Being Human Recap: Episode 1.09 – I Want You Back (From the Dead)
One of the great things about watching a new show that’s actually good is seeing the character development. When you’re dealing with a story that concerns monsters there’s a fine line between quality and campy. This show could easily stumble across that line into the campy realm but nine weeks in, the quality really stands out. The writers are doing a spectacular job with each of the three characters showing their different sides.
The latest episode, while a bit of downer, did have some revelations. I’d have to say that torment was this week’s theme. Sally was back roaming the halls of the dead and came across a message that was left there by someone she knew when she was alive. Nick was a teachers assistant in one of Sally’s college classes in her pre-Danny era. She had what she called a “violent crush” on Nick at the time and we find out that he had one on her as well, but their timing never worked. Now they’re both dead. She seeks him out and it looks like they have the beginnings of a relationship.
Nick tells Sally about how he died and it turns out that he has to relive his death every day. He tells her that by doing so, he remembers what it was like to be alive. Nick has some issues, but then again so does Sally. She admits to him that she tends to throw herself into her relationships which become all about the other person. She admits to dismissing her dreams and aspirations all for the sake of the other person. In this case, Danny. Unfortunately she’s dead and the lightbulb went off just a little too late. This could be part of the resolutions she needs to make in order to move on, but it’s not quite clear yet. I’d be interested to see where this thing with Nick will go. I think he’s an interesting character to throw into the mix and it’s nice to see Sally find a little bit of joy even if it comes with some baggage.
Josh, Josh, Josh. Sometimes he’s so awkward it’s painful. It’s episodes like this that I really have to hand it to Sam Huntington. He’s so good in this role it’s scary. We see Josh and Nora’s relationship evolving and it’s great to see him happy. But after having a dream where he starts to change while in Nora’s presence makes him rethink their relationship. He tells Nora that they need to slow down and not be so intimate with each other and she takes that to mean that he doesn’t want to be with her. Once he sees her talking to the hottie doc though he changes his mind. He tells her that there is something that he can’t share with her but it caused the breakdown of his relationship with his family and fiance and he doesn’t want to hurt her. Nora tells him that she has seen some ugly things in her life and bares her extremely scarred stomach to him.
Josh has his secrets, but he’s not the only one. Monster or not, everyone has their own cross to bear and this scene really shows that. We can see that Josh really cares about Nora and that he wants to be with her, but he’s so worried about his affliction getting in the way. I’m really curious to see how Nora’s abuse plays out as well where their relationship goes.
Aidan was a mess this week. At the beginning of the episode we see Bernie getting harassed by the neighborhood bullies that Aidan saved him from last week. After the DVD fiasco, Aidan has to stay away from him so he doesn’t come to the kid’s rescue, but instead goes inside the house. Much to his horror, Bernie gets hit by a car. Feeling responsible, Aidan heads to the, for lack of a better term, vampire brothel and goes on a bender. Blood drunk, he comes close to draining one of the girls, until Rebecca of all people, storms in to stop him.
I actually thought that Rebecca was going to turn herself around here. She was acting like the responsible one, but of course that couldn’t last and her bad decision-making skills took center stage again when she decided to “help” Aidan by turning Bernie with the hope that the three of them could be some sort of freaky vampire family. Little does she know that turning children is forbidden because they are unstable. This fact is made known when the bullies are found dead with bites to their neck.
Josh rails into Aidan about the secrets he’s keeping and how his decisions are affecting everything that is happening around them. This shows that Aidan seems to be on a bit of a downward spiral that he’s having a hard time getting out of. Bishop is really the main architect here though. He sent Marcus to kill the kids so it would look like it was Bernie who did it. Taking responsibility for his indirect actions, Aidan quickly and quietly stakes Bernie through the heart so that problem is resolved. The toll that it takes on Aidan is clearly evident however. I’m thinking that this is going to have some long-term effects on him and his mental state.
Then we have Bishop. Bishop is able to pull on Aidan’s leash when he feels the need but also lets out enough slack to make Aidan think he’s doing his own thing. This isn’t going to play out very well at all. Especially with Marcus in the mix. Marcus has some serious fang envy when it comes to Aidan. His desire to be Bishop’s prodigal son is so strong and I get the feeling he’s going to taking some very drastic measures to get Aidan out of the picture.
Being nine weeks into the first season I can only think that we’ll be winding down in a few more weeks. I’m hoping to get some confirmation on that and when I know, so will you. I’ll be sad to see this season end. I’m thinking that things between Marcus and Aidan are really going to come to a head as well as Marcus and Bishop. Those elders that Marcus called on previously are going to show up and I can’t imagine that’s going to play out well at all. At some point Josh is going to have to come clean with Nora and just how exactly is that going to play out?
Like I mentioned earlier, it would be easy for a show of this concept to slip right into campy. Focusing on the character’s flaws, strengths and humanity keeps this show grounded and you can’t help but adore each of them warts and all.
Tags: Being Human, Being Human Recap, Ghosts, Meaghan Rath, Sam Huntington, Sam Witwer, SyFy, Vampires, Werewolves
