Being Human, Season Four Episode Seven: Gallows Humor

Aidan is siting outside when he is joined by Kenny.  Aidan expects Kenny to judge him because he just finished slaughtering a human but Kenny calls it a slip up and adds that one slip up does not invalidate Aidan's way of life. Kenny tells Aidan that he should become back to the office because he believes that all of the fresh blood is reeking havoc on Aidan's system. Aidan leaves asking Kenny to take care of the body

Back at the house, Sally, Josh and ghost Robbie stand over his body when Nora enters wondering what is going on. Robbie asks why he can be seen by Josh and Nora and Nora reveals that they are werewolves. Josh offers his condolences and then says that they need to figure out what to do with Robbie's body. Robbie wonders if this is really happening and asks Sally what happened to her.  Sally explains that Danny killed her. Sally beings to wonder if there is a way to bring Robbie back from the dead.  Upstairs, Josh pleads with them to wait until Aidan returns home because of the drawbacks of raising a corpse.  Sally makes it clear that she would never do to Robbie what was done to her. Sally demands that no one touch Robbie's body. Aidan enters and realises that Robbie is now a ghost and he offers his condolences to Sally.

Aidan heads downstairs to supposedly grab blood and leans over Robbie's body.  When Sally appears, she finds Aidan kneeling over Robbie's body with all black eyes. Aidan immediately apologises and Sally blows it off then brings up using magic to save Robbie.  Aidan tells Sally that her power is part of who she is now and that this is a good use of her power.  Sally reveals that she needs to summon Donna because there is no spell to save Robbie in the book.

Upstairs, Josh tells Robbie that him returning to life is between him and his sister.  Sally comes upstairs and says that she needs to go and find Donna and rejects Robbie's offer to help.  Josh and Nora volunteer to watch over Robbie and Sally leaves instructing Nora and Josh to stop Robbie from going through his door if it arrives. Robbie begs Sally not to walk out on him again and she promises that she will come back.

At a department store, Sally exists the body of a woman who she used to move a riser.  As she climes the stairs, the pilgrims appear again. Donna begs to be left alone and Sally drags her through her death spot.

Aidan pays a visit to Suzanna and he says that he needs something to control his hunger.  Suzanna says that it took her years to wean herself and hands Aidan a small bottle of blood to comsume.  The blood makes Aidan sick and he collapses across the bed.

Nora and Josh head into the kitchen and Josh assures Nora that Robbie is just terrified and not himself. Nora says that she is feeling out of her league with the whole ghost counselling. It seems that Nora is concerned about sending the message that the paranormal world is grand.  Josh admits that he has not been the same person since he was brought back and he wonders if Donna can fix him. Josh argues that it was the magic that did this to him but Nora is not convinced and argues back that the magic didn't make him like it. Nora adds that the magic didn't make him lie to her.  Robbie suddenly appears in the kitchen interrupting the conversation.

Back at the department store, Donna tells Sally that she didn't save her from anything and that as long as her death spot is intact, it's a two way door. Sally asks why Donna asked her to summon her the last time and Donna reveals that coming back through her death door forces her to relive it.  Donna says that she has a story just like Sally.  Sally says that Robbie is dead and asks for help bringing him back.  Donna replies that her magic has limits and that bringing somebody back from the other side goes against nature. Sally asks if there is another way.  The two end up in the woods and bicker about Sally's plans and the consequences of her actions.  They are transported back to Donna's death scene, where Donna is hung for being a witch.

Aidan is now passed out on Suzanna's floor and she reveals that she could smell the live blood on him and asks who it was. Suzanna has a stake in her hands and says that she is now going to force Aidan to dry out. Again with the comparison to substance abuse.

Sally and Donna are in the past and Donna reveals that they are in the year 1692, as they watch a group of women prepare for some sort of ceremony. Donna says that if this happens each time Sally time travels each time she does magic that means that the tether holding her in place will eventually snap, leaving her lost in time for good. The women now uncover past Donna's body and she explains that this is how she died twice.

