For me, as for many fans, the departure of Mitchell (Aidan Turner) left a gaping vampire shaped hole in the heart of Being Human, but Damien's incredible and intense portrayal of Hal had me so invested in the character, so immediately and along with the very clever, skillful writing that had us pulled in all directions to begin with, our doubts and pains personified by those of Annie's, until Hal became the hero who resisted his darker nature, the 'new vampire' soon earned a solid place in the Honolulu Heights family and in our hearts.
The character of Hal was very quickly utterly engaging, an OCD old one with myriad years of histories for us to wonder about and a collection of strict routines to keep him, and humanity, 'safe' from his vampiric nature - routines symbolised by the carefully constructed domino run where the softest puff of breath can send the whole thing thundering down and unleashing the force of Hal's inner monster that ever lurks within, creating a constant and alluring kinetic tension.
The finale of the series amped up that exquisite teetering as Hal switches between his human will and his vampiric urges, at once setting out to save humanity from 'The Vampires', while lapping up congealed maggot wiggling blood off a basement floor. Presented with his strongest challenges yet, his future self, a Hal far worse than he had ever been before, and Mr Snow, a force more powerful than willpower or choice as the all powerful bloodline of his ancestors threatens to take a hold, he ultimately resists, and we love him for it.
The final time we see Hal for this series is a shot of him in chains, writhing and spitting with rage in one moment, apologizing in the most gentlemanly english way in the next (with stunning performance from Damien Molony) as he embarks on what we can only guess is a journey of total cold turkey blood withdrawal. This scene epitomizies what I love about Lord Hal, and his tragic, engaging struggle, where he is at once the victim and the monster of two natures, a heartless desire driven creature and the most giving lonely and alone long suffering love needy soul so touched by Tom (the wonderful Michael Socha) calling him his "best friend". Such Human Beingness, and it is an emotionial ride championing this as his truest nature. Indeed, it turns out that Mr Snow was wrong when he told Hal, "I already have you, heart and mind" and with the promise of a series 5 glowing sublimely in our hearts, it feels to be a triumphant prospect that Lord Hal will succeed, as a vampire being human.
