American "Being Human"

[shipperx]

Well, they tried to retain some off the 'look.' The apartment is different but they were clearly shooting for some of the same art direction. Same with the hospital and room where George now Josh locks himself in. They even took the shot of George Josh with the dead deer. Same look to the vamping too. AnnieSally's outfit is somewhat similar.

Not at all sure why they changed the names. George is now Josh. Annie is now, inexplicably Sally (isn't Annie a more common American name? Why the frell Sally?) And Mitchell is now Aidan (which is just darn confusing!)

Oh and Merrick is now Bishop. (Seriously, what was the purpose of the name changes? I do not get it.)

They also decided to up both GeorgeJosh and Aidan from just being orderlies (I've forgotten the Brit term for their job, but from the way it was depicted, it was always the U.S. version of an orderly). GeorgeJosh is now pre-med and Aidan is a nurse. Annie Sally was a grad student. GeorgeJosh also now has a sister. I hope to god the irritating nurse isn't the American Nina. Seriously, if she is I'll be quite upset.

Plotwise, it's basically the same only more linear. Stuff that was shown in flashback (such as meeting Annie) was shown as linear plot here. Dialog and scenes were different. The death of Lauren Rebecca was shown as linear plot as well, except they sort of truncated it strangely.

Basically story is recognizably the same, but the script is different.

Comments

[sp23.livejournal.com]

I watched about forty minutes of it, but turned it off. It's neither different enough or charming enough to take the place of the original in my heart. I agree about the nurse... she's very irritating.

Good news is, I don't have to worry about finding time to watch another show. :-)

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen the original, so I quite enjoyed this version. I'm sure it helped not to have anything to compare it to, and I'm not saying it's great art, but I like the characters enough to come back for more, and that's more than I can say about a lot of shows I've tried to watch.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I just think I'm not going to bother. It'll only make me upset. Same with American version of Skins. I'll just flail forever about new episodes THIS WEEK!

[queenofattolia.livejournal.com]

Seriously, what was the purpose of the name changes? I do not get it

This is an ORIGINAL SYFY SERIES, L. Changing the names makes it original.

I refuse to watch it. It sounds pointless and horrible.

[queenofattolia.livejournal.com]

Oh, and George and Mitchell were both porters in the hospital. I love that the British don't have to make everyone upwardly mobile. It's ridiculous that Mitchell is pre-med - why, because he'll have easier access to blood bags? Yep, that's it.

I hate US versions of great UK shows. They always blow in comparison.

[gamiila.livejournal.com]

Well, that all sounds pretty pointless to me. I'm looking forward to Sunday, and the start of the third series in Britain.

[silverusagi]

Maybe it has to do with some licensing thing, about naming the characters the same?

[francy-m79.livejournal.com]

I have considered watching this out of curiosity... but I think I won't bother. With the original coming back on air next Sunday, it doesn't feel necessary. Alas, the remake isn't necessary to begin with! *rolls eyes*

[chloris67.livejournal.com]

I'm happy with the British version so I wasn't planning to watch this anyway but changing the names ensures that I will never try! I don't think my brain can handle keeping that straight. :D

They also decided to up both George Josh and Aidan from just being orderlies

Huh? Wasn't that the point? That they couldn't ever really be part of human society or be visible. Their very natures demand they live on the fringes!

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Mitchell is a nurse. George is pre-med... except I can't even figure out how that would work because the whole subplot was his sister just now finding him since he had disappeared, so maybe he is just an orderly and only used to be pre-med? They only mention the pre-med bit.

[sp23.livejournal.com]

Oh, please, stop trying to insert logic into a Syfy remake of a great show. ;-)

[ladypeyton.livejournal.com]

I kind of hated it. Instead of trusting that American audiences would be able to figure out how the characters felt they had to tell us in voice over and uncomfortable and clunkily written dialog.

Dialog that ended up making Josh look more whiny and self absorbed than George is. And as much as I love him, George is already incredibly whiny and self absorbed.

I'm going to continue to give it a chance though because as much as I dislike the actor playing Aiden I like the actor who plays Josh and I like Sally. Possibly more than I like Annie but I haven't decided.

I have to say though that discovering that there is going to be a US Misfits *right* after I saw the US Being Human made the news all the more horrifying.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Maybe they changed it to look like they weren't copying the original completely? Although it sort of sounds like they did anyhow.

Taped it last night, but haven't seen it yet. Admittedly on the fence.

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

Am watching it now on DVR.

The Aidan/Mitchell fellow looks like they were going for a more "Angel" look but fell short, ending with a guy who just kinda appears square (as in shape) and blockish... (and maybe square in the other meaning, as well). The George/Josh guy is all right, but totally lacks Russell Tovey's astounding charm. I haven't seen the Sally/Annie character yet, and already I'm feeling the hairs on the back of my neck rise, but maybe that's totally because I have seen the original and feel no need for this rehash.

The music is good, though.