Suanna pours water over Aidan to wake up and says that the pain of withdrawal is a reminder of what he has done. Aidan cowers as Suzanna asks for the name of the girl he killed. When Aidan replies that he doesn't remember, Suzanna says that remembering her name would be to honour her death.  Suzanna orders Aidan to picture the girl's face and tell her the victim's name.  Aidan says that the girl had pretty eyes and talks about how the life drained out of them. Suzanna  tells Aidan that she is not going away, so Aidan reveals the victim's name was Amy.  Suzanna demands that Aidan talk about Amy and he talks about how her blood tasted and how the life ran into his mouth.  Suzanna tells Aidan that remembering what he did and the person he did it to is what is going to stop him from killing ever again.  Aidan says that he does not understand because this is what they are and that punishing him isn't going to work because the only thing that makes him feel good is blood.

Bitter Disenchantment (Coveted 0.4) by Shawntelle Madison

Bitter Disenchantment is a prequel to Coveted, which is the first book in the series. In the first book we meet the redheaded  Aggie McClure after she had already fled her father and her pack.  Bitter Disenchantment focuses on Aggie's background as the former alpha female heir to the McClure pack.  

From the outside it would seem that Aggie's life was going reasonably well.  Aggie, being the only daughter of Desmond McClure, lives in luxury and even had a great job at her father's company.  Her largest worry is what will happen to her mother now that her father has chosen to discard her mother in hopes of getting a male heir.  Though Aggie is very dominant, the patriarchal nature of werewolves means that she can never ever lead. Desmond actually tells Aggie, " If only you'd been born a man, you would've made a fine pack leader." 

Things take a turn for the worst when Aggie's father announces that he intends to marry her off to Victor, thus breaking his promise to allow her to choose her own mate.  Aggie is quite resistant to Victor until he courts her with food, her life long weakness.  After Victor decides to romance Aggie with her life long weakness food and they marry, Aggie thinks that things just might work out.  Unfortunately for Aggie things take a turn for the worst when Aggie realises that Victor has no feelings for her whatsoever and intends to turn her into a brooding mare for pups, Aggie knows that has no choice but to flee.  The problems escalate when Aggie learns that her fathers new wife intends to have her mother killed.

Being Human (UK) Season Five, Episode Five: No Care, All Responsibility

This episode begins 15 years ago with Domenic giving a tour of a makeshift vampire created blood bank.  All the humans are dead and lying on filthy mattresses. Domenic tells the trainees that the vampires like to think that they are in control but "no matter how civilized the arrangement, the monster is simply lying in wait." They continue to make their way through until they come across a little girl who is cuddling a teddy bear.  Dominic first checks to make sure the girl has a reflection and then he holds out his hands to her, promising that he won't hurt her. Vampires appear and kill the two men he is with and Domenic holds out a cross to protect himself.

In present day, Hal is in the middle of doing his routine push ups when he gets an urge (thanks BBC3 for the topless Damien Molony). He doesn't try to fight it long, before getting up and grabbing a bottle of blood and drinking it.  Alex pops in to announce a house meeting, and Hal quickly hides the bottle.  Tom knocks on the door, opens it up and says that they have to get through this quickly because he is late for work. Alex says that Bobby didn't want to kill himself and that she remembers Bobby speaking to Hatch.  She also says that she is 99% sure that Hatch looked at her.  Alex then has Tom recite a question that she wants him to ask the captain about his belief in the occult and if he has ever had a near death experience.  Tom takes off as Hal sighs.  Alex asks what Hal's deal is because apparently the last two days, all he has done is work out and sing show tunes. Alex believes that what is really bothering Hal is what Crumb had to say about the two about them.  She suggests that they both need to talk about this some night when Tom is at work.

Hal and Alex go to see Domenic to talk about Bobby's death. Domenic says that he believes that the suicides are the work of  type one - a ghost.  Alex grabs the file and disappears. Hal then puts the empty bottle of blood on the desk and asks for a refill but Domenic says that they don't have anymore blood, now that they no longer have human donors. Hal walks away quickly.

