Buffy the Vampire Slayerwent on to be a hugely influential TV show, and one of the projects it inspired just five years after it ended shouldn’t be missed. TheBuffycastchanged a little over the years, but Sarah Michelle Gellar’s role remained in place as the show’s title star throughout.
Every season ofBuffy the VampireSlayerbrought something new to the table, setting a strong precedent for its successors. While it’s technically a horror show,Buffyfits into the category ofhorror shows that aren’t too extreme, so its appeal was far broader than some of its competitors. The same is also true of another horror-lite show that followed in its wake.
Being Human Is A British Horror Dramedy Show For Fans Of The Buffy Franchise
The BBC’s 2008 supernatural offering is criminally underrated
Being Humanran for five seasons, from 2008 to 2013. LikeBuffy, the British project knew how to perfectly tread the line between accessible horror that wouldn’t alienate portions of the crowd and more comedic/lighthearted moments. As such,Being Humanwould often have me laughing one moment, then worrying about the characters' fates the next.
WhereBeing Humandiffers most notably fromBuffyis that the former has no primary protagonist.
Also, likeBuffy, whileBeing Humanwent heavy on vampire lore, it didn’t ignore other supernatural tropes. Werewolves and ghosts were also folded heavily into the narrative, and all three monsters were shown in a new light. WhereBeing Humandiffers most notably fromBuffyis that the former has no primary protagonist, whereas the latter is unmistakably the story of Sarah Michelle Gellar’s character.
With Just 37 Episodes, Being Human Is An Easy Binge-Watch
British shows typically have shorter seasons
British shows, even before the age of streaming had really taken hold, generally tend to be shorter than American ones. So, even thoughBeing Humanis five seasons long, the show only ever produced 37 episodes. The first and final seasons consist of just six installments each, whereas the middle three runs all have eight episodes.
So, if you’re looking for a great show that scratches the same itch asBuffy the Vampire Slayer, that also won’t take months to get through,Being Humanticks all the relevant boxes. AlthoughBeing Human’s original cast is gradually replaced, the show’s formula remains very similar, and the newcomers offer something fresh rather than trying to simply imitate their predecessors.
Being Human’s American Remake Is Okay, But Not As Good As The Original
Syfy took the reins for Being Human US
Being Humanperformed so well in the UK that it was given the American treatment in 2011, meaning both iterations of the show were on air at the same time for a little while.Being HumanUK ended in 2013, whereas the US remake drew to a close in 2014.
2008-2013
5
37
100%
2011-2014
4
52
77%
The American reimagining ofBeing Humanis still a good show, but it doesn’t quite live up to the standard set by the original. While season 1 of the US version is remarkably similar to its UK counterpart, the two shows diverge quite considerably after that. So, those who enjoy the originalBeing Human’s formula can find plenty of new things to enjoy in the remake.
Being Human
Cast
Being Human (2008) is a British supernatural drama series that follows three housemates living in Bristol—a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost—as they struggle to navigate their shared existence while concealing their true nature from the outside world.
A werewolf, a vampire, and a ghost share an apartment. Together they attempt to blend into normal society and live alongside humans, despite the challenges posed by their own natures, social prejudices, and pressures from others of their own kind.
