User reviews

My wife and I operate a three episode policy when deciding to watch a new show. With all the great TV out there it can be hard to choose what to watch and not every show has a great start but develops into something memorable. As a result we always wait until we have DVR'd at least three episodes before watching the first. The other reason we record three is if the show is good we will want more immediately. Humans however left us wanting more after the third episode.

The concepts in this show are not ground breaking for any fan of the genre or any reader of science fiction but the fact it is set in the present day in a very relatable parallel reality (especially for Brits) is where this series gets its mojo. This is a thinking persons show the story is secondary to the compelling analysis of human nature and it's reactions to technology. Those who embrace it, those who reject it both are catered for here.

The production values are so very high and the casting is exemplary. Most people are not well known with the exception of William Hurt but there are familiar faces (again, especially for Brits) in there.

This show is not all action but is guaranteed to thrill you and chill you with it's moody pacing, moments of comedy and disturbing critique of humanity facing the very nature of its own creation.

Humans was such a great show! I really got into it, great rounded characters and a believable future. I was really looking forward to the next series. So disappointed.

I expected this series to be an "I Robot" lite, but in fact I am impressed with the first episode both from its acting and the completeness of this initial 'view' into an alternative world. Keeping my fingers crossed it will maintain this standard. Although I know this was adapted from a Swedish series I'm deliberately staying away from it for now. The opening episode certainly seems to have captured the sense of atmosphere and something impending that Scandinavians do so well. With a cast which is more than able to add some heft to the 'human' side of the story - it was equally gratifying to see the 'synthetics' pull off the difficult balancing act between machine behavior and enough 'emotional' content to set the series up for some dramatic juxtapositions. Although there is a small level of "adult" content I think its use, given the use of technology in our own world, was both relevant and all too believable.

From the beginning, the premise of this show, the writing, the acting, the twists and the human message were engrossing, and they have remained more so over the last three seasons, and by the way, very relevant: the stakes feel real and relatable to today's issues throughout.

Certainly, there is no evading comparisons to Black Mirror, as both shows are explorations of technological advances of the near future. Whereas Black Mirror is more of a warning of the potential pitfalls of technology, HUMANS is more about society's adjustment to human displacement not only in the economic realm, but also in other intrinsically human dimensions: sharing with -or relinquishing to- our own creations our place at the top of the totem pole is a struggle full of pain, fear, contradictions, inspiration and hope. Furthermore, unlike Black Mirror, HUMANS has a continuous story line with recurring characters, which allows more emotional engagement with their cause. Even the villains in HUMANS aren't black and white and their motivations do make sense, even when their actions are reprehensible.

This is a show every Political Political Science, Sociology or Philosophy courses should make young people watch and talk about. And for your average Sci-fi fan out there, this is a smart show with a lot of heart, in more ways than one.

Highly recommended.

Gaah! I can't wait for the next episode! It is building tension ju-u-u-st right: Creepy, heart rending, asking the big questions about life and love and what constitutes consciousness, in other words it just couldn't be better. It also feels like perhaps it actually is building towards a specific future point, rather than just bumbling along and making stuff up as it goes. I am very excited to see where they're taking us, and how current loyalties may shift..? (I hope so!) Very well made, very well acted, just well-crafted in every way. Who said the art of good Science Fiction is dead? It seems to be experiencing a renaissance right now in response to all the boring 'miserealism' of recent times - huzzah!

Another fantastic show canceled while reality rubbish keeps on spewing.

This is meant to be an extremely positive review, however it might not sound that way. This first episode was so disturbing I had to take a break. When I came back and finished it I had tears I'm my eyes from the disturbing feeling it invoked. This is not normally something I seek out in entertainment. But this is so well done, I simply can't avoid it. If I described the premise created in the first episode, it would sound tired and old; all the questions about artificial intelligence and it's rise equaling the fall of mankind. But somehow the writing, and story, and especially the actors create something new and exceptional. What happens here is inevitable someday. The questions are will we survive?

Humans is an unexpectedly great show. The reason for this is that it's understated in the technology an emphasizes the humanity. The cast are all from UK and mostly unknown and it allows us to get to know the characters more. Gemma Chan who plays Anita/Mya led me to this series via her Twitter. I first saw her in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.

This series is dark and brooding. It raises more questions than it answers with the interaction between the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Synths and the Humans who "employ" them to do ordinary household tasks.

The origins of the core group of Synths is a mystery that is weave through the course of this series. There is some limited action, violence and beneath all of that big question about the ghost in the machine. This may be the best follow-up on ideas of sentient robots first presented since Blade Runner.

this is one of the rare times where i see a remake, and i am not angry. The original Swedish series were truly enjoyable, innovative, creative, and brilliant. Despite the little budget and small targeted variety of audience, they have done a great job, and impressed all types of people all over the world. When someone takes another person's idea, or an existing creation and reproduces it; this is the message he gives out to the world..

"hey you've done well, but i can do it better"

So the audience who are aware of the original work, and loved it the way it was, are and will be nervous critics.. i'd say proceed carefully, and refrain from turning to the dark statistical cliché consumptive side of USA filming.

I sensed the effort of preserving the soul of the show from the original. That is good. Having bigger budget, and access to better studios and filming capabilities, i am hoping that this great series will be remade to reach to a much larger audience.

Not a bad start, but could have been heaps better as this isn't writing a new song, it's like singing an already nice song.

Please impress us all.. Do it better if you can :)

7/10 from me for now.

