Humans: What’s Channel 4’s creepy Persona Synthetics sci-fi robot series all about?
ARE you counting down the days until the Blade Runner sequel comes out?
Gemma Chan as Anita in Humans
Or perhaps you’re waiting for Charlie Brooker to write the next instalment of Black Mirror?
If so, then Channel 4’s new sci-fi drama Humans could briefly fill that deep, dark void inside of you.
We’ve taken a look at the forthcoming drama and found out everything you need to know about it. So read on…
Colin Morgan as Leo in Humans
What’s the score?
In a parallel universe humans will develop robots called Synths to help with everyday tasks from taking the kids to school to making the Sunday roast. There’s nothing they can’t do.
To make life easier, well-intentioned Joe Hawkins buys a Snyth to ease the pressures of household chores off his wife Laura. But it’s from there that the problems start. Laura is not a fan of the Synth they’ve named Laura, who seems a little bit too close to being human for her liking.
In sharp contrast George is trying to hang on to his malfunctioning Synth, Odi, who remembers his deceased wife thanks to his impeccable memory.
He’s basically like a son to Odi but sadly the authorities want to replace him with a brand new Synth nurse called Vera. She’s a pretty matronly and doesn’t take any nonsense.
Then there’s a human bloke called Leo who’s on the run with his Synth buddy Max.
Who’s in it?
It’s got quite an impressive cast…
Colin Morgan, who you may remember for Merlin as the titular wizard but more recently he was seen getting close and personal with Gillian Anderson’s DSI Stella Gibson on the second series of The Fall last year. He’ll be playing the mysterious fugitive Leo.
Gemma Chan of Fresh Meat and Secret Diary of a Call Girl fame plays the disturbingly life-like Synth Anita.
Rebecca Front, best known for The Thick of It, is going to be starring as the more matriarchal Synth Vera.
Meanwhile Katherine Parkinson – Jen from nerd sitcom The IT Crowd – has swapped geeks for robots as she plays disgruntled wife and Synth sceptic Laura.
American actor William Hurt takes on the part of the ageing George, who is desperate to keep his Synth Odi.
If Will Tudor, who stars as aforementioned broken Synth Odi, looks a bit familiar then that’s because he’s been playing male prostitute Olyvar on Game of Thrones.
Synths at the Persona Synthetics store in Humans
But wait – aren’t the robots going to rise up and kill us all?
Well, that’s the crux of Humans. The sci-fi series explores what is means to be human and how different Synths would they really be from us if they existed.
Is it any good?
It’s been made by the people behind Utopia and Broadchurch, so it’s safe to say that’s going to be hair-raising, edge-of-the-seat stuff.
The show is a re-make of the 2012 Swedish original Äkta människor - or Real Humans in English - and was so popular that a second series was made.
What was the deal with those weird Persona Synthetics TV ads?
If you’re referring to the commercials shown on Channel 4 during the ad breaks for Prometheus back in May, it was all part of an edging publicity stunt that seems to have worked.
The programme makers even put up adverts for the first Persona Synthetics store on Regent’s Street proclaiming the opening of the first store.
It did leave some people freaked out to say the least – and it didn’t help that a Persona Synthetics website had been set up to sell androids. But props to Channel 4 for such a clever marketing campaign, it certainly got people talking…
Will I like it?
It’s a co-production with American network AMC, who were behind the likes of Mad Men, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead, so it should be pretty darned good.
Also, if you’re a fan of Black Mirror (think of the episode Be Right Back), Blade Runner, Terminator, Isaac Asimov or any kind of artificial intelligence tale then this is the programme for you. But even if you’re not, give it a go.
When’s it on?
Humans will start on Channel 4 at 9pm on Sunday June 14th.
