Being Human has a knack for presenting its protagonists supernatural conditions in a very matter-of-fact way, and this episode exemplifies that. We open with a flashback introducing us to Adam (Craig Roberts); a teenage vampire who is kept alive by casually feeding off his willing parents. Back in the present, Adam’s father has finally succumbed to the prolonged blood-loss and can no longer help, so George and Nina take it upon themselves to look after him and ensure he doesn’t feed on anybody less willing.
Adam, despite the constant reminders that he is in fact 46, is still every bit the teenage boy he resembles and his stay brings out the parental sides in George and Nina. Russell Tovey, in particular, plays the awkward father figure with aplomb, while Brian Dooley’s script continues to find a better balance of serious drama and comedy than the previous series managed. Adam is surly, sarcastic and rude, but deep down, it’s clear he appreciates the efforts of his new “family”, even as he lacks the maturity to deal with them, or his condition; something that makes it all the more cruel when Mitchell (Aiden Turner) refuses to help him, fearing a relapse of his own.
Mitchell is approached by Richard Hargreaves (Mark Lewis Jones), an agent of vampire elite ‘the Old Ones’, who have requested that he join them in South America to eliminate any risk of discovery over the Box Tunnel 20 massacre. Hargreaves has “systems in place” to deal with the hunger, and so the gang send Adam to him. Suffice to say, these “systems” are not as clean-cut as might first appear…
Their “civilised arrangement” provides an effective mirror to the arrangement between Adam and his parents, as the episode explores the disturbing notion of people as willing food supplies. As we delve deeper into the Hargreaves household, things become ever more depraved, and there’s a guest turn from Melanie Walters that guarantees you’ll never watch Gavin & Stacey in the same way again.
Meanwhile Annie takes it upon herself to be Mitchell’s guardian angel, which leads to a very funny scene as a job interview goes horribly, hilariously wrong; a rare chance for Aidan Turner to play some comedy. Less effective, however, are the moments of romantic tension between them, which feel shoe-horned in and forced. There doesn’t need to be a romance between the pair, and despite a very sweet, well written and well performed seaside talk between the two of them, the show would do well to drop the unnecessary romance.
‘Adam’s Family’ is another strong episode, raising interesting ethical issues regarding vampire feeding habits, while providing the cast with some different beats to play. If the show continues to blend comedy and pathos this well, Series 3 could turn out to be the best yet.
Airs at 9pm on Sunday 30th January 2011 on BBC Three and BBC HD.