Real Humans (100% Humain)

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.

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.

Social story

I found this show very original for the narrative angle it adopted. The show focuses on a Swedish family and starts by showing how the "hubots" (humanoid robots) are pervasive and accepted in society. The depicted future is a future where machines have become humanoid but they are not yet intelligent like human beings, they are just functional and social robots. From that setting the leading story takes place in the background showing a group of free hubots who have become intelligent and who want to integrate human societies as "real citizens".

The show is extremely intelligent in that it shows with a lot of consistency what the presence of hubots would imply in society. Groups with different points of view would form, the "real humans" group against hubots and the pro hubot group. It would also provoke some behaviors in human beings themselves, such as sexual attraction towards robots or the willingness to become a robot. People who love robots are called T-H-S (transhuman sexual) and the phenomenon looks very plausible and understandable from the way it is realistically shown. Those are innovative concepts that are realistic considering the nature of humans. The show also brilliantly includes justice in the frame, and asks the question "should hubots have human rights?"

It challenges our thoughts about what allows human beings to be "special" and brings good arguments on the table. For example, if the hubots can't be as special as humans just because they're not made of flesh and blood, then why animals are not as special as humans either? If intelligence is the criterion to be considered as a real life form, then hubots are already intelligent, why can't they have rights? It will really help you make yourself an opinion about how you would react if hubots really existed. The narrative is not opinionated so you are really only confronted to the facts and you can forge your own point of view without being too influenced.

Quite funny

SF fans will love this show because the writers thought of everything. Some situations are really hilarious, like the hubot saying "I need to defragment", or sighing of pleasure while she is recharging. Also, as the family hubot starts working, her boss wants her to have holidays. You also see a religious robot, which is hilarious but sadly really possible, or the robot who wants to "get married and live a happy life". To some extent, it is clear that the writers projected all the human ideals in the robots minds, so you can't help yourself but think, "gee, she's a robot and yet she is so incredibly stupid, why?!".

This is maybe why I didn't rate the show 10, because it still idealizes human beings as if being human was an ideal for the machines. The show clearly states though that for machines humans are idiots, but I found regressive that the machines would really like to become human. I don't get why a machine would want to be like a human. Also the show focuses on social robots, when real intelligent machines will probably not be social at all, but I guess this would happen in a later future.

Fantastic acting and great characters

All the characters are great. A big cudos for the actors and actresses who played the hubots because it is really really well played. Also, none of the characters are clichés. This show is very refreshing for that reason. For example, you don't find the "programmer genius" who is usually an ingredient for this kind of story, and you don't find the evil mysterious puppet master either, two clichés that are becoming very annoying in SF stories. Instead, I honestly loved the story from the point of view of the family, I liked seeing the dad caring for his girl, the mom caring for her hubot, the teenager coping with his T-H-S condition, his sister caring for him.

Advanced social norms

Because it is Swedish you also see the advanced definition of gender roles where each gender is active. The women are confronted to violence but they fight back, not like in the usual western productions where they are just victims. You also see advanced social norms where the father role is very positively depicted, and the man is something else than the "warrior" figure. You also see different layers of society, the young, the elderly and the middle-aged persons, it is not just about the young people. I particularly loved the mother character that I found very "real" because she brought something really human to the show.

Very advanced compared to American shows

For all the reasons cited above, I think this show is really advanced compared to American shows. It is very innovative. If this was an American show, the story would probably be told from a policeman's point of view. And the whole story line would be about fighting the hubots and showing the fighting scenes to add action. It is the case for example of the "Almost human" show that I stopped watching exactly because of that, boring fighting scenes succeeding each other that don't make you think at all.

The beauty of "Real humans" is that it focuses on the philosophical and social questions, it makes you think, and there is still room for suspense and action. The production of this show was really excellent and I admire the Swedish for once again innovating before everyone else.

I found it 'different' then other SF with 'androids'. Many clean spacious shots. Good cast / actors. Nice story, not all action, running, shooting, escaping, but 'intelligent' scenes. So, different, but in a very good way. I have not seen a Scandinavian production i liked so much, since i was very young, pippi long stockings.

An Oscar should go to the 'chinese girl' for best actress playing a non humanoid 'humanoid' i.m.o.

It has humor, suspense, good storyline, and i think if plugged well it might even be a small international success. The whole way of filming, locations, dialogs, all, top level story telling/filming/playing.

And perhaps even a glimpse of a real feature, we are now, busy creating these machines. Not as smart and strong as data in star trek, but very much like real humans.

Tired of the plethora of unimaginative and often shallow sci fi drama's coming out of the USA? Then take a look at the Swedish sci fi series Real Humans.

This very original, highly intelligent drama is both engaging and deep with elements reminiscent of Blade Runner but in a contemporary urban setting.

The central question the series raises as per Blade Runner is what does it mean to be human? Are humanities humanoid robotic creations any less real than the human biological creations that brought them into existence?

I wont say much more as it may spoil the pleasant surprise this series represents but suffice to say as a die hard sci fi fan this is one of the best series I have seen in a long time and comes highly recommended. Don't miss out.Nine out of ten from me.