Humans

Another fantastic show canceled while reality rubbish keeps on spewing.

Humans is an unexpectedly great show. The reason for this is that it's understated in the technology an emphasizes the humanity. The cast are all from UK and mostly unknown and it allows us to get to know the characters more. Gemma Chan who plays Anita/Mya led me to this series via her Twitter. I first saw her in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.

This series is dark and brooding. It raises more questions than it answers with the interaction between the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Synths and the Humans who "employ" them to do ordinary household tasks.

The origins of the core group of Synths is a mystery that is weave through the course of this series. There is some limited action, violence and beneath all of that big question about the ghost in the machine. This may be the best follow-up on ideas of sentient robots first presented since Blade Runner.

Gaah! I can't wait for the next episode! It is building tension ju-u-u-st right: Creepy, heart rending, asking the big questions about life and love and what constitutes consciousness, in other words it just couldn't be better. It also feels like perhaps it actually is building towards a specific future point, rather than just bumbling along and making stuff up as it goes. I am very excited to see where they're taking us, and how current loyalties may shift..? (I hope so!) Very well made, very well acted, just well-crafted in every way. Who said the art of good Science Fiction is dead? It seems to be experiencing a renaissance right now in response to all the boring 'miserealism' of recent times - huzzah!

This is an excellent series, with great scripting, terrific acting and lots to think about. The focus is totally on the humanity and morality aspects, and not the sci-fi aspects.

Analogies may be drawn between the synths and any other minority you care to name (anything with the label 'different' or 'other'). And that is the show's strength - how do we as a community react to outsiders entering our world? Do we accept and embrace, or do we fear and reject?

Having an average middle-class family being the central focus of the story keeps everything grounded, rather than dealing with leaders and renegades. Everything keeps gravitating back to them.

If you are looking for whizzy special effects and explosive action pieces, go elsewhere. If you are looking for thoughtful storytelling and an exploration about what it means to be human, you have come to the right place.

My wife and I operate a three episode policy when deciding to watch a new show. With all the great TV out there it can be hard to choose what to watch and not every show has a great start but develops into something memorable. As a result we always wait until we have DVR'd at least three episodes before watching the first. The other reason we record three is if the show is good we will want more immediately. Humans however left us wanting more after the third episode.

The concepts in this show are not ground breaking for any fan of the genre or any reader of science fiction but the fact it is set in the present day in a very relatable parallel reality (especially for Brits) is where this series gets its mojo. This is a thinking persons show the story is secondary to the compelling analysis of human nature and it's reactions to technology. Those who embrace it, those who reject it both are catered for here.

The production values are so very high and the casting is exemplary. Most people are not well known with the exception of William Hurt but there are familiar faces (again, especially for Brits) in there.

This show is not all action but is guaranteed to thrill you and chill you with it's moody pacing, moments of comedy and disturbing critique of humanity facing the very nature of its own creation.