Domenic has gone to see Hatch and says that he needs more time to get the piece into place.  Hatch tells him that having a vampire and a werewolf living in the same building means an opportunity that won't come again soon. Hatch encourages Domenic saying that it while t may seem that his department is dying, there's plenty of life left in it. Domenic tells the captain that he is a real boon to him. Hatch tells him not to worry about the ghost because they have a habit on fading away.

Hatch and Tom are outside and Tom tries to ask Alex's question but he keeps stumbling through it. Tom stops asking questions when he sees a young woman struggling with a man.  She makes her getaway and runs into the hotel.  When the man moves to follow, Tom blocks the entrance to the hotel and threatens to call the police. He follows the girl into the hotel and she reads the message on his hand.  When she starts to leave, Tom tells her to stay so that he can take care of her hand.

They are in the kitchen when Hal walks in.  Hal is overwhelmed by the smell of blood as Tom announces that they are hiring Natasha. When Natasha holds out her injured hand, Hal refuses to shake it, though Tom tells him not to be rude.  Hal heads out to the front desk and runs into Alex who is looking through the files.  She discovers that these suicides go on for years and as far back as 1987, Hatch was mentioned as a witness.

Hal is freaking out, so he drops a jar of paperclips on the ground and starts lining them up by their colour.  Tom and Alex stay out of view and peep at Natasha.  Alex declares that Natasha is not a ghost and asks if she tried to bite someone. Tom says no and that she is not a werewolf. Tom admits that Natasha made him feel things and asks what happens if she is a succubus or something. Alex asks if Natasha came on to him and Tom says no, so Alex suggests that Tom just has the hots for Natasha. Tom denies this and says that he likes Allison but Alex says that she can like more than one girl.

Alex heads over to Natasha and waves her fingers in front of her and then lifts her skirt.  This shocks Tom who yells out her name, thus catching Natasha's attention so he lies unconvincingly to cover it up. Tom leaves the room and starts to sing about Tom having a crush. Tom says that he can't do the whole pants thing because Natasha is not the one - Allison is. Alex tells him that he and Alex are the one and that people test the water and that this is just what people do.

Hal has colour coordinated all of the paper clips, when Natasha walks in and asks him if he is alright. Hal leaves the room and at the front door, a man shows him a picture of Natasha and asks if he has seen her. Hal lies and says no.  Later, Hal sits down with Natasha and says that he doesn't mean her any harm but that his priority must be the hotel. Natasha says that she stole some money from his boss when she was a kid but that she is straight now.  Tom stands and says that he will make sure that she is paid for the rest of the week. When he gets up to walk away, Natasha says that it's her hand and that he must have it bad if he wants her out this quickly. "I know what withdrawal looks like and you're in the worst of it," Natasha says. Hal asks her how, and she says the mirror and that he would have noticed if he wasn't so out of it.  Hal sits back down and asks if Natasha knows what he is.  Natasha says that she has been around his type before and that Hal is not like the others.

Hal says that he is worse than the others but Natasha points out that Tom trusts him. Natasha tells him that he is killing himself trying to do the right thing. Hal begins to focus on the blood and says that he can smell it and when she is close enough he can almost taste it.  Hal again says that she needs to go and so Natasha asks what he is going to do if the chef cuts his finger and points out that he just can't fire anyone with a paper cut. Natasha tells him that he is going to hurt someone and offers to help him if he lets her stay there. Natasha offers to allow Hal to drink from her.  Hal tells her that she doesn't know what she is offering but Natasha says that she knows what will happen if that guy catches up with her again.

Hal and Natasha go into a private room. He takes off his watch and tells her to let him feed for ten seconds.  He then hands her a stake and says that he if refuses to stop that she has to stake him. Hal sits next to her on the bed and then moves to bite her neck but she stops him saying that people are going to see if he does it there and then offers up the vein in her thigh.  Hal gets on his knees and looks once more to Natasha for permission before biting her. Hal feeds until Natasha pushes him off and he says that it's good and not to tell Tom.  Natasha agrees before walking out.

