Real Humans

This series is the first I know of to seriously examine and comment upon the potential reality of a world where humans and androids – robots that look just like you and me – exist together in a master-servant relationship.

This is a daring and dramatic fiction which examines the many societal, legal and human implications of living with human robots called Hubots. Significantly, this multi-layered story intelligently examines robot issues that Hollywood generally avoids like the plague: Hubot sexuality, Hubot pornography, Hubot rights, Hubot sex slaves, illegal trafficking in Hubots, Hubot freedom fighters, humanity's backlash, murder of humans by Hubots, and more.

Sure, that sort of narrative has been touched upon in The Stepford Wives (1975), Blade Runner (1982), Alien (1979), I,Robot (2004) and others. Real Humans is fresh, however: it looks in depth at the effect of androids within the family and work settings in AnyCity in AnyCountry. There are some comical moments for light relief, but the tone is usually deadly serious or seriously deadly as the different groups of humans and Hubots interact; and during the course of which, the famous Three Laws of Robotics are totally trashed. Humans and robots fight and die.

For the most part, the different narrative threads are well woven together so that viewers keep up with the many plot twists. But be sure not to miss any episode. The action is well paced, suspense is appropriate and believability is up there with the best. In fact, it's a realistic picture of what could happen when – not if – humanoid robots become commonplace in the future, and perhaps even this century.

I'd recommend seeing this series for that final reason alone. That said, it's a quality Swedish production also, with a fine cast of actors – particularly those who play the part of Hubots.

My only critique is that some of the many flashbacks are a bit abrupt, as are some of the cuts between scenes. But don't let such minor irritants stop you from seeing this series. Because, it can only get better, I think – the finale obviously leaves room for Real Humans, series 2.

Give this effort nine out of ten.

February 4, 2013

Oh... I was so into this 1st season. I thought it was damn good, given all the possibilities with such a subject to give us a too-usual bad sci-fi TV program. But wow, it raised great questions, the acting is really good, the plot not simplistic and predictable: what a pleasure! ...Until the last three episodes... WTF?! It's like they suddenly realized that they needed to close the first season and panicked to have to do so in such a short time. The pace changes drastically and I felt we were back to the "usual" (lame) shortcuts used by any sci-fi US TV series... How disappointed and enraged I was! How could they do that? The first episodes reached such a level, it can't be by accident! What happened?! Did they need to tick all the commercial boxes and absolutely close "neatly" but poorly at the end of 1st season? Trying to make all the story lines come together in such a short period of time, come on!?! Take your time, don't rush!!! Believe in what you've manage to create to keep us interested! Doesn't make me want to see the next season, what good can come out of this now that they destroyed the good work...? Special thoughts to the actors that kept bravely doing their job, which showed even more that the problem lies in the turns the story has suddenly taken. They kept their acting to the best, but it cannot work. (Forget about the nice subtle transitions always sustained by great insight in "human" condition, and welcome to the usual so called "entertaining" messy story telling) Guys, you had something unique and now it simply feels like the merging of all the US clichés the genre is polluted by! I'm so disappointed... Thanks anyway for the beginning.

What do you do when you want to make Science-Fiction like Blade Runner, set in the future, with replicants and all, but you don't have Ridley Scott's money ? You make a science-fiction series set in a future that looks exactly like our present, but that has replicants in it. Except here they're called Hubots. Apart from the name change, they are pretty similar. And the blade runners in Real Humans are called EHURB, less stylish policemen in charge of arresting any hubot that would create trouble. Humans use their hubots as modern slaves, in factories, at home, or in brothels. Need a cook who will also clean your house and take care of your children ? Want an improved inflatable doll ? Or just a companion that is more talkative than your dog ? Try the hubots. They are pleasant to be with, they never get tired, they always smile, they always agree. Some humans even start to like them better than their human partners. The problem is, hubots are machines under the law, not worth more than your car or your bike. So you can't go to a club with them, and human-hubot couples are not well considered. Fortunately, Inger Ergman, who at first was a bit reluctant about having a hubot at home, finally grew quite fond of her Anita. And as she has friends who date hubots, she's going to use all her skills as a lawyer to alter the law. Of course, hubots are not all obliging and slavish. Anita, for instance, used to be an independent robot in love with Leo, who leads a group of autonomous hubots determined to be and remain free. But if some hubots want to be free, if they can fall in love, it means that they can have feelings, and a conscience. So should we still assign them the same values as a that of a car, and throw them away when their bug can't be fixed ? Should we consider them as humans ? Should human-hubot couples still be considered an abomination ? In these tense times of debate about gay marriage, Lars Lundström's questions about what love is and about the power of feelings, are definitely well-timed.

The Swedes have achieved something unique with this show. Real Humans is about a reality where human-like robots are commonplace in today's world and perform such roles as home assistants, companions to lonely souls, workers of all types and, of course, sex toys. The show follows a selection of different people as they live in this world, from the family with the curious teenage boy, to an old man needing home assistance, and a lonely man who's job is threatened by them, and a woman in love with one. It also follows a group of obsolete and disowned "hubots" who are a quest to avoid being scrapped and recycled. The day-to-day coexistence between humans and hubots provides often amusing situations but there's also a darker side in each episode which makes you feel for them. I'm not ashamed to admit it's a soap, but a very intelligent one, and a very open one. Strictly for older kids and adults.

Don't let watching a show with subtitles put you off. This is a great show and reading the subtitles doesn't detract from watching. The show has many undertones and a great storyline. I've watched it all a few times and you pick things up each time. Well worth the watch.

There is some great acting and really nice scenery too - for those of us who have never been, and probably will never go, to Sweden, it gives you a little view of some very different places - especially compared to Australia.

If you like this, you may also like the Danish version of The Killing (the original). Also an excellent show!