Some thoughts on "Humans"
So I've spent nearly the entire weekend watching Humans and I wanted to share what I think of it and maybe get some discussion going.
For those who are not familiar with it, the basic premise is an alternate reality present day where "synths" - robots that replaced humans in most menial tasks - are part of everyday life to the point of being a common household item. Within the first episode we learn that there are a handful of synths that are sentient - thinking, feeling individuals. The show explores the implications of that - how previously-servile machines becoming sentient would impact society. There are many parallels to contemporary issues around racism, xenophobia, fear, and I think the show does good job of handling the topic. It is a smart, well-written sci-fi drama.
So, did anyone else here watch it? What do you think of it?
PS: While the post itself doesn't have any spoilers, the comments do.
I love this show!
I'll admit that I was a bit disappointed when the cliff-hanger ending at the end of the first season fizzled out in the second season. I was expecting to see an uprising of newly sentient synths after Niska uploaded the sentience code to the web. I wanted to see an story arc about how humanity deals with this new underclass of slaves. Instead, we got only a handful of synths becoming sentient; a dribble instead of a flood.
But, apart from that one disappointment, I'm loving the show.
It also looks at the issues of automation causing job losses, and sexual relations with robots.
I initially wanted what you did, but actually came to prefer the dribble instead. If it was indeed David Elster's plan for sentient synths to join human society, it would make sense to do so gradually and gently, giving humans time to adjust both socially and legally.
Same here, but with a different issue: I really, really hated the reveal of "magic hybrid baby" in the last episode (S03E08). Up until that point everything in the show was grounded in reality - something that could feasibly happen one day. Now it looks like they are throwing that all away. I hope they'll prove me wrong.
That's as may be. However, if the series is going to deal with the social issues of slavery and discrimination, we need to have that enslaved underclass: thousands and thousands of sentient synths. As long as it's only a handful of synths who are sentient, they can be dealt with as exceptions. If all synths are sentient, that requires actual cultural change.
I haven't got to Season 3 yet. I'm buying the series as it's released on DVD here in Australia, and Season 3 isn't available yet.
That explains the rest of your comment :) Season 3 deals with all those things you mentioned.
It's been a while since I've watched the third series, but what makes the conception magical? I don't particularly remember anyone commenting on how their reproductive organs were not fully human, but maybe I missed something.
I think the slightly more weird thing was the AI taking over one of the synths then giving another synth
sudopowers. I don't think that was explained well enough, but I reckon they are going deeper into that in the next series.IIRC, the synths are skin-covered machines - there are no organs, which makes it magical,(EDIT: This was confusing, see below comments) because a hybrid baby doesn't make sense. How would it work? The baby will grow microchips, cables and sensors? Or, as some speculated on r/humans, if it's just about "mixed blood", then that doesn't make it a hybrid at all. After all, I wouldn't be a hybrid if I ingested machine oil.For the AI thing, I actually really liked it. V taking over Odi's body was nicely explained (Odi didn't want to live) and while Niska wouldn't be my first choice for
sudopowers, I think she has grown a lot of in the last season (less violent, more humane) and will use her powers wisely.Hopefully we'll get another series in ~2 years or so :)
Wait, did someone besides Mattie get pregnant? I was thinking of her ...
Oh, it'll definitely be interesting. I am more concerned with the why in her
sudopowers, though, mostly "why would that capability be built into their systems?"(Is there a spoiler tag we can use on posts? It feels handy right about now.)
Sorry, my post was confusing, I've edited it now. Yeah it is Mattie, but Niska called it the "hybrid baby" and how it would bring humans and synths together. My point is that a baby born from a human female and human male who used to have electronics in his brain doesn't make it a hybrid.
I don't think it was builtin at all. It's only a software change and V simply reprogrammed her.
The post is already tagged with
spoiler, but I don't think there is something similar for comments.Oh! I completely missed that, that is rather strange.
I understood it as unlocking something hidden within Niska's programming, admittedly it wasn't particularly clear what was happening there. Maybe it's time for a rewatch.
Though, If V was able to reprogram a part of Niska, would that still even be Niska? Furthermore, if V is capable of that kind of thing, what's to stop her from reprogramming the whole population of synths?
Those are both good questions and hopefully we'll get answers to them in series 4 :)
That's a good show, but I'm tired of the "good robot" trope. I miss the Cylons!
Then you haven't seen the third season :)
Great, then!