Why I'm refusing to watch Being Human.

[amanuensis1]

In a new entry of "Amy is shallow" confessions:



...I don't want to watch this show because they made her the ghost.

G'wan, tell me it's awesome and that she kicks ass all the same and I shouldn't turn my back on it for that silly reason. I'm ready.

Comments

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Ha, I didn't know there were two versions at all! I just grabbed a promo pic off the web (and wondered why my brain was saying, "They look different from that pic in the magazine I saw the other day...Oh, well, I must be misremembering,").

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I had no idea there was more than one version, so I just google-imaged "Being Human" and all the promo pics seemed to be of these guys, so, I just grabbed one!

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Ah, someone with similar outrages! *embraces*

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I have now been enlightened that there are two versions: UK and US. Which version did you see?

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

(I didn't even know there were two versions!) I'm glad to know it turned out to be a decent show anyway! It just raises my hackles, to see them refuse to buck convention and to give the female the least dangerous of the three curses.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Neh, I don't want arse-kicking so much as I expect the vampire to have to go out and attack people for their blood, and the werewolf to have to lock himself away once a month so he doesn't hurt people, but what does the ghost do? Is she dangerous at all? It ticks me off.

(I didn't even know there was a BBC version before these comments! So confuzzled.)

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Thanks to you and everyone for enlightening me about the different versions, I had no idea! I just get pinged badly to see the female character assigned the non-dangerous curse. Unless you tell me she sucks life force outta people, or something?

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Now that I know there are two versions (which I didn't before all these comments!), which version are you recommending? I'm assuming the UK?

[alice_montrose]

I've only seen the UK version, so in good conscience I can only recommend that one.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Man, thank you guys for all the enlightenment. I had no idea there were two versions!

[drgaellon]

The US. My cable provider doesn't offer BBC America, damn it.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

With SyFy calling it an "original series, I bet lots of people won't know. Worse, eventually they'll think the American version came first.

[doctorjonesy.livejournal.com]

**Although I haven't given any of what I'd consider to be direct spoilers, some of what I've written here might make certain plot points more obvious than some people would like. I've tried not to talk too specifically about anything, though.**


I don't know about the US version, but the UK version is very good. Without going into too much detail, through the ghost character the show gets to deal with quite a few issues - one of which is violence against women. It seems (to me) like it was a conscious choice to have the ghost character be a woman. She starts off seeming weak - hardly able to have an effect on anything around her - but over time she discovers and hones her power. Her initial "weakness" is not a metaphor for womanhood, though; rather, it's a result of outside oppression.

Not only does she become "not weak", but as the story goes on it becomes obvious that she is not a regular ghost, that she has more power than a regular ghost, and that she is pretty much the complete opposite of passive. Added to that, her role never feels "tacked on". Her story and her issues are just as important as those of the other two - not just to her and to the viewers, but also to the other two main characters.

Also, there is later another excellent female character who more closely fits the traditional "dangerous" description. And by the looks of things, it seems like she is going to be a permanent member of the cast.

I can't really comment on the US version because even though it seems to be following the initial plot closely, I just can't be certain that it will have the same focus or awareness as the other one. But I definitely recommend the BBC version. A lot. Lenora Crichlow, the woman who plays the ghost, is awesome.

**Quick edit for clarity: When I say that the show deals with certain issues, I don't mean that it's an obvious moral-of-the-story type of thing. It's more that, in the course of the plot, those issues naturally arise.... If that makes any kind of sense.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the spoiler warning! (I agree with you, though, nothin' too spoilery there.) What you have to say about the deliberate choice to have the ghost a female as emphasis of that very issue--women and empowerment--is quite interesting, and I'd like to think that it was indeed a conscious choice.

[amorettea.livejournal.com]

As the series progresses, you find out her curse is damned dangerous as well.

[percysowner.livejournal.com]

I saw the UK version, haven't been interested in the remake. If you can Netflix or find a way to borrow the original, it is really good. As others have said, the ghost starts out less empowered but becomes very strong and proactive and has a neat wrap up to her first season storyline.

[schemingreader.livejournal.com]

In the UK version, she does kick ass. She is a dynamic character and we get to see a lot of her. She has powers and she is interesting, plus the actress has such a great face to watch.

I think you're right, that the female character should have been scarier, but the werewolf isn't exactly the toughest customer, either. It's still worth a look.

[persephone-blue.livejournal.com]

Ha ha, yes! But depending on how the show's received, I might wear down over time.

[pgmoonshine.livejournal.com]

My personal opinion is one of agreement - it was probably a knee jerk sexist decision, because I saw no particular thought delved into in the writing. She's still a pretty cool character, very charming, the actress plays her well and if they had to deny her active powers at least most people can't touch her if she doesn't allow it. Because we have a really gross, misogynistic spoiler coming up in episode two (which I'll refrain from describing without permission) which would have been 10x worse if she had been corporeal.

[freed-wings.livejournal.com]

There is a horrible lack of female werewolves. I actually can't name one.

[tamerterra.livejournal.com]

There is one in the show. She gets Plot and Angst and Deep Dark Secrets and Angry Rows. She ends up kinda more werewolf-like than werewolf-dude.

(I don't remember any of the names, as I haven't seen any actual episodes of this show in ages and ages.)

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Netflix is a lifesaver! But not a timesaver. ^_^ I'll see if I decide to make time.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to see people saying the show has merit! It renews my faith in television. ^_^

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Okay, that's just spoilery enough to intrigue! :D

[pgmoonshine.livejournal.com]

Explanation here. (http://meganbmoore.livejournal.com/1196549.html)