Almost Human
Yes, I know that reporters, by code of conduct, are supposed to be unbiased. Sue me. I will openly and shamelessly admit to having a very strong bias towards science-fiction and crime drama shows. Put the two together, and the result is pure genius, in my opinion. Obviously, J. H. Wyman, the creator of Almost Human felt the same way. Acting as executive producer of the show, along with J. J. Abrams and Bryan Burk, Wyman has created a seamless blending of police procedural and science-fiction, with just the right amount of humor thrown in for relief. First airing on November 17, 2013 and concluding its debut season on March 13, 2014, fans of this FOX show (including yours truly) are definitely waiting anxiously for word of a second season.
The premise of the show is a futuristic Earth set in the year 2048, a time when the uncontrollable evolution of technology and science has seen a staggering rise in the crime rate. To combat this growing problem, the overwhelmed police departments have turned to the use of combat-model androids to be paired with every human officer. These 'droids' are efficient, logical, and meant to save human lives, both of the officers they serve with and the citizens they are sworn to protect. Sounds pretty cut and dry, right? Not so fast.
Enter Detective John Kennex (portrayed brilliantly by the talented Karl Urban). A troubled detective with a major chip on his shoulder, he blames the androids for the death of his partner and for the loss of his leg, which resulted from the 'logical' decisions made by an MX-30 android during a raid two years earlier. Locked in a coma for 17 months, Kennex now struggles daily with the huge gaps in his memory, the prosthetic leg he is forced to wear as a result of his injury, and the loss of his girlfriend, Anna, during that time period. Adding insult to injury, once he is recalled to active duty, he is assigned an android partner. Needless to say, it does not go well.
This, dear readers, is where things get really interesting. Seldom have I seen such a well-balanced 'pairing' as Kennex and his new partner, Dorian, the DRN android given to him after his MX-30 partner is conveniently 'damaged' while on duty. Dorian is a model from a discontinued line of androids, and unlike his MX-30 cousins, he has been given a unique feature. Dorian, like all DRNs, possesses a synthetic soul. Not relying solely on logical and statistical facts, DRNs are able to actually process and experience feelings. They are, in essence, almost human.
The manner in which Michael Ealy is able to capture both sides of Dorian is a testament to his acting abilities, and I give him major kudos for that alone. He gives Dorian a personality all his own, while never letting you forget that, for all of his 'humanness', Dorian is a DRN, a machine. The character's sadness at that knowledge and his struggles with not being a full human are poignant and touching, without being sappy.
The interaction between Dorian and Kennex is priceless. The growing, begrudging friendship is both humorous and believable and, along with the inner struggles of the respective characters, elevates Being Human from being 'just another cop show'. It's not just about catching the bad guys, folks! This show has heart. The fact that it's set in cyber-world 2048 is icing on the cake.
For anyone who knows me well, I am not a big television person. I do not usually wax poetic about many television shows, but I would definitely recommend this one. Season 1 is over, but that's what Netflix and Hulu are for! Give it a whirl; I don't think you'll be disappointed.
