Colin Morgan
Gemma Chan
Katherine Parkinson
Tom Goodman-Hill
William Hurt
Will Tudor
Rebecca Front
Neil Maskell
Danny Webb

Created by:
Sam Vincent
Jonathan Brackley

42 mins. (episodes)
Drama, Sci-Fi
2015-
AMC

TV-14

AMC’s “Humans” features a story about, well, humans, as the title suggests, and their synthetic counterparts – androids that is. And there’s the rub. Plus, something isn’t right here. If you don’t sense that – I don’t know how you wouldn’t – then, every now and then, the screen pixelates almost imperceptibly.

In the pilot, we’re introduced to a family in England that needs help. Well, the father does. He’s been alone with his three kids for five days. His wife claims that her business trip lasted longer than was planned. We can tell that she’s not to be trusted. So the father takes his youngest daughter with him to buy a synthetic female. The wife comes home to find the synthetic in her home. She’s not pleased, neither is her oldest daughter. What they don’t know is the past of their synthetic. And so, the story unfolds. (The family story line, by the way, is this show’s glaring flaw. It holds the show back every time it becomes the story’s focus. I’m annoyed just thinking about it.)

The synthetics are well-played by the human actors. They’re off, just enough. Also, the “synths,” as they’re called, don’t always work the way that they should. That comes as no surprise.

So, while there’s thought behind this, there’s nothing new about this show. Well, the pilot doesn’t suggest that there is. There’s enough going for it to warrant another viewing, though, along with the presence of William Hurt. He plays a character with Alzheimer’s who uses his synth as a repository for his memories. There’s potential there. Colin Morgan’s character has a mysterious connection with synths of a particular sort (I won’t tell you what sort). Let’s just call it a special relationship. There might be something worthwhile there, too. Plus, these story lines will converge at some point, I’m sure. There are hints of that in the pilot.

“Humans” has a clean, modern English look that fits its subject matter. It looks like an upscale Syfy production. The pace is appropriate, and the music tells us that something eerie this way comes. How fast it comes and how significant that is will either make it or break it. Also, how much weight the family story line gets and how well they turn that story line into something watchable will be a major factor. This show just needs to focus on the synths, especially since it looks like all synths aren’t created equal. Some, like any other kind of computer, seem to be more advanced than others. Can a synth become human? What will that mean for real humans? Singularity, here we come? …

Unfortunately, when “Humans” decides to reveal some of its secrets, it gets worse not better. It’s like the writers said, “Uh oh. We have to end the season. Hurry!” The last two episodes of the season have laughably bad moments: two, in particular, come to mind. For one, the way they handled a pivotal scene involving William Hurt’s character is unforgivable.

“Humans” has been renewed for a second season, so kudos to them for fooling the right people in the right places. The weak spell that they managed to cast has already worn off, so one season is more than enough for me. I do like everything about the synths (especially the actors playing them), though.

Verdict: Good

About: (Source: humans)

HUMANS is set in a parallel present, where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a Synth – a highly-developed robotic servant, eerily similar to its live counterpart. In the hope of transforming the way his family lives, father Joe Hawkins (Tom Goodman-Hill) purchases a Synth (Gemma Chan) against the wishes of his wife (Katharine Parkinson), only to discover that sharing life with a machine has far-reaching and chilling consequences.