One of my favorite shows of 2015, AMC’s Humans, aired its season finale last night. I’ve never been much of a science fiction fan, but this new series drew me in with its complex themes, social commentary, and creative investigation of what the future may hold for our interaction with developing technology.
The element that separates Humans from other artificial intelligence stories, such as I, Robot, the Terminator series, or other “mechanical” renditions is in the physical and emotional humanity of the robots, or as Humans calls them, Synths. This puts the show much more in line with Steven Spielberg’s AI, 1982’s Blade Runner, or the recent Ex Machina. When robots genuinely look like and act like people, the line between labor and enslavement is blurred, as is the emotional qualities required to either harm or love.
Humans uses the Hawkins family as the audience conduit, as they try to understand the new technology that has been brought into their home. They have standard family issues (spousal disconnect, teen angst, etc;) but they become exacerbated by the arrival of their own Synth. When they discover that some Synths may have other qualities—that they are more than just robots—they have to decide how involved they want to become in the larger social conflict between man and machine.
While the idea of humans clashing with robots is not new, the series is able to find real depth in its questions of the definition of humanity. Should we let robots do our work for us? (The answer to that, from a standpoint of economics, is a definitive yes.) Should we let robots care for our children? Should we be allowed to have physical, romantic engagement with robots? Is it possible for a robot to be taken advantage of? Can a robot ever attain rights, and if so, at what point? Can robots ever become more than property—can they become part of our circle of friends and family? These are a few of the social and moral dilemmas brought up in this series.
Literature (and its visual equivalent) is ultimately about the study of humanity, and this series tackles that complexity admirably. The show features adult language, some sexual themes, and brief violence. But it is well worth the time for those looking for something unique on today’s airwaves: thought-provoking storytelling and interesting characters. For those that missed the sci-fi/family drama, be sure to check your local listings for reruns.
The element that separates Humans from other artificial intelligence stories, such as I, Robot, the Terminator series, or other “mechanical” renditions is in the physical and emotional humanity of the robots, or as Humans calls them, Synths. This puts the show much more in line with Steven Spielberg’s AI, 1982’s Blade Runner, or the recent Ex Machina. When robots genuinely look like and act like people, the line between labor and enslavement is blurred, as is the emotional qualities required to either harm or love.
Humans uses the Hawkins family as the audience conduit, as they try to understand the new technology that has been brought into their home. They have standard family issues (spousal disconnect, teen angst, etc;) but they become exacerbated by the arrival of their own Synth. When they discover that some Synths may have other qualities—that they are more than just robots—they have to decide how involved they want to become in the larger social conflict between man and machine.
While the idea of humans clashing with robots is not new, the series is able to find real depth in its questions of the definition of humanity. Should we let robots do our work for us? (The answer to that, from a standpoint of economics, is a definitive yes.) Should we let robots care for our children? Should we be allowed to have physical, romantic engagement with robots? Is it possible for a robot to be taken advantage of? Can a robot ever attain rights, and if so, at what point? Can robots ever become more than property—can they become part of our circle of friends and family? These are a few of the social and moral dilemmas brought up in this series.
Literature (and its visual equivalent) is ultimately about the study of humanity, and this series tackles that complexity admirably. The show features adult language, some sexual themes, and brief violence. But it is well worth the time for those looking for something unique on today’s airwaves: thought-provoking storytelling and interesting characters. For those that missed the sci-fi/family drama, be sure to check your local listings for reruns.