When Being Human series 2 first came along I was surprised at just how dark it went, the more humorous edge of the first series was almost completely gone and in its place was some real personal drama. This was a change for the better, most definitely.
Following the death of Herrick, there are now vampires running rampant with no leader and no direction, which Mitchell and George discover from Daisy and Ivan, an unusual vampire couple. Nina has discovered she is a werewolf and this puts a serious strain on her relationship with George. Annie meanwhile is visible again and has got a job at the local pub, where she meets Nathan, a customer with some serious issues. Mitchell meets Lucy, a doctor working at the hospital and starts to have a bit of a flirtation with her. At the same time a mysterious organisation led by a priest named Kemp and the mysterious professor Jaggett are taking werewolves and killing them under the pretence of trying to cure them. Nina leaves upon seeing the depths Mitchell and George will sink to to keep their secrets safe, but is met by Kemp, who offers to 'cure' her. When Nathan comes on strongly to Annie she gets scared and becomes invisible again, Nathan is goaded into a car accident by spirits from the other side, when he dies from his injuries he nearly takes Annie to the other side with him, but resists at the last moment. Mitchell takes on the role of the vampire leader, and works with the police chief to keep any vampire attacks quiet. When Nina goes in for the 'cure' she is saved at the last minute by professor Jaggett, who turns out to be Lucy. George gets a job as a language teacher and tries to put the werewolf out of commission with sleeping pills, but then is unable to control his rage as a result. He also meets Sam, a single mother, with whom he starts a relationship. Annie learns how to reject the pull of the spirit world with the help of the ghost of a WWII fighter pilot. Mitchell sets up the vampires as a sort of AA group to give up drinking blood, but secretly supplies Ivan with blood so the others will think he is strong, and that they can follow his example. We see an incident from Mitchell's past where he first learned to experience compassion for humans and this is reflected in his growing relationship with Lucy. George moves in with Sam and her daughter, Molly. We see that Kemp's hatred for supernatural beings springs from his past when vampires killed his family before his eyes. He convinces Lucy that all vampires are evil, even Mitchell, and they blow up the vampire's meeting place. George, unaware of daylight savings time, turns into a werewolf at a school parents evening for Molly, but manages to get to the cage he has built in time, but not before Molly sees him. Nina convinces him to go to Kemp's institute. Mitchell and Daisy, who both survived the blast, go onto a train and brutally murder twenty people. Annie and George head towards the institute, leaving Mitchell in a blood fuelled rage at the house. Annie tries to get sent to the other side by Kemp, but is unsuccessful. Mitchell discovers who Lucy is and attacks the institute. George and Nina learn the truth and try to escape, rescuing Mitchell in the process, however Kemp forces Annie to the other side, despite her having changed her mind. Lucy follows them to a small house in the country where she pleads forgiveness, but is killed by Kemp. However Annie exits the other side long enough to pull Kemp through, then sends George and Mitchell a message, pleading for rescue. Mitchell firmly vows they will rescue her. In an epilogue we see Herrick resurrected through a blood ritual performed by Daisy and Kara, his most loyal servant.
The story and characters were very strong here, with a dark, yet relateable villain in the form of Kemp and some really interesting moral dilemmas held through Mitchell taking over the vampires. The episodes built to a masterful climax, with all the characters going through strong emotional arcs.
In short, better than the first series, a great continuation.
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