{"id":5026,"date":"2025-06-14T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-14T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/?p=5026"},"modified":"2025-06-17T06:46:07","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T06:46:07","slug":"eerie-sci-fi-series-dubbed-freshest-british-drama-in-years-launched-10-years-ago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/14\/eerie-sci-fi-series-dubbed-freshest-british-drama-in-years-launched-10-years-ago\/","title":{"rendered":"Eerie sci-fi series dubbed \u2018freshest British drama in years\u2019 launched 10 years ago"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"Gemma\t<\/div>
Channel 4 show Humans just turned 10 years old (Picture: Colin Hutton)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Exactly 10 years ago, Channel 4<\/a> released one of the best tech dystopian series of the decade – and no, it’s not Black Mirror<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The star-studded 2015 series – featuring Gemma Chan, Colin Morgan and Katherine Parkinson – was set in a parallel near-future universe in which human-shaped robots<\/a> (known as synths) are part of society.<\/p>\n

The synths’ introduction into workplaces, the home, and the seedy underbelly of the cities has transformed the world as we know it.<\/p>\n

From having human-like robot slaves cleaning our characters’ homes to using their bodies as sex dolls to replacing humans with their synth counterparts in the workplace, the three-season show was unafraid to explore the darker side of human-robot relations.<\/p>\n

Based on a Swedish drama, the show follows the Hawkins family, who are caught up in a technological web far larger than they ever imagined when they bring synth Mia (Gemma)<\/a> home, who has depths far deeper than meets the eye.<\/p>\n

The Bafta-nominated series written by Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley wowed critics and audiences at the time of its release as well, securing an impressive 94% on Rotten Tomatoes for its stellar acting, strong scripts and eerie finger on the pulse.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Dino\t<\/div>
The show doesn’t shy away from the messy ethics of giving technology a conscience (Picture: Colin Hutton)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the time, Empire Magazine called it ‘one of the freshest British dramas in years’ and Digital Spy dubbed it a ‘smart, deftly realised science-fiction with real heart.’<\/p>\n

New York Magazine said it was ‘an impressively fleshed-out show, joining the ranks of other robo-oriented substantive dramas’ and the LA Times lauded it for its ‘surprisingly nuanced look’ at the dangers of artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n

As laid out by those who watched it, what set Humans apart from the growing genre of sci-fi dystopia was its unapologetic look at the messy morality behind the curtain, and accepting that there was no easy answer.<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tTV writer Asyia Iftikhar on why she loves Channel 4 series Humans\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

When I find myself looking down the barrel of technologically induced existential doom and looking to indulge, my hand often goes for the TV remote.<\/p>\n

As a sci-fi nerd and dystopia lover, I have long loved shows like Black Mirror and Orphan Black, but time and time again, I find myself revisiting Humans on Channel 4.<\