It was a weird time for television. In 2011, we were right in the middle of the "monster boom." Twilight was everywhere, The Vampire Diaries was peaking, and Syfy—a network usually known for space operas and low-budget shark movies—decided to remake a beloved British cult classic. People were skeptical. Honestly, I was one of them. Remaking a British show for an American audience usually goes about as well as putting ketchup on a fine steak. It’s often messy, unnecessary, and misses the point. But the Being Human North American TV series didn’t just survive the comparison; it carved out a soul of its own.
Most remakes fail because they try to copy the original frame-for-frame. This one didn’t. Instead, it took the core premise—a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost sharing a brownstone in Boston—and leaned into the "addiction" metaphor harder than the BBC version ever did. It stayed on the air for four seasons, which is basically a lifetime in cable sci-fi years.
The Boston Brownstone vs. The Bristol Flat
If you look at the original Toby Whithouse creation, it’s very British—gritty, cramped, and deeply cynical. When Muse Entertainment and Syfy brought it across the pond, they moved the setting to Boston. This wasn't just a cosmetic change. The Being Human North American TV series used the city's historical, cold, and somewhat claustrophobic atmosphere to mirror the internal struggles of the characters.
Sam Witwer, who played the vampire Aidan Waite, became the heartbeat of the show. If you've ever seen his work in Star Wars or Smallville, you know he has this intense, brooding energy that can occasionally veer into melodrama, but here, it was perfect. Aidan wasn't just a vampire; he was a recovering addict. Every time he looked at a human neck, you didn't see a predator; you saw someone six months sober staring at a bottle of bourbon. This was the show's greatest strength. It treated supernatural "curses" as chronic illnesses or behavioral disorders.
Then you had Josh Levison, played by Sam Huntington. Josh was the werewolf. In most media, being a werewolf is portrayed as "cool" or "empowering." Not here. For Josh, it was a monthly disaster that ruined his clothes, his relationships, and his self-esteem. He was high-strung, anxious, and deeply human. Meaghan Rath’s Sally Malik rounded out the trio as the ghost who couldn't leave her own house. The chemistry was instant. It wasn't forced. They actually felt like three broken people trying to pretend they were a normal family.
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Why Fans Keep Coming Back to the North American Version
There’s a common misconception that the US version was just a "glossy" reboot. That’s not true. While the production values were arguably higher, the story got significantly darker. By the time we hit season 2 and season 3, the Being Human North American TV series started diverging wildly from the British scripts.
The introduction of "The Mother" and the vampire hierarchy in Boston added a layer of political intrigue that the original lacked. It explored the idea of "Vampire Royalty" not as some sparkling aristocracy, but as a dirty, organized crime syndicate. It made the world feel lived-in and dangerous. You weren't just worried about the moon or the sun; you were worried about the bureaucratic nightmare of the supernatural underworld.
- Aidan’s Backstory: The show spent a lot of time in the American Revolutionary War era. We got to see Aidan as a soldier, which gave his modern-day struggle more weight. He wasn't just old; he was tired.
- Sally’s Evolution: Unlike the British Sally (Annie), Rath’s version eventually delved into some pretty dark magic and possession tropes. She wasn't just a victim of her death; she became a player in her afterlife.
- The Werewolf Curse: The show introduced the concept of "pureblood" werewolves and the idea that the curse could be managed, though never truly cured. It added a layer of tragic hope.
The Struggle for Identity
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the "remake" stigma. For the first thirteen episodes, the show followed the British beats almost exactly. It was distracting. If you’d seen the original, you knew exactly when the twist was coming. But something happened in the second season. The showrunners, Anna Fricke and Jeremy Carver, realized they had a different engine under the hood.
They leaned into the "Found Family" trope.
In the Being Human North American TV series, the house itself became a character. It was their sanctuary against a world that literally wanted them dead or dissected. The show tapped into that universal feeling of being an outsider. Whether you were dealing with mental health issues, feeling like a social pariah, or just struggling to pay rent while holding back a literal monster, the show spoke to you. It wasn't about the scares; it was about the morning after the scares when you have to clean the blood off the kitchen floor and go to work at the hospital.
The Legacy of Sam Witwer and the Cast
You can't discuss this show without acknowledging the fans. Even years after it went off the air in 2014, the "Being Human" fandom is surprisingly active. Why? Because the actors were incredibly accessible and genuinely cared about the material. Mark Pellegrino, who played Aidan’s maker, Bishop, brought a charismatic villainy to the screen that rivaled his work as Lucifer in Supernatural.
The show didn't overstay its welcome. It ended on its own terms after four seasons. While some fans wanted a fifth, the finale provided a sense of closure that is rare in the genre. It answered the fundamental question: can these monsters actually "be human"? The answer was nuanced. They couldn't change what they were, but they could change how they lived.
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It's a lesson that resonates. Honestly, most "supernatural" shows today feel like they're trying too hard to be the next big cinematic universe. Being Human just wanted to be a story about three roommates who happened to be dead or furry. It was intimate. It was small. It was, ironically, very human.
How to Watch and What to Look For
If you’re looking to dive into the Being Human North American TV series today, it’s widely available on various streaming platforms like AMC+ or for purchase on Amazon. If you’re a first-time viewer, here’s some advice: push through the first six episodes. Once the show stops trying to be a carbon copy of the UK version and starts taking its own risks, it becomes something special.
Pay attention to the color palette. Notice how the lighting shifts when the characters are "succumbing" to their natures versus when they are trying to fit in. The visual storytelling was surprisingly sophisticated for a Syfy show from that era. Also, look out for the guest stars; you’ll see plenty of faces that went on to become staples in the Vancouver/Montreal filming circuit.
Actionable Insights for Fans and New Viewers:
- Compare but don't contrast too harshly: If you've seen the UK version, treat this as an alternate timeline. The characters share names, but their destinies are completely different.
- Focus on the addiction metaphors: The show is much more rewarding if you view it through the lens of recovery and relapse. It adds a layer of depth that makes the "monster" stuff more impactful.
- Watch the "making of" specials: Sam Witwer is a massive nerd for the genre and his insights into how he developed Aidan’s physical movements—mimicking the "shakes" of a junkie—change how you view his performance.
- Check out the soundtrack: The music selection was top-tier, featuring indie tracks that perfectly captured the melancholy of the early 2010s.
The Being Human North American TV series remains a high-water mark for North American adaptations. It proved that you could take a foreign concept, respect the source material, and still grow something entirely new in different soil. It wasn't just a show about monsters; it was a show about the monstrous effort it takes just to get through a normal day.
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Next Steps for Your Rewatch:
To get the most out of the series, start by tracking the "Roommate Agreements" established in Season 1. Notice how these rules are systematically broken as the characters' lives spiral, reflecting their loss of control over their supernatural urges. If you're interested in the technical side, research Sam Witwer’s interviews regarding the "Vampire Physics" he helped develop for the show to ensure the movements felt grounded and visceral rather than magical. Once finished, compare the series finale of the North American version with the British ending; the thematic differences in how they define "redemption" are staggering.