet the essence of Being Human is still very much intact. Lenora Crichlow, the only remaining original cast member, returns as ghost Annie, now at the center of the series. This season, Annie takes on the role of protector to a very special baby, prophesized as "The War Child." This new responsibility brings plenty of danger, as well as plenty of opportunities for Annie to show what she's made of. Still reeling from the loss of her friends, Annie is trying to build real connections with her new housemates and turn this supernatural trio into the family unit they are all so desperately in need of. This season will also see the exploration of Annie's now-infamous ghostly powers, which viewers have only been given brief glimpses of in seasons past. Add to that a potential new romance and everyone's favorite friendly ghost has a lot on her plate in the new season.
Joining Annie for season 4 is at least one familiar face -- werewolf Tom, played to adorable perfection by Michael Socha. Tom is once again the naïve, innocent one of the bunch, thanks to the sheltered life he has led up until now. But as Tom begins to interact more with the general public, that naivete will start to be stripped away, all while providing some very humorous--and often awkward--moments. Rounding out the main cast is Damien Molony as vampire Hal. Like Tom and Annie, Hal starts the season in a very dark place, having lost the safety net he has relied on to keep his "condition" (vampirism) in-check. Being the newbie of the group, Hal remains rather mysterious, even as we start to learn more about his very violent past and understand the potential consequences if he 'relapses'. Will Hal be able to stay in control or will he revert to his former, chaotic ways? And how will Tom react to Hal's presence in the house, given his (at best) antagonistic feelings toward vampires? With threats mounting on all sides, will Annie and the boys be able to protect baby Eve and keep their own demons at bay?
Give the recent cast changes, some long-time fans may be hesitant to give the new season a chance, but I think the early episodes prove that this is still the Being Human fans know and love. The new season does serve as a bit of a fresh start, though. The writers have the chance to explore new dynamics and introduce a crop of new characters, while the uninitiated among us are given the opportunity to jump right into the action. Whether you have loved the show from the start or have never seen a single episode, the new season of Being Human has plenty to offer.
Being Human airs Saturday nights at 9/8c on BBC America.