First, this is the kind of series the Brits have shown a knack for, riffing off normal life situations into something creepy and unexpected. (See for example UTOPIA, the original UK version, also reviewed by this scribe.) So even though this is a clone of a European show, it is a natural for English audiences.

Second, the casting of Bill Hurt suggests to the cynically-minded that series was done with a pre-sale to the US market already in the works, with Hurt's job to make the transition more comfortable and discourage yet another "forced cloning" of the show in the US market, a move that more often than not wastes money and creates an inferior product.

Third, the casting is to die for. Gemma Chan is perfectly cast as the main "bot" and reminds this cranky old reviewer of what happened when Barbara Eden first appeared as a family "genie" in the US decades ago. It is now agreed by TV historians that subliminally this appealed to many male viewers who stayed loyal to the show for reasons well beyond the story arc.

And Colin Morgan, once the Merlin of legend, is an under-rated actor who can only make the show better over time.

Looks like a winner to me.

Enjoyed all three series.

Plenty of food for thought, and more straightforward understandable than something similar like the big budget Westworld.

Female leads were terrific especially Katherine Parkinson,Gemma Chan and the best of all Emily Berington.

Wow! I watched the first episode and at the beginning I was a little skeptical. By the end of the episode not only was I thoroughly impressed, I was totally hooked to the show. I knew I had to have more episodes and I couldn't wait for episode two.

Episode two rewarded me greatly and I can't wait for the next episode. A whole week is a pretty long time- feels like I have to wait a whole month before getting enjoy episode three. Someone should fast forward the sun,huh!

This is the first show that has ever managed to hook me right from the start, capture my emotions and leave me panting for more. I feel the show is very great, it has a fresh way of presenting things and its is my hope it will continue getting better and better.

I highly recommend watching HUMANS as soon as possible.

First off I have to say Gemma Chan is simply brilliant in her performance through and through. I normally do not like Brit shows as I find them dry.

I gave this show a shot as it was a familiar story to one of my favourite movies (I Robot). However it is far less shoot 'em up action and way deeper in story and character developement.

There are a few actors I'm not overly fond of but most and specially Chan are simply amazing. I was completely gripped by the end of the first episode.

The only thing that really sucks about this show is that there are only 8 episodes per season. A show of this calibre certainly deserves more. Not sure if it is a Brit thing or not but seriously 8? I guess that is how you know it is a great show. It leaves you wanting more and more!

I got into this after reading a 5-star review from a trusted journalist.

I have to say, though, it;s little more than a re-telling of the now age- old robot-gets-feeling trope covered: -comically in Short Circuit -deeply (and excellently) in BladRunner, and; -deeply / philosophically in the BattleStarGalactica reboot.

Against those, this series is simply 'ok'. It's very stylish in visuals, and slightly creepy... fairly decent entertainment. But it doesn't cover any new themes.

6/10.

Normally I am not into the scifi genre, but Humans is one of a kind. It's not the storyline (although okay) and not the human characters (okay too, Mattie in particular), it's the characters of the synths that make it special and lovable. One synth stands out for me, and that's Odi. His kind and fragile personality earns an Oscar.

Having seen Akta Manniskor aka Real Humans first, I was hoping that the Brits would do a good job. It is a different story but frankly I found it unsatisfying because while the original Series 1 of Real Humans explored so many issues in a caring realistic way that I felt that this lacked a little depth. It didn't have the original series beautiful pacing per episode, and while I love Katherine Parkinson in the IT Crowd, I thought her role as written was not very strong, especially as she is a lawyer/solicitor. Whether it was her characterization or the writing, I think it was a weak point in this series. If you don't like reading sub-titles, by all means enjoy this series. However, if you do like sub-titles by all means watch Real Humans Series 1.

I'll admit I sat on watching this for a while, I thought it would be boring but wow was I wrong, I love this show! It has a great plot, tight storytelling, interesting characters, and exceptional acting. Whats not to love!

Really appreciate the 8 episode seasons, it lets the writers tell a great story without having to add in filler to spread the story out to 10-13 episodes and it leaves you wanting more. Needless to say it's an easy binge.

If you haven't seen this series and you're a science fiction fan you really need to check this out. Like I mentioned earlier, I put off watching this show for a while. I thought it be boring and be more drama then syfy, that isn't the case.

I don't understand why it doesn't air in the US the same time as it airs in the UK? I think the US ratings would be much higher if it did.

If you aren't into science it is a nice show. It has great ideas, but it isn't sci fi. it's a show about tolerance to immigrants and racism. The AIs aren't as smart or special. They talk about how AI could achieve so much, but they couldn't even figure out hot to recharge themselves without people's power stations. They pretty much act like dumb teens, walking into danger and let their feelings control them, without thinking like a somewhat calculated AI. I don't understand how the AIs get money to buy stuff or rent, probably everything is so cheap in London?! Also they need to recharge all the time the electricity bills must be huge. The show kills a few interesting characters to early, which is a shame.

This became a soap opera after the 4th episode. I didn't care about the real characters, and too much emphasis on whether or not people should care about the "feelings" of robots. Boo hoo.

This has been one of my favorite SciFi Shows. It deals with issues that are all too likely to a reality one day as advances in robotics and AI advance. The interaction between the "Synths" and their "creator" is fascinating. It shows the fear we all have of the machines (AI) becoming so intelligent that it one day rebels against us. Very disappointed that I waited so long for Season 3 to be available only to find that it will not be renewed for Season 4. I'm hoping someone like Netflix decides to pick it up like they did with Lucifer. We need SEASON 4!