AMC exports fantastic sci-fi drama ‘Humans’
Perhaps AMC’s future is no longer in the past. The cable network changed its brand with the period piece “Mad Men” and has continued to mine history both distant and recent with “Hell on Wheels,” “Turn,” and “Halt and Catch Fire.”
Set in a near future that could be closer than we expect, the eight-part import “Humans” (8 p.m. Sunday) has been a huge success in the U.K. A quiet, thoughtful science-fiction series, it’s worth getting excited about.
“Humans” explores a world where Synths, lifelike humanoid robots, have become commonplace. They work as domestics, babysitters and caregivers for elderly shut-ins and also perform manual labor in factories and farms. Their introduction comes not without concern. What happens when people who derive meaning from work are displaced? Will machines allow people to become “more” human, or merely angry and alienated?
Made by the production company behind “Broadchurch,” this drama explores these profound questions in intimate settings. When Laura Hawkins (Katherine Parkinson) becomes too distracted by her legal work, her harried husband, Joe (Tom Goodman-Hill), surprises her with a Synth. Laura is supposed to be pleased that Anita (Gemma Chan) keeps the house spotless, prepares three gourmet meals a day and even reads bedtime stories to their daughter. Instead, she’s threatened by the fact that this “tin can” has usurped her role as a mother and has come between her and her husband.
George (William Hurt) is a lonely widower still grieving for his dead wife. His Synth, Odi (Will Tudor), is clearly obsolete and breaking down. But George sees “him” as his only “living” link to his departed spouse.
As if these deeply moving personal dramas were not enough, there’s a murky backstory about an underground population of sentient Synths, robots that have gained — or were endowed with — self-awareness, identities and a yearning to be more than slaves. And Anita, or some version of her former self, appears to be among them.
“Humans” follows a field well explored by books and movies from “Frankenstein” to “Metropolis,” “Blade Runner” to “A.I.” But its focus on the personal distinguishes it from its more fantastic antecedents. Haunting, moving and — for a series about synthetic “life” — deeply humane, it’s simply not to be missed.
SATURDAY’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Regional coverage of Major League Baseball (6 p.m., WHBQ-TV Channel 13).
Pasiphae plots to stop the wedding on the midseason premiere of “Atlantis” (8 p.m., BBC America).
Jesse Metcalfe and Autumn Reeser star in the 2015 romance “A Country Wedding” (8 p.m., Hallmark).
Emilia Clarke, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Cara Delevingne and Tinie Tempah appear on “The Graham Norton Show” (10:15 p.m., BBC America).
SUNDAY’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
The 2014 documentary “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me” (8 p.m., CNN) follows the musician, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, on his farewell tour.
A job offer arrives on the series finale of “Nurse Jackie” (8 p.m., Showtime).
Thom quits on the season finale of “Happyish” (8:30 p.m., Showtime).
Odelle is held hostage on the season finale of “American Odyssey” (9 p.m., WMC-TV Channel 5).
A wounded veteran receives a belated medal on “Honor Delayed” (9 p.m., Al Jazeera America).
Tom’s chances may be slipping away on the fifth season premiere of “Falling Skies” (9 p.m., TNT).
The military scrambles on “The Brink” (9:30 p.m., HBO).