I missed last week’s episode so had to catch up on the Beeb’s iPlayer service. Watching a couple of episodes of the show on the trot gave me flavour for what viewing the series on DVD might be like and it did enhance the experience further. Both episodes segued wonderfully into each other, the fifth of the series the set-up to the barnstorming finale. Unfortunately, the effects department let itself down again here giving a final wolfy incarnation that was more cartoon than CGI. It didn’t detract from the high action-drama on display, though, thankfully, largely once more down to the fine acting talents of Jason Watkins (Herrick) who has provided most of the series’ acting plaudits for me. Russell Tovey also came into his own in the final episode, although the whine and wimper did return in the penultimate one. Shame. As for Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner, well they have proved solid throughout the show, Turner in particular demonstrating a powerful screen presence that makes me want to see him in much more drama on the BBC. Herrick’s hissing and stake stabbing was all a little panto, one of the few duff points of this double-header. Mitchell also turned saviour, of sorts, to the acting travesty that was Lauren, driving a stake through her heart as a thank you for saving them all from the vampires’ funeral home lair. I think we all gave a loud ‘hoorah’ when that happened. The other plot highlight of episode five was Annie’s haunting of Owen. Starting off all a bit B-horror movie and then resulting in a rather excellent scary Mary moment (that whisper was a master stroke) that had Owen running for the nearest police cell. Speaking of George, it was nice to see how Nina’s calming influence turned him from a rabid dog into a little bag of calm. It will be interesting to see how this plotline is developed for series two, which is obviously coming given the series cliffhanger. Just who is Professor Jadat, how does he know about the three and what does he want with them? I guess all will be revealed when the second series airs. Being Human has been a generally excellent series, albeit with the odd dip here and there. With a little more effects budget and a few less obvious plot devices, this could be one of the Beeb’s very best. For now, though, I say goodbye to Mitchell’s brooding glare, adiós to Annie’s grey sweater and sayonara to George’s naked bottom. Check out our review of episode 4 here.
