Being Human UK 3.01
Not liveblogging this time; just some random thoughts after watching.
This was a good introduction to the season: a nice balance of introducing their new environment while also addressing the fallout from last season, particularly Mitchell's actions. I really liked the intervention that was held for him, forcing him to face up to the fact that he made a choice. I get the impression that he was very much a slacker--generally well-intentioned, but not expending more effort than necessary. Including the effort to really think about what he was doing. I don't know how exactly he'll live with himself after being forced to face up to his actions, but then again, he was having trouble even before his visit to purgatory, relentlessly forcing himself to listen to the news stories about what he did and desperate to save Annie because it's the only good thing he can do at that moment. And he gets that, which may be enough for him to carry on. (Also, it was nice seeing Mitchell actually using his brain and doing a bit of creative problem solving in figuring out a way to go get Annie.)
I know I keep harping on this and I should just give up and accept that the writers didn't think it through, but...I don't get the mythology. I really don't. So we finally have an origin story for Mitchell in the form of details about what happened after he ran into Herrick and the others. We find out he ran away from Herrick and returned to his unit, where he managed to go four weeks without drinking blood before he finally gave in to the craving. Vampires in this world don't need to drink blood, but they want to. Until they don't. Because Mitchell says the craving--which is there from their creation--eventually fades. This whole mythology would work much better if he hadn't said that. But of course, then they wouldn't get the great bit about how it's not the addiction that pulls vampires back in, it's the memory of the things they did while they were drinking blood. But if it is true, how is it that no vampire has ever recruited a new vampire, then kept them locked away until the initial craving faded. That would be just about perfect, wouldn't it? No blood-addiction, no terrible memories, no guilt. All of the advantages of being a vampire and none of the downsides. Which, IMO, is one of the reasons that allowing the craving to fade is an issue. (Also, Mitchell retaining enough control to plan his first kill--to find a way to rationalize it by making sure his victim didn't suffer--is far more disturbing to me than if he'd simply lost control and literally been unable to stop himself.)
I was glad to see them get Annie back--I adored her homecoming scene--but a lot of that story disturbed. Because it seems like they put her through hell--literally threatened her with hell--as a wait to lure Mitchell in. She was used as bait, which is absolutely horrible. Alternately, she was treated that way because she was involuntarily dragged through the wrong door and they really are that hung up on paperwork, which is equally horrible in its own way.
I think George and Nina's story was mostly set-up for later in the season. Evil vampires. More werewolves. Etc. Well, and a couple of things I can guess at from things I've heard about the show--including one that happens much later than I was expecting, based on the timing in BHUS.
This entry was originally posted at http://skieswideopen.dreamwidth.org/123009.html, where it has
comments. Comments are equally welcome on either entry.
This was a good introduction to the season: a nice balance of introducing their new environment while also addressing the fallout from last season, particularly Mitchell's actions. I really liked the intervention that was held for him, forcing him to face up to the fact that he made a choice. I get the impression that he was very much a slacker--generally well-intentioned, but not expending more effort than necessary. Including the effort to really think about what he was doing. I don't know how exactly he'll live with himself after being forced to face up to his actions, but then again, he was having trouble even before his visit to purgatory, relentlessly forcing himself to listen to the news stories about what he did and desperate to save Annie because it's the only good thing he can do at that moment. And he gets that, which may be enough for him to carry on. (Also, it was nice seeing Mitchell actually using his brain and doing a bit of creative problem solving in figuring out a way to go get Annie.)
I know I keep harping on this and I should just give up and accept that the writers didn't think it through, but...I don't get the mythology. I really don't. So we finally have an origin story for Mitchell in the form of details about what happened after he ran into Herrick and the others. We find out he ran away from Herrick and returned to his unit, where he managed to go four weeks without drinking blood before he finally gave in to the craving. Vampires in this world don't need to drink blood, but they want to. Until they don't. Because Mitchell says the craving--which is there from their creation--eventually fades. This whole mythology would work much better if he hadn't said that. But of course, then they wouldn't get the great bit about how it's not the addiction that pulls vampires back in, it's the memory of the things they did while they were drinking blood. But if it is true, how is it that no vampire has ever recruited a new vampire, then kept them locked away until the initial craving faded. That would be just about perfect, wouldn't it? No blood-addiction, no terrible memories, no guilt. All of the advantages of being a vampire and none of the downsides. Which, IMO, is one of the reasons that allowing the craving to fade is an issue. (Also, Mitchell retaining enough control to plan his first kill--to find a way to rationalize it by making sure his victim didn't suffer--is far more disturbing to me than if he'd simply lost control and literally been unable to stop himself.)
I was glad to see them get Annie back--I adored her homecoming scene--but a lot of that story disturbed. Because it seems like they put her through hell--literally threatened her with hell--as a wait to lure Mitchell in. She was used as bait, which is absolutely horrible. Alternately, she was treated that way because she was involuntarily dragged through the wrong door and they really are that hung up on paperwork, which is equally horrible in its own way.
I think George and Nina's story was mostly set-up for later in the season. Evil vampires. More werewolves. Etc. Well, and a couple of things I can guess at from things I've heard about the show--including one that happens much later than I was expecting, based on the timing in BHUS.
This entry was originally posted at http://skieswideopen.dreamwidth.org/123009.html, where it has
comments. Comments are equally welcome on either entry.