Humans delivered yet another strong episode this week, but failed to develop certain recurring characters. Typical television shows attempt to spread out character development through focusing on one or two plotlines that feature important characters, and filling those spaces with minor plotlines throughout the episode. This allows for the audience to learn about all of the characters in a rotating nature. Humans spends the majority of each episode focused on Anita, Dr. Millican, and Niska. It’s difficult to care about Leo and Fred when they barely have any established character.
I’ll keep the synopsis of the episode short this week, as this third episode really sought to extend the previous episode’s thoughts provoking topics. Niska and Anita are easily my favorite characters in Humans. Anita and Niska polarize one another. Anita seeks to nurture and care for humans, and Niska hates them and their devious nature. There was a sweet moment between Max and Niska, when he reminded her that she was his sister. I particularly loved Niska’s comment about taking a life, “As if life can’t be manufactured.”
Laura slowly grows on me each week, too. She is the rational character I’ve always desired in a parallel world like this one. Laura questions everything everyone else is so ready to accept, and it’s refreshing. I thought for a moment that Laura and Anita were becoming friends, but of course, Anita slips up and asks “Who is Tom?” Then Laura attacks Anita and warns her to never mention that name again (which is hilarious, because I’m sure Tom is a fairly popular name).
Leo has so much potential, but Humans has yet to really draw me in when it comes to his character. Sure, he’s some sort of human robot, but how much? I don’t want to guess for too long, because he already stands as a slightly flat character to me. I would also love to know more about George and Odi, but their plot has been the same throughout the first three episodes. Humans loses its appeal in the third episode because the Synth world is so established that even the audience is familiar with it. We need more dynamic situations in this show.
Niska goes to a stranger;s house, clearly testing her expectations of humans. He confirms that he is single when Niska asks, but she’s angry to find a hairband with a woman’s long hair still in the bathroom. She grabs a knife and decides to murder him because he is just like all of the other human men she has encountered. She walks into his living room to find him cleaning up toys because he has a daughter. Niska realizes her mistake and runs out of the flat.
Mattie finally puts her coding skills to use and investigates Anita’s code, with one startling discovery. Anita suddenly grabs Mattie and says, “I’m here. Help me, help me.” I think it must have been a cry for help to anyone reading the code. Anita is in luck because Max and Leo were scanning for her code, which Mattie uploaded to a Synth forum.
Ultimately, I still enjoy Humans, but I really want to see it start making steps to a bigger plot, or at the very least give the spotlight to some of the more minor characters. If it doesn’t improve the plotlines for the more minor characters in the episodes to come, I’m not too sure how much longer the series will be able to hold my interest.
[Photo credit: Colin Hutton/Kudos/AMC]
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