Being Human 3.01 Lia Review

Who knew purgatory could be so entertaining? CONTAINS DETAILED SPOILERS

Writers Toby Whithouse
Director Colin Teague

THE ONE WHERE The gang move to Wales and Mitchell goes to purgatory (it’d be churlish to say that’s a step up) to rescue Annie. Meanwhile Nina and George have the epitome of unsafe sex and the Welsh vampire community bite off more than they can chew when they abduct a werewolf for supernatural dog fighting.

VERDICT Being Human can never be accused of taking things slowly. When creator Toby Whithouse performs writing duty the episodes are usually jam packed, but even on that basis the start of season three sees us really hit the ground running.

With Annie commandeering TVs and the Box tunnel murders still fresh in the memory, Mitchell takes centre-stage in the first outing. Aidan Turner keeps just the right side of broody angst, helped in great part by a scene-stealing Lacey Turner, who in a few short scenes fills out Lia into a living, breathing bewitching mix of flirty young woman and bewildered, furious murder victim – although the twist about her identity was rather well signposted.

Nina and George are trying to hold things together in Honolulu Heights in Mitchell’s absence, but despite some lovely moments that will go some way to alleviating the complaints that the show has swapped witty banter for darkness in recent times – and Sinead Keenan wearing an outfit of some fanboys and some fangirls’ dreams – they take a bit of back seat this week, although Russell Tovey cements his standing as the man who can make you cry purely by crying himself (or is that just me?). But George also provided the episode’s two funniest moments – the “dogging” gag must have been on Whithouse’s mind for a while now, waiting for an opportunity to make it on screen, while his realisation that he and Nina had just done it doggy fashion was hilarious.

Lia isn’t the only great new character. Forget the fishing, Robson Green is great as McNair, and looks set to bring a different kind of werewolf sensibility to the mix – the difference in transformation between him and Tom, embracing the wolf, as opposed to Nina and George (clearly dreading it) looks set to bring an interesting new dynamic to things... Although it doesn’t bode well for the whole “wolf shaped bullet” thing.

Oh, and did anyone else notice in between fearing for her (after) life, Annie somehow managed to fit in time for a new hairstyle in purgatory?

FLASHBACKTASTIC The many meals of Mitchell make for a series of flashbacks starting in First World War France and continuing up to the present day.

POP CULTURE REFERENCE OF THE WEEK There are some great ones, particularly during the early scenes in Honolulu Heights, not least Midsomer Murders , George’s “say what you see” and Nina describing the Annie-less trio as “you, me and Count Dupree”. But McNair and Tom discussing whether they should go and see The Wolfman is a highlight. Arguably being abducted was probably slightly more fun.

MISSING POP CULTURE REFERENCE OF THE WEEK The gang move to Barry in Wales and there’s not a Gavin And Stacey joke? Not even one?

STARSTRUCK If you want proof that Being Human is now in the major league, look at the supporting cast. Last season might have seen a creepy Terry Wogan cameo, but this year in episode one alone we’ve got Lacey Turner ( EastEnders ), Kai Owen (who manages to out-smut Torchwood with his turn as dogging Bob), Paul Kaye (whose vampire fight club organiser has clearly spent a lot of time watching Buffy and models himself somewhat on Spike), Michael Sorcha ( This is England , and brother of Kelly from Misfits to boot) and your nan’s favourite, Robson Green himself. Great stuff, unless the latter’s going to start singing any time soon.

BEST LINE:
Mitchell: “I hacked my way through the world, I left a trail of blood a thousand miles long and I loved it. I’m a disease. I’m plague. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Reviewer: Narin Bahar