While I’m sitting here biting my nails, hoping that Humans doesn’t get cancelled for some dumb reason, I thought it’s finally time to shine some light on this amazing TV series produced in the UK instead of the US. I know! CHOCKING! Something great that doesn’t come from Hollywood. It actually happens very often if we give a chance to.

The first time it aired (in 2015), it really sparked my curiosity. Although at the time, it wasn’t yet being broadcasted in Portugal, so if I wanted to watch it, I would have to go off track, and most of the times I wouldn’t bother. Therefore, I let it pass. At the beginning of last year, as I was zapping to find something interesting to see, I recognise someone, it was Mia (Gemma Chan). From that day on, I religiously watched every single episode every single week (actually I missed one, and I don’t know how). And today, I’m going to tell you why I love this show so much and why you should too.

Synopsis

The story is set in a parallel present where synths are the newest gadget that everyone wants to have. Synths are humanoid robots that can be programmed to do all kind of stuff from house chores to manufacturing. They can drive your kids to school, make lunch, clean the house, walk your dog, basically everything you want them to do. The story follows along a family, The Hawkins, that have been against the use of synths since they appeared. Although the relationship between the family isn’t great and as a way to relieve some stress from house management and apply that wasted time into each other, they buy a synth called Anita. But quickly they start to realise that there is something odd about their synth.

There is also another thing you have to know so this review can make any sense to you. There is, in fact, something different about Anita, she is a synth, but she has consciousness. And she is not alone. The mastermind behind the synths, David Elster, tried to create (and apparently succeeded) the future he saw for them, he gave consciousness. So he created in his home 4 conscious synths, Mia, Niska, Fred, and Max. After some little trouble, they were separated and sold to various places as normal synths. Mia, or better yet Anita, ends up in the Hawkins’ household where all this adventure begin.

Character Diversity

The story follows along not only every member of the Hawkins family but also the synths. Inside the Hawkins’ household, you have completely different personalities so each one has a very specific reaction/approach to this concept of synths being part of families or simply exist in the world. In the other hand, since the main synths do have consciousness they also have very distinctive personalities. Not only that, but they also go through different experiences as they relate to humans. Which allows the story to portrait reactions from polar opposites.

This is one of the things that I adore about this show and how it makes it wholesome. All this diversity not only from the human point of view but also the synths POV gives you the positive and negative sides of living in a society like that. From that, it can also open doors to make us think how our society works and more than recognising if we are ready to have synths of our own, it’s to see how we relate to what’s around us, from humans to nature, or anything else in between and beyond.

The important questions

As the story progresses, the show really puts in perspective how egocentric humans are, and how we believe we are above anything. Despite the story be about a future yet to come, it makes us think how our mentality is structured in relation with other non-human beings. Would you choose human life over animal life? What if the human you have never met and the animal is your 15 years old dog that grew up with you? Which one would you choose? “Simple” choices like this allow us to reflect on how we relate with other beings.

And when it’s given consciousness and feelings to something to make it closer to be human, even when it doesn’t have any biological components, it can’t be treated like an object or a toy for a child to play (the same way that animals shouldn’t be treated like toys). Doing so establishes a level of superiority to humans that doesn’t make any sense. Which brings to the common approach in science-fiction, humans are superior to be able to create a form of conscious life but doing so they create a superior being that doesn’t need a human. So why would the creation answer to the creator if he is inferior to it? – and this is the plot of most Sci-fi robot related movies. You’re welcome!

The show also explores how afraid the human being is of changing. When it’s given an option to change and try to reach harmony or create war the decision is easily the second one. We get to see it on the news every day. And in this show, it’s not different. Synths are a big change in the story, but as long as they remain obedient and the humans in total control, it’s easily accepted. Although when the status quo changes and suddenly a synth no longer needs a human to exist and have its own propose, humans start to hate it. This change doesn’t imply that synths will be in control of humans, that’s not the plot of the story, the synths are just looking for equality, something that it’s still being fought for nowadays in our society.

Story progression

As you can probably tell, this show as a lot of food for thought and can lead to great discussions that I would love to have one day. But I can’t forget that this is a show separated into 3 seasons (so far) and the story development it’s very important. From what this show started to be it has grown exponentially like I never thought it would. Episode after episode, my mind was blown away and my heart racing for half an hour with no clue what could happen. Most of the times, I would end an episode speechless because I needed time to process everything that happened, and understand what it could mean for the upcoming ones.

The first season is the discovery. How did the synths come to be? Why are they conscious? What happened to them? And who are they? It’s the moment when we get to know the characters and the first relationships start to happen. Also, a few things are laid out to develop for the next season.

As season 2 emerges, many new things appear as well. Suddenly, there is another side plot that changes a few things. It’s a slightly weird season because (apparently) a lot of the story doesn’t continue into the third season. So you get the feeling that something drops from the sky and as quickly as it appears, it disappears.

But season 3 is complete madness. The story takes a 360º turn and everything is going wrong. Barely nothing good happens in this season which can leave you in the edge of your sit for hours. It’s also the most emotional season yet, and I’m not just talking about the finale. Throughout the season, a lot of little parts start to fall and crumble down leaving devastation everywhere. I’m not going to say that it brought me to tears but it sure did shred my heart. As the season comes to an end, a lot of the stuff that seemed to vanish out in thin air in season 2 is brought back. They didn’t bring back enough to take that odd feeling about season 2 away, but hopefully, they can redeem it in season 4 – if it’s renewed.

Since Season 3 was so sad, it would be a shame for this story to just end here. Something big is stored for season 4 without knowing anything else the writers might add in to blow my mind, and I’m sure it won’t disappoint. I don’t mind waiting, I just hope they decide to make it come to life.