Exactly 10 years ago, Channel 4 released one of the best tech dystopian series of the decade – and no, it’s not Black Mirror.
The star-studded 2015 series – featuring Gemma Chan, Colin Morgan and Katherine Parkinson – was set in a parallel near-future universe in which human-shaped robots (known as synths) are part of society.
The synths’ introduction into workplaces, the home, and the seedy underbelly of the cities has transformed the world as we know it.
From having human-like robot slaves cleaning our characters’ homes to using their bodies as sex dolls to replacing humans with their synth counterparts in the workplace, the three-season show was unafraid to explore the darker side of human-robot relations.
Based on a Swedish drama, the show follows the Hawkins family, who are caught up in a technological web far larger than they ever imagined when they bring synth Mia (Gemma) home, who has depths far deeper than meets the eye.
The Bafta-nominated series written by Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley wowed critics and audiences at the time of its release as well, securing an impressive 94% on Rotten Tomatoes for its stellar acting, strong scripts and eerie finger on the pulse.
At the time, Empire Magazine called it ‘one of the freshest British dramas in years’ and Digital Spy dubbed it a ‘smart, deftly realised science-fiction with real heart.’
New York Magazine said it was ‘an impressively fleshed-out show, joining the ranks of other robo-oriented substantive dramas’ and the LA Times lauded it for its ‘surprisingly nuanced look’ at the dangers of artificial intelligence.
As laid out by those who watched it, what set Humans apart from the growing genre of sci-fi dystopia was its unapologetic look at the messy morality behind the curtain, and accepting that there was no easy answer.
TV writer Asyia Iftikhar on why she loves Channel 4 series Humans
When I find myself looking down the barrel of technologically induced existential doom and looking to indulge, my hand often goes for the TV remote.
As a sci-fi nerd and dystopia lover, I have long loved shows like Black Mirror and Orphan Black, but time and time again, I find myself revisiting Humans on Channel 4.
Not only does this brilliant cast put on a compelling performance, but the storyline still feels like it could happen at any moment, even 10 years after it first aired.
Nowadays, artificial intelligence has become a big part of our everyday lives, from ChatGPT to Character AI to AI-rendered pornography.
So the questions raised by Humans around the abuse of women and capturing human consciousness in technology have never felt more relevant.
Especially considering our growing co-dependency on technology, in many ways, it feels we are already living out the events of the show.
Beyond its pertinent themes, it makes for gritty and grounded television with the human and robot relationships forming the beating heart of the show.
Meanwhile, the speculative nature of the show means it goes in weird and wacky places that might not be the most realistic but are certainly fascinating to watch unfold.
It is one of the rare times I have found myself rooting for the robots – not an easy feat.
Although I think it did lose its way by season three, the first two seasons stand up as vibrant additions to the British sci-fi genre.
One fan, RT user Pat K called it an ‘uncomfortable watch’ and Jared M shared they were ‘looking for a new psychological deep sci-fi show that would make me think, and here it is.’
Although some of the story arcs, themes or plots may seem outdated, the crux of the show holds up thanks to this layered approach.
The first two seasons hold water with water-tight characters and motivations even if, as some fans have pointed out, it does lose steam by the final season with shakier plotlines.
Speaking of the ethos behind the show in 2015, the co-creators told Den of Geek there is ‘a strain of resistance to sci-fi in British TV commissioning’.
They added: ‘But people who are nervous of the term usually actually mean “space opera” rather than “sci-fi”.
‘We’re more the speculative science fiction of ideas, the kind that doesn’t go to other galaxies but puts the scary, weird idea right in your living room.’
And that they do.
For those who haven’t watched it Humans is available to stream on Channel 4 now.
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