Being Human (UK) Season Five, Episode Four: The Greater Good

Domenic has has gone to see Bobby, who is packing up after being notified that Domenic's big plan is to approach the Chinese to get funding to continue his work. Bobby asks about Tom and Domenic gets frustrated and says that he has made a temporary arrangement and that with the electricity about to go down, they won't have any way to contain him.

Domenic brings Bobby over to the house and Tom refuses to take responsibility for him.  Hal says that after several bad interactions that they have made a pledge to avoid contact with other supernaturals. Domenic assures them that Bobby is no trouble.  Bobby simply stares and doesn't say a word because he is too shocked by the presence of Alex.  Domenic again asserts that Bobby needs to stay with people who have the experience and tools to deal with him and that the household owes him a favor for looking after Ian.  Domenic goes on to add that Crumb has recently killed six people and has formed an alliance with Alan, an ex associate.  Domenic says he wants them to deal with Crumb and Alan however they see fit.  Hal asserts that this is not his responsibility but Domenic reminds him that he made Crumb and has cost his department a lot of time and resources over centuries and says that this is his chance to give something back. Hal tells Tom that he wouldn't have to look after Bobby but Tom asks about work.  Domenic leaves saying that he will be back before the full moon.

Hal and Alex go to see Crumb. When Crumb opens the door, he is wearing blue underwear and his chest is covered in blood. This is a sight that I never need to see again btw.   When they enter the apartment, they find the walls are covered in blood and Alan surrounded by dead people that they have fed on.  Alan tells Hal that he has read his file and that he is a huge fan. Hal tells Ian that this has to stop and though he understands the thrill of this new found power, sooner or later it will give way to guilt and horror. Alex drags Hal out into the hallway and declares both Crumb and Alan nuts, then suggests that they stake them both. Hal reminds Alex that Domenic said he could deal with Ian however he saw fit, but Alex feels that this was a suggestion that they kebab Ian. Hal says that there has been enough death and violence and that they can help both Ian and Alan and do some good.  When they go back into the room, Hal tells Ian that he wants to help him. Crumb reminds Hal that when he asked for help, Hal turned his back. Hal replies that with their help, they can leave this all behind, have friends, careers, and even lovers.  Crumb holds out his hand and says that they are in.

Tom is busy ironing and Bobby is peppering him with questions, which is getting on Tom's last nerve.  Alex, and Hal enter with Alan and Crumb in tow.  Alan pauses when he sees Bobby and tells Crumb that Bobby is a wolf from the archive. Bobby says that he lives there now and that Tom is looking after him.  When Hal adds that Bobby is another temporary house guest,  Tom asks for clarification and so Hal says that Crumb and Alan will be staying there while they help them get off the blood.Tom walks out of the room in disgust and Hal and Alex follow.

In the other room, Hal says that by bringing Alan and Crumb into their pack,they are making it bigger and stronger because helping Alan and Crumb will help them.  Alex quickly asserts that she doesn't trust Alan and Crumb. Hal responds," good, don't, they're junkies but with the right sort of help they can be redeemed. If I can be redeemed surely they can as well." Alex makes it clear that she is not cleaning up any poo. Tom says that he is going to work but Hal reminds him how difficult the first stages of blood withdrawal can be and suggests that this wouldn't be a good thing for Bobby to see. Tom again says that he is not bringing Bobby to the hotel, which shocks Alex.  Tom says, "just look at him. He's smelly and hairy and asks loads of stupid questions all of the time." Hal crosses his arms and replies, "oh my God man, you're a snob."  Tom tells him to shut up but Alex chimes in with, "no, he's right. You've got a house and a job and now you've become a snob." Tom tells Bobby that they are leaving.  As they head toward the door, Hal asks Tom for some of his blood.

When Tom and Bobby arrive at the hotel, Captain Hatch is busy whispering to himself in a chair. Tom gets Bobby to sit in a chair and instructs him not to touch anything or talk to anyone excusing his abruptness by saying that they are rushed off their feet, though the dining room is empty with the exception of Captain Hatch. Bobby asks to sit in a smaller room and Tom tells him no and then storms out.  Hatch turns and fixes Bobby with an evil glare.

