Almost Human

Almost Human, Almost there.

They're almost there, but not quite yet. This show is a great mix of first and foremost action! Great action, Karl Urban is pretty much the most spot on cast for this role they could have ever made. The same is entirely true for Michael Ealy as Dorian. They make a perfect duo, and the humor they share is hilarious. It's great to watch. The other cast members are fine to watch too. Credit must also be given to the people who play the MX's. They are just as regular as our main stars :)

Those are the things I like, if not love about this show.

There are some things that could be done better though, some in the writing department, some in the character development department.

First, I would like to know some more information about some of the side-characters. Another agent called Richard Paul, played by Michael Irby is constantly trying to discredit Dorian, and I would like to know why. Maybe he blames an android/MX for something that happened in his past, that would be a nice concept. I'm not going to cover all the other cast members, but it would be nice to see something like that for them too. Special mention goes out to MacKenzie Crook as Rudy. I love that guy, great character actor.

My second point is the way in which they catch the bad guys. I like the parts where they confront the villain a lot, don't get me wrong. They are always entertaining to watch, although some bad guys, and i do say some, because there are just as many good ones, do feel a little bit on the lightweight side when it comes to the intimidation factor. The bad guys usually get caught through a simple phone pinpoint, shipping manifests, some crap like that. It really bothers me. It's 2048 and technologies can no longer be regulated. Yet when it comes to a simple phone scramble they haven't made that much progress, obviously. It feels as a convenient plot-device to move the story along. Other than that there is not a lot else I can think of.

Every week it is a pleasure to watch Almost Human, the action is great, the weapons and technologies are great, A bomb necklace, cool guns, Robot cops (MX's), insanely strong explosive devices, drones and so forth. And the civilian technologies are fun to watch too, IPad A'la 2048. Every day stuff of the future. They are well integrated into episodes. It does a good job of making it take place in 2048.

The makings of a great show, off to a very strong start and it can only get better. They've almost nailed it, and I eagerly wait to see what becomes of this show.

I want to give this an 8.5, but I will round it up to a 9, because I have the feeling it will definitely live up to it's potential.

Almost Human is a classic police drama infused with beloved science- fiction tropes. The crux of the series is right there in the title. It is asking what it means to be human in a world overwhelmed by technology. Often the most effective way to reveal what something is, is by examining what it is not. Android Dorian is in many ways more human than the flesh and blood men and women that surround him. Are the themes overly subtle? No. But the pilot is both impressive and enjoyable to watch. Ealy and Urban are charismatic leads, with great chemistry. Taylor is equally dynamic as their soft spoken, but stiff spined captain. It's easy to say, "This isn't Fringe." And it's not, that's true. Almost Human is its own animal. But lest we forget, Fringe wasn't Fringe either - not at first. It evolved, it grew into something truly special. It's still finding its feet, but this series has all of the elements, all of the potential to do just that.

I began watching this show almost entirely on the acting credentials of Urban. I've liked him in every role I've ever seen him in, and now that I am familiar with him - I'm seeing him in stuff I've seen before.

Saying that, one of the best things I can say about this show is - my wife loves it, and she generally hates sci-fi. In fact, the only other sci-fi show I persuaded her to watch - that she also loved - was "Firefly". So I think it goes without saying, she probably knows a good show when she sees it. We recorded the whole season and watched all of it in a few days.

The two leads are great together. They could lose the rest of the cast and still be a great show. I suspect this show only fails in ratings - because people haven't given it a chance. Like "Chuck" - another show we thoroughly enjoyed - you have to give it a chance at least ONCE, and then you're hooked.

Okay this series has a _strong_ beginning. The acting is competent, the buddy cop dynamic works well, the main characters are both relate-able and interesting. The mythology or ongoing story seems to have strong promise for depth and longevity, at least the way it is hinted, we can see that it is most likely a longer mystery story.

The backdrop of high technology is very Phillip k dick. It's particularly reminiscent of do androids dream of electric sheep/blade runner, and in a progressive way that actually adds something. In fact the setting here further explores the consequences and possibilities of higher technology, particularly obviously artificial intelligence, in a way that we have not seem either done, or done well in TV or movies for a long time.

The combination of this simmering back story, the thought provoking setting, the procedural buddy cop dynamic, are basically bound make a brilliant show.

You might see the whole concept is cliché, but actually its not. It's rarely well explored territory, and thus particularly the way its executed, very fresh and new. This is serial genre TV very worth watching. Also as others have said, it does have a high production value.

Both the production values and script are excellent. Strong character interplay reminiscent of Alien Nation (so many years ago) If compared to any other shows or movies, think Blade Runner , Minority Report. I hope they can maintain both the production levels and build on the intrigue established thus far.

Do yourselves a favor and enjoy Almost Human for what is it and will become, and don't look for to many comparisons. Yes, it will be compared to so many other genre shows, as I have seen already in this forum, but the strength is in the portrayal of the characters. It is wonderful that FOX (of all networks) and generally free to air television are committing to such well written and produced fare for us all to enjoy

Not sure when this is coming to Australia, but I think it will be a success.