Humans — Episode 2: 21-6-2015

21st June, 2015.

You know, I really do like to catch a film, every now and again.

Really, I do.

But, with-in the past few months?

Well, within the past few months, I’ve started work.   And, while I’ve had the money to start renting movies more frequently?   And possibly catch a train to Romford’s cinema district to catch some?

I’ve had slightly less time to do so.

Certainly, less than I’d like.

Saying that … ?   When I have rented something, I’ve always tried to made a point, even now, of trying to tell you about what I’ve seen.

You’ve possibly noticed, haven’t you … ?

At ANY rate, in between working, writing Teasers, and lord knows whatever else, I’ve not had as much time to devote to watching a film or two.

Let alone writing about them.

However?

That’s not to say I’m going to give up on telling you about the films I’ve seen.   It’s just going to be a little less frequent than it’s been.

I’m hoping to supplement that by, instead, putting in some time, elsewhere.   So to speak.

You see, I’m like many people, I know.

I’ve got a TV.   You’d guessed that.

It shows TV programmes.   You’re not stupid: you’d realised that, too.

I think I’d like To add to my blogging horizons: on top of movies, Teasers, pub quizzes, and lord knows what else … ?

I’d like to add writing about genre TV, to Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar.

I’ve already made a start, with Dr Who, and Merlin.

I’d like to — however intermittently — add another to the mix.

I’d like to add something that actually started, last week: on the UK’s Channel 4.

It’s called Humans.

And … ?   I think I like it … 

~≈‡≈~

But let me briefly try to sum up the story so far.

Last week’s first episode of Humans introduces us to a mixed bag of characters.

We met the Hawkins family*: parents Joe and Laura, teenage daughter, Matilda, son Toby and youngest daughter, Sophie.   Episode 1 shows us Joe buying the new family synth, Anita: played by Gemma Chan.

We get introduced to the fugitive, Leo — the ever reliable and competent Colin Morgan, who I remember from Merlin — a man desperately to track down someone from his past: and accompanied by his Synth, Max.   It ALSO introduces us to a Synth called Niska: stuck in what would be sexual slavery in a brothel, if she were human.   She and Leo … ?   Have something of a history.

And finally … ?

Last week’s opening episode ALSO introduces us to Dr George Millican: played by William Hurt, Dr Millican is an ageing widower, one who worked on the original design of Synths, and one not pleased to receive a new NHS Synth called Vera () … 

As he’s perfectly happy with Odi, the outdated one he already has.

There’s others characters as well: Neil Maskell plays troubled detective, Peter Drummond, and Danny Webb as Hobb, a man who seems to be interested in very specific, individual synths.

Episode 2, tonight’s, take things a little further.   We find, last week, that Anita has taken Sophie out at night: whilst the youngest member of the Hawkins family is asleep.   We see Laura putting apparent clues together, and working out that Anita seems to be lying.   Something a robot really shouldn’t be able to do.

Meanwhile, Leo and Max … ?   Visit an off-the-books mechanic who specialises in modifying synths.   One who has information Leo is after: about an unnamed synth … who looks a LOT like Anita … 

All this … ?   And Hobb is getting his technician at the lab both inhabit to do serious technical analysis of Fred.   Fred — much like Niska — is a synth who seems to be a lot more independent than most.

Almost human.

And with what look like memories of another synth … who ALSO seems to resemble Anita.

The fact the episode ends with Niska killing a client … ?   Is almost incidental … 

~≈‡≈~

Now … 

We’re two episodes into Humans.

And, yes, before you ask: I’m enjoying the series so far.   As and when time allows, I think I want to tell you more about the series, as I catch up with it.

So far, the alternative reality — a world much like ours, where technology has gone down a slightly different path — is both intriguing … 

And I think, doing what the late Sir Terry Pratchett told us he was trying to make sure his Discworld novels did, at their best.

Held up a mirror to our world.

In both … ?

Both franchises may well be a distorted reflection of reality.

But a good hard look at ourselves is impossible without a mirror, however distorted.

I think Humans, much like the Disc, could well be doing just that.

*        Laura played by Katherine Parkinson, Joe by Tom Goodman-Hill, Matilda — Matty — played by Lucy Carless, Toby by Theo Stephenson, and Sophie by Pixie Davis.