Humans

Humans is a British-American science fiction television series based on the Swedish sci-fi drama Real Humans, which explores the emotional impact of the blurring of the lines between humans and machines.

Set in suburban London, Humans takes place in a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a Synth - a highly developed, artificially intelligent servant eerily similar to its living counterpart.

TODAY - In Nagasaki, Japan, a hotel staffed primarily by robots will be opening this summer. These robots won't just clean your room and pick up your laundry. They'll check you in, make your dinner reservations, mimic human behaviours and speak four languages.

TOMORROW - Your Saturday afternoon errands could result in purchasing a fully functional robotic domestic helper that will get your kids ready for school or take care of an ailing parent. Whether that's a good or bad decision is the question Humans sets out to explore.

It's not about what this technology is capable of; it's about the impact that this advanced technology will have on the human population. Will this new way of navigating life be detrimental or beneficial to us as a human race? And who will we become when this technology arrives?

At the centre of the four concurrent storylines explored throughout Humans is the flawed but loving Hawkins family. Joe Hawkins (Tom Goodman-Hill) makes the decision to invest in the latest must-have gadget for any busy family - a Synth.

His relationship with his wife Laura (Katherine Parkinson) is becoming increasingly strained and he believes that the addition of a robotic servant to the household will give them back the time they so desperately need and help them reconnect both as a couple and as a family.

The Hawkins' new Synth, Anita (Gemma Chan), is an immediate hit, and their chaotic house is suddenly transformed into an oasis of tidy, organised, well-fed contentment. With hesitation, Laura gives in to the family demand, but soon senses there's something different about Anita. There's something not right.

Others, though, have long since abandoned any skepticism and are embracing their Synths as family members. Widower George Millican (William Hurt) has formed a close relationship with his out-of-date Synth, Odi (Will Tudor), whom he treats more like a son than a piece of machinery.

When Odi begins to malfunction, the National Health Service forcefully upgrades him with a new stern elder-care model named Vera (Rebecca Front) and George must hide the bond he has with Odi or risk forfeiting him to the authorities.

Meanwhile, a young man named Leo (Colin Morgan) and his Synth, Max (Ivanno Jeremiah), are desperately searching for someone from Leo's past. But who is it, and why? And why does Max seem to be so unlike other Synths?

On their heels is a mysterious man named Hobb (Danny Webb), who is determined to uncover a secret before it can destroy humanity as we know it.

Finally, D.S. Peter Drummond (Neil Maskell) works for the Special Technologies Task Force, solving Synth-related disputes to get away from his frustration over his wife's flawless Synthetic physical therapist.

Pete spends most of his days pushing papers and solving petty incidents, as Synths rarely, if ever, malfunction, until one day he investigates a case that defies all possibility.

Humans stars William Hurt (A History of Violence, Damages) as Dr. George Millican, Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd, The Honourable Woman) as Laura Hawkins, Gemma Chan (Sherlock, Dr. Who) as Anita, Tom Goodman-Hill (Mr. Selfridge, The Imitation Game) as Joe Hawkins, Lucy Carless (Code of a Killer) as Mattie Hawkins, Colin Morgan (Merlin, The Fall 2) as Leo and Pixie Davis (Utopia, The White Queen) as Sophie Hawkins.

Also starring are Ivanno Jeremiah (The Hollow Crown) as Max, Theo Stevenson (In Bruges, Fred Claus) as Toby Hawkins, Emily Berrington (24: Live Another Day, Sons of Liberty) as Niska, Neil Maskell (Utopia) as D.S. Peter Drummond, Will Tudor (Game of Thrones) as Odi, Rebecca Front (The Thick Of It, Just William), as Vera, Danny Webb (Dr. Who, Being Human) as Hobb, and Sope Dirisu (Utopia) as Fred.

Humans is produced by Kudos (Utopia, Broadchurch, The Hour) in association with Matador Films (Real Humans). Directed by Sam Donovan (Utopia), executive producers are Jane Featherstone (Broadchurch, Utopia, The Hour) and Derek Wax (The Hour, Occupation, Lip Service) for Kudos, with Chris Fry (The Smoke) producing for Kudos and Henrik Widman and Lars Lundström for Matador Films.

Starring Cast

Season 1