Blog #56 Almost Human Series Review

Genre– Science Fiction, Cyberpunk, Crime Drama

Created by- J H Wyman

Starring– Karl Urban played Detective Kennex, Mr. Urban also starred in Star Trek ess 2009 as Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy, in The Chronicles of Riddick 2004 as Vaaco, in Doom 2005 as John “Reaper” Grimm, and in The Boys series 2019 as Billy Butcher.

Michael Ealy played DRN-0167 called Dorian, also starred in Flash Forward 2009-10 as CIA Agent Marshall Vogel, in Westworld 2020 as Jake Reed Season

Minka Kelly

Mackenzie Crook

Michael Irby

Lili Taylor

Gena Carano- guest star on Episode 9 Unbound. Miss Carano also played Cara Dune in Mandalorian 2018 series.

Theme music composer– J J Abrams

Composer– The Crystal Method

Country of Origin– The United States

Original Language– English

No. of seasons– 1

No. of episodes– 13

Original Release

Network- Fox

Release date- November 17, 2017 to March 3, 2014

Awards

2014 Nominee Primetime Emmy for episode “Pilot”

2014 Image Awards (NAACP)

2014 2 Leo Awards

2015 Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA Best Sound Editing

2014 Young Artists Award Nominee

2014 Visual Effects Society Award Nominee

2014 IGN Summer Movie Awards Nominee

2014 UBCP/ACTRA Awards, Vancouver Nominee

Synopsis

The story revolves around a detective just coming back from leave, where he was in a coma and had lost a leg. When he returns to the police force, the rules have changed. Everybody must have a robot to help them keep up with all the changes in the amount and type of crime in 2048. Detective Kennex can’t stand the empty MX-43 robots. The captain tells him he must have a robot, but after kicking his assigned MX out of the car, the captain assigns him a DRN, an android series that ended up with malfunctions. Most of the DRNs were unable to handle the emotions they had been programmed with. Dorian was one of the rare few who could. The captain thinks this DRN is a good match for the detective; they are both ‘special.’ What follows is a police procedural that could be called predictable. Still, the crimes are wild-kidnapping women to get skin to put on pleasure robot models, Smart Homes that kill their owners, and a criminal genius who clones himself, commits a murder, and then uses the clones to stop his trial. Dorian grows to the point where he wants to leave the facilities that house the MXs and move in with John. Dorian ends up bunking with Rudy, the nerdy engineer who keeps all the robots in shape. This is too much for John, but he sets Dorian up with Rudy, the nerdy engineer who keeps all the robots in shape.

Critique

This series takes its setting cues from Blade Runner 1982 which many productions have. It is visually spectacular, and the actors are good. They put in two Star Wars 1977 quotes, one from Escape from New York 1981, and four from Die Hard 1988. At least that is what I found. I suspect there are some from Blade Runner (1982), but I only saw that movie once. I got a kick out of discovering them.

Unfortunately, the network decided to fiddle with it and then cancelled after only 13 episodes. A major downfall. It is noticeable that the series does not delve into AI running amok. Instead, it is humans who program their robots and houses to commit the crimes, which I found refreshing. That would be the first problem with AI, not its jumping to sentiency. That would be a significant leap. It is not even a given that could happen. The two lead actors are excellent. Michael Ealy (Dorian) is very gentle and patient, and Karl Urban (Detective Kennex) is not. The detective is jaded and hates what happened to him and his previous partner. They make a good team. Dorian has a lot of wisdom for John, and John can help Dorian’ fit in.’ The series was on the edge for how gritty it got, but I liked it very much- enough schmaltz for me to enjoy. The most significant negative is that it didn’t get wrapped up.

Places to Watch

Prime Video subscription

Tubi Free with Ads

Apple TV+ subscription

Plex subscription

Online

Sources

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almost_Human_(TV_series)

2. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1372-karl-urban

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Ealy

4. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2654580/awards/?ref_=tt_awd

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gina_Carano