7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A vampire, a werewolf and a ghost try their best to lead normal lives.
Starring: Lenora Crichlow, Russell Tovey, Aidan Turner, Sinead Keenan, Damien MolonyFantasy | 100% |
Horror | 9% |
Comedy | 4% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
And so we come to the end, at least in the UK. After five seasons, thirty-seven episodes, a cast reshuffling, and the birth of a successful American remake currently readying its fourth season, Being Human has come a long way. Not as far as creator Toby Whithouse originally envisioned, but enough to warrant some gratitude from fans who've been lingering by the series' deathbed for several seasons now. Unfortunately, with just six episodes to wrap an entire mythos and too many new(ish) characters to craft a truly gripping endgame, Whithouse and company continue to struggle and gasp for breath, right up to the bitter, bitter end. Season Five isn't disappointing per se, but it also isn't very satisfying, ending on a dull note that's only rendered remotely intriguing by one last maddening scene; a brief gotcha! of sorts that's not attached to the finale proper but merely included among the special features.
Alex, Tom and Hal
Being Human: Season Five arrives on Blu-ray with a strong 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation, comparable to its Season Four predecessor. For fans, that will come as very good news. For those just coming to the show, well... what are you doing starting with the fifth and final season? The series palette is intentionally drained of blood at times and flushed with warm hues at others, and yet skintones remain lifelike on the whole, with pleasing saturation that complements the atmosphere of any given sequence. Contrast is consistent from episode to episode as well, with smoky, at-times eerily effective black levels that suit the supernatural happenings nicely. (There's some intermittent muting, noise, and delineation mishaps, but none of it amounts to something more troubling.) Detail is excellent, with crisp edges and crisper textures, and only a handful of shots or scenes (most of which involve nightfall or heavy shadows) look anything other than their best. Yes, a bit of banding and crush appears. And yes, some of the season's visual effects are riddled with minor anomalies. However, that shouldn't deter anyone from sitting back and drinking up Season Five via BBC Home Entertainment's altogether proficient presentation.
Unlike the series' previous Blu-ray releases, Being Human: Season Five makes the leap into the lossless realm with a satisfying DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. Atmosphere is priority one here, and the rear speakers rarely falter. There are a few strangely front-heavy scenes, but nothing too grievous. The LFE channel bears its teeth too, with notable low-end wherewithal and solid dynamics. Dialogue remains clear and nicely prioritized throughout, and very little underwhelms. Action and horror sequences naturally offer the most gripping and immersive sonics, sure. But that doesn't mean more reserved scenes aren't properly handled. Ultimately, this is a far cry from the disappointing lossy tracks that haunted past Being Human releases. Fans will be thrilled.
Being Human stutters at the start and fizzles out fast in its final six episodes, redeeming itself at the eleventh hour with a solid finale that hints at what Season Five could have been. It's still a good six-season farewell, just not a great one. BBC's Blu-ray release, on the other hand, is more reliable, thanks to an excellent AV presentation (finally with lossless audio!) and a decent (but limited) collection of extras. So come one, come all and bid a fond farewell to yet another supernatural series cut down before its time. It isn't a perfect final season, and it isn't all that thrilling, but fans will be appropriately sad to see it breathe its last breaths, which is just how the end of any show should leave its followers feeling.
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