The idea of robots replacing humans has been around for a long time. Would you like one? Would you want one as part of your family? You might not be so sure after watching the first episode of Humans (Channel 4, Sunday).
One way these supposedly unfeeling robots are referred to are as “synths”: a green-eyed humanoid robot and for the most part, we discover they are actually quite useful. They are a domestic goddess personified: they will clean and iron and then cook you a nice meal for dinner, making your time at home your own and more relaxed. For some, they may become like a member of the family, a companion or confidante. It all sounds rather nice and straightforward…
However, things aren’t always what they seem and like with any piece of technology, you are not always sure of what you might be getting. Is anything really as straight forward as it seems? Well, if you are quite happy to vegetate like a sloth and feel redundant then these new family additions are perfect for you as they complete mundane household jobs that we all procrastinate over.
As we discover in episode one, they are not just confined to carrying out mundane chores in the house, in fact, they are also integrated into society and working regular jobs like any human – street cleaning, handing out free newspapers, working in garden centres and yes, some even carry out sex work. That is all well and good until their capabilities increase and dependency on them rises and they start doing the jobs you might want to do yourself – doctor, lawyer, politician, TV critic, tennis player perhaps. Then, not everybody may be a fan.
The plot line is not too dissimilar to big budget movies that we have seen on the big screen in recent years where artificial intelligence overtakes human intelligence in films such as EX-MACHINA starring Alicia Vikander, CHAPPIE where Hugh Jackman was not a fan of robots and wanted them eradicated and also I, ROBOT starring Will Smith set in 2035, where humanoid robots serve humanity. It is all starting to sound like a rather familiar tale, but HUMANS does not feel repetitive or predictable – not so far anyway.
In the series, we see the Hawkins family buy a synth and name her Anita (Gemma Chan), but she does have the abilities to do what humans deem impossible – think and feel. Then things start to get really complicated. Returning from Leeds, busy mum Laura (Katherine Parkinson) arrives home after an extended court case to a new house assistant ‘Anita Hawkins,’ who has been bought buy her husband Joe (Tom Goodman-Hill). He is struggling to cope looking after their three children and working. The eldest daughter resents her mum for begin a busy lawyer and for not being there, Sophie (the youngest) loves having the synth as she craves attention with her mum away so often and her husband Joe feels as though he is being ‘avoided.’ Complications all around then…
However, it seems they are about to get more than they bargained for with Anita who Laura (rather inaccurately), considers as a stupid machine with no feelings, but as the sub-plot unfolds we discover that is definitely not the case. We are taken back five weeks earlier, where we meet Anita’s boyfriend Leo, played by Colin Morgan, (known largely for his role as the titular character in the BBC series MERLIN and he has also starred in the film TESTAMENT OF YOUTH). He knows that these semi-humanoids are being hunted and after his girlfriend has been abducted, he is desperate to find her.
Credit must go to Gemma Chan who is spookily brilliant playing the synth, as she is effortlessly robotic in movement, speech and even laughter (as we see at the dinner table with the Hawkins family) pulling off a convincing role as a semi-humanoid and we can’t wait to see how her story unfolds especially with the backstory alongside Colin Morgan‘s Leo. (Unfortunately, we do not get to hear his Irish accent in the series, but he does deliver an English accent pretty darn well!)
Channel 4 may have only aired the first episode so far, but already it looks like it will be a big hit and pull in the audience and its not surprising really with SPOOKS writers Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley on board, who once again have provided a clever, high-energy thriller. Already we can see the action being set up and its breathless pace, which will no doubt continue to rise as the story unfolds.
The big selling point of the show is that it is not too far-fetched and beyond the audience’s imagination, as robotic productions really are occurring and what we see happening in HUMANS could be the future ahead.
Channel 4 look like they may have a hit show on their hands and whether you are a lover of sci-fi or not, it has definitely got human (pardon the pun!) interest at heart.
[…] deterred by their presence. It is the complete opposite for Leo (Colin Morgan), who we discovered last week was rather attached to Anita. Not willing to live without her, he is on a mission with his friend […]
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