Alan and Crumb are now tied to chairs in a basement where Hal is instructing them that they will experience guilt, nightmares, cramps and will wish they were dead. Hal assures them that when they make it through to the other side that they will appreciate life even more. Alex reveals two glasses containing blood. One contains human blood and the other werewolf blood and then starts to spin them around making it hard to discern which is which. Hal tells Crumb and Alan that both glasses will kill them and that if at any point they feel they cannot go clean, they make take glass, but they must be prepared to die.  Crumb asks why Alex is still there given what Hal has done and she replies that everyday he is trying to be something better and she respects that.

At the hotel, Bobby is hiding under the table when Tom discovers him.  Tom climbs under the table and asks how long Bobby was locked up in the institute.  Bobby replies 33 years and then goes back to asking Tom if he has an answering machine yet. Tom asks what happened and Bobby tells him that went fishing and a werewolf run past, cut his back and pushed him into the water when he was 12 years old. Tom tells him that it's not his fault but Bobby says that Domenic has told him that he is a savage and that society needs to be protected from him.  Tom tells Bobby that he is out now and that this is a chance to make things different and make something of himself.  Tom promises that tomorrow he will show Bobby the ropes.

Back at the house, Crumb has started seeing visions of the people he has killed. Alan tells him that no one is there and that it's just the lack of blood.  Alan is busy working on untying himself and is shocked that Crumb is attempting to detox for real.  Alan laughs and says that Crumb is only doing this because he fancies Alex. Alan asks why someone like Alex would go for someone like Crumb but all Crumb sees is Hazel - the woman he killed last night. Alan adds that Alex is practically shagging Hal and says, "there's Hal with the body of a Greek God and then there's you, with the body of a Greek waiter," as he undoes the last of his restraints.  Alan then gets up and starts to free Crumb, who then stakes him in a fit of rage.

Bobby is dressed in uniform and Tom  is teaching him how to answer the phones. Bobby is worried that this is moving too fast for him but Tom assures him that he did it, so Bobby can do it as well.  Bobby says that Tom is brilliant and Tom is clearly pleased with the complement.

When Alex and Tom go downstairs to check on Crumb and Alan, they find that Alan is dead.  Crumb tells them that Alan got out in the middle of the night and tried to make him drink blood. Crumb says that Alan was his only friend and that he put a stake through his heart because he wants to be clean. Crumb then points out that he didn't drink the blood because he wants their help.

The training session of Bobby and Crumb has begun.  It's actually quite hilarious. During a session of meditation, Crumb remembers the scream his niece made when he killed her and declares that he wants some blood. Hal tells him that this is good and that he needs to hold onto this memory because this is what he needs to think about the next time he wants to kill. Crumb asks what Hal thinks about because he needs to know that one can remain clean. Hal says that he thinks about a woman named Sylvie, who he killed over 200 years ago. Hal says that he loved her and that Sylvie thought that she could save him. Crumb asks if Hal is with Alex now because he can't kill her and Hal admits that he and Alex are not a couple.

Alex enters the room and Hal leaves.  Crumb tells her that doing this makes him think of all of the horrible things he has ever done in his life. Crumb then goes to stand next to Alex and asks how long they can keep up the charade. He then asks Alex if he can treat her to a fish supper and she tells him to hold that thought and leaves.  Alex goes to find Hal and tells him about Crumb's dinner invitation. Hal says that this is not a good idea and Alex replies, "I wasn't thinking it, I only told you so that we could toss our heads back and laugh smugly but once again you have ruined my fun." Hal says that he is not sure that they should continue this and wonders if they are ever really truly safe and if they can ever truly assimilate.  Alex assures Hal and points to him as an example that this is not futile. She adds that everything he said to Crumb about having a normal life is true but Hal says that they are pretending, dressing up. Alex replies that it's keeping them safe because it stops her from going loopy like Mary and him from killing. Hal replies that all they are doing is marking time until the inevitable happens. Alex assures him that they have to grab every scrap of humanity they can and says that she will go out with Crumb to prove that normality can happen.

The Portrayal of Addiction in Urban Fantasy

Because urban fantasy is thought of as unimportant fluff, it often gets a pass on many of the isms that it perpetuates. It never ceases to amaze me that in a genre which is filled with fantastical elements that so many find it difficult to create a world in which serious issues and marginalisations can be discussed or included in anything approaching a realistic or inclusive manner. Appropriation is absolutely rampant in the genre and it is quite common to take serious issues and minimise them by equating them to fantastical creatures. The viewer or reader is meant to identify with the issues of the supernatural creature, even as the portrayal leaves so much to be desired that it ends up stigmatising the very issue that the genre is supposedly discussing.

One of the recurring topics which urban fantasy has sought to integrate is addiction. One of the most obvious examples in the genre is clearly Being Human (UK).  Vampirism in Being Human (UK) is clearly a metaphor for addiction because the vampires in this series can exist for extended periods of time without consuming blood; however, the moment they are turned, they develop an overwhelming desire to consume blood. Essentially, the battle for each vampire seeking to assimilate is to forgo the consumption of blood thereby; making the consumption of blood a moral failing. By making vampirism a metaphor for addiction, Being Human (UK) is essentially saying that addiction in and of itself is monstrous and so are the addicted. This is highly problematic because even though those who love and support the addicted individual suffer, no one suffers more than the addicted person themselves.

It is clear that Being Human (UK) is attempting to create an equivalency between an addicted human and a vampire. While to some degree the biological nature is explored because it is not coincidental that children of alcoholics are far more likely to become alcoholics themselves. However, a propensity for addiction does not make addiction an inherent part of any person’s nature, not even if they go on to become an addict. This contrasts sharply with the blood hunger of a vampire which, by definition, is an inherent, unchanging biological element of who and what they are.

Being Human (UK) is not the only Urban Fantasy to use themes of addiction when it comes to the supernatural. We’ve seen the same themes in Buffy, Secret Circle and even the latest season of The Vampire Diaries, have their addictive dark magic episodes and themes, Being Human (US) even had body hopping addiction with Sally. It’s common in books as well, with Chloe Neil’s Chicagoland vampires exploring magic addiction. Addiction, whether it be to blood, magic, forbidden arts or innumerable other supernatural elements continues to be raised in the genre - but in nearly all cases, addiction is linked to the damage it does to others. The addict is shameful and needs to be stopped not for their own sake, but because of the people they hurt. No-one is stopping Willow or Mallory or worried about Cassie’s dark magic because them living with addiction so much as they are afraid of the people their powers will hurt. No-one is concerned about the difficulties vampires must endure with their blood addiction, interventions are motivated by fear for their victims.

Review of Drink Deep by Chloe Neill Book 5 of the Chicagoland Vampire Series

Even though I have had issues with the first four books of this series, I was very excited to get my hands on Drink Deep.  When we last left the Cadogan vampires, Ethan was dead, having jumped in front of a stake meant for Merit and Merit was in a deep state of mourning.  I always knew that Ethan was going to be resurrected it was simply a matter of if Neill could write the story in a way that would seem realistic and compelling.

In the wake of Ethan's death, Malik has become the new master but the GP is threatening to disband the house.  The investigator demands a healthy diet for all vampires, cuts the blood rations in half and demands that vampires stop feeding from each and other and from humans.  Vampires are no longer allowed to congregate in groups larger than 10.  With all of the stress going on, somehow Merit has to find away to discover why the elements are not acting properly.  First the lake stops flowing and turns completely black and then the sky turns red.  The humans begin to believe that not all are the vampires responsible for the disruption but that they are potentially seeing Armageddon.

To solve the mystery of the imbalance Merit must visit, a siren, the queen of the fae as well as discuss the history of magic with none other than Tate. Someone knows the answer to what is going on, but can Merit find the answers before the final elemental sign becomes unstable?