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Being Human series 2 episode 3 review

Mark Oakley


The mysterious Professor Jaggat is revealed as Being Human just keeps on delivering the goods...

Published on Jan 25, 2010


There are major spoilers in this review if you've not yet seen this episode.

Has everyone who wants the episode's big reveal to remain a secret gone elsewhere? Good.

So, Lucy is Professor Jaggat - did anyone see that coming? I certainly didn't, although perhaps that's just because I'm not very clever. If you did see it a mile off - my wife certainly ‘wasn't particularly surprised' - then you'll at least have been happy to note that it came out in the open so early on (we are only at episode three of eight after all). A well executed reveal anyway, right at the episode's death, although it does leave some questions unanswered for me.

Does she know Mitchell is a vampire or has he blissfully walked into her world of redemption? Is she, in fact, genuinely trying to help these poor unfortunates that she promises to save or is she actually a little more like her key stooge, a little less enamoured with demons and ghouls and decidedly keen on all things God? Certainly the glimpse of her cross around her neck would appear to suggest that religion could have a major role to play in the final reckoning for all concerned.

On one level, I'm pleased that the show's creators have gone down this road and have potentially created yet another multi-layered character that could really complicate Mitchell's life further still. On the other, I'm torn the other way, as I actually rather liked the idea of Mitchell juggling a relatively normal, human love life with his own many, many troubles. And, boy, are they beginning to mount up.

If we thought Ivan presented a possible stumbling block, that was nothing compared to this week's fevered ranting and chanting by the vampiric faithful. Trying to keep the peace and get things back on track - there needs to be an order to how the vampires go about things or all hell will break loose, goes his theory - he found himself heralded as the new replacement for Herrick. Lord of all he surveyed, Mitchell seemed to take some form of pleasure from the rampant table banging and looks of awe but we'll find out more next week. One thing is for sure: he's attempting to cover up too many tracks and going down so many dark paths that he's bound to come unstuck by the series end.

Hopefully, his story won't come unstuck as harshly as it did for the dumb but oddly endearing female vampire with a Cornish glint who was dealt the most severe of punishments. Mirroring the periodic flashback at the start of the episode (which weaved humour into the horror with great aplomb) as to how suspected vampires were dealt with in the 1600s, Mitchell showed no mercy and showed just how strong he can be when push comes to shove. Is he moving increasingly away from his human life? Undoubtedly, and all bets are off for how far he'll fall in the episodes to come.

A quick mention must also go to the new police constable on the block, played wonderfully by Ian Puleston-Davies whom I recognised from Alan Partridge (the old school friend with the cock drawn on his back). In what is a role so far removed from the pure comedy of Coogan's work, he demonstrated smarm, intelligence and genuine threat in his brief appearances here and is obviously going to play a large part in the development of this series.

George and Annie were handed the secondary, more light-hearted story of the episode as Annie felt it was her duty to put things right during her, now probably, limited time on earth. Back to being neither seen nor heard, she set about matchmaking publican Hugh with his old girlfriend (he got over Annie quick enough).

Using recently dumped George as bait, the sequences were funny, yet often cringeworthy and, while I like Russell Tovey doing funny, I still feel that the show fell back on its treatment of Annie once more in this episode. Lenora Critchlow will be given more to do, I'm sure (last week's episode was proof of that), but for the moment I've yet to be convinced that her character will play anything more than the third wheel for the bulk of this series.

George, on the other hand found, himself on a very touching journey this week in his quest to get over Nina leaving him, culminating in an emotional breakdown that will have warmed the coldest of hearts. To see Tovey crash like that following Nina's phone call was a marvellous slice of dramatic acting that wouldn't be out of place on the big screen. Gut-wrenching stuff.

One thing I haven't really touched upon thus far in covering this series is the visual flair it's exhibiting. With a new series has come increased confidence in realising Toby Whithouse's vision, wide angle shots of Bristol juxtaposed with tight close-ups of vampire kills for maximum effect. Lighting played a huge part in this episode, too, the darker recesses of Bristol's underground caves offset with the bright lights of the shopping centre for the Cornish killer's next move. It's intelligent programme making and keeps me entertained week after week.

Next week's preview saw Nina complaining of a nosebleed. If Prof. Jaggat's past ‘clients' are anything to go by, things are about to get a whole lot worse.

Check out our review of episode 2 here.

 

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Users Comments

Re: Being Human series 2 episode 3 review
Posted By Feefers 1 January 25, 2010 09:49:45 AM

A friend pointed out this to me that in the first week trailer we saw George in a cage, something we haven't actually seen at all, could it be the beeb is actually using fake trailers to throw people off and tempt them into watching?

Re: Being Human series 2 episode 3 review
Posted By kool_kats_rule 1 January 25, 2010 10:09:53 AM

Re: Feefers The preview after the first episode showed stuff from the whole series, not just the next episode. It's actually pretty common.

Re: Being Human series 2 episode 3 review
Posted By cordas2 1 January 25, 2010 11:59:36 AM

I was pretty disappointed with this episode. I felt the Mitchell story lacked any real gravitas as I just don't believe in Mitchell 'the king', and I can't see many of the vampires falling for it. Either Mitchell is living off a past reputation (something which has been hinted at) or he needs to behaving far more convincingly than showing a handful of teeth, if they want me the viewer to believe its possible they need to show me why. As for the George and Annie date machine, what a pile of garbage. It was predictable smush that has no place in an ozzie soap let alone any drama that wants to be taken seriously! Tovey threw himself at it, and did do lots of 'acting' but to me it was just as false as the pathetic 'story'. I liked the reveal of Lucy as Jaggat but wasn't in the least bit surprised by it, I am ambivalent about it at the moment, I was rocking the Mitchell/Lucy relationship but am sure she knows exactly what he is.

Re: Being Human series 2 episode 3 review
Posted By orangewarrior 1 January 25, 2010 01:47:21 PM

my eagle-eyed wife pointed out that the broad accented vampire girl who Mitchell dealt with was last seen as a human, running the hospital snack shop and flirting with Herrick, somewhere during series 1. Nice little easter egg i thought

Re: Being Human series 2 episode 3 review
Posted By Hedgie 1 January 25, 2010 02:07:19 PM

I thought this episode dragged at bit. I agree that Mitchell's rise to 'king' was a bit incredible, but the growing moral complications of getting involved with the vampire system were very nicely done. The Annie/George story was filler. I thought the Jaggat reveal was fairly well flagged from the first episode (she's such a controlled character; the cutaways to Lucy's face after scenes with Mitchell always showed her facial expression change abruptly; Prof Jaggat's gender was never revealed through pronouns - and there just had to be a reason for his/her absence; CenSSa was monitoring George, Mitchell and Annie at home so it makes sense they would also watch them at work), so I was pleased to be proved right but not at all surprised.

Re: Being Human series 2 episode 3 review
Posted By MarvMarble 1 January 25, 2010 04:49:14 PM

"my eagle-eyed wife pointed out that the broad accented vampire girl who Mitchell dealt with was last seen as a human, running the hospital snack shop and flirting with Herrick, somewhere during series 1. " She was running the snack shop, but that wasn't the last time she was seen. We saw her after she had been changed with the other vampires at the funeral place. The suggestion was, she was Merrick's squeeze, although we only saw them snog.

Re: Being Human series 2 episode 3 review
Posted By MarvMarble 1 January 25, 2010 04:51:17 PM

Thank goodness. (Oh for paragraph breaks.) Anyway, an enjoyable episode. I agree concerning the cringeworthy stuff, although it was funny for that. Could have done without the Cornish bint gurning away to the Rehab song though. Dear me.

Re: Being Human series 2 episode 3 review
Posted By chewedmelon 1 January 27, 2010 04:48:08 PM

Have any of you seen this? Being Human supplemental material. My mate Mark who plays Jaggart's tech-geek recorded them especially. http://www.censsa.co.uk/ I know this looks like a spambot thing but it's legit.

Re: Being Human series 2 episode 3 review
Posted By bobsuncorp 1 January 30, 2010 10:27:41 PM

I freakin loved the bit when the lads found out "The Real Hustle" had been moved. I was laughing so hard, and also filled with sympathy. I hate that show but I loathe when my shows are changed around.

Re: Being Human series 2 episode 3 review
Posted By admilx 1 May 7, 2010 10:42:11 AM

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Re: Being Human series 2 episode 3 review
Posted By admilx 1 May 7, 2010 10:43:19 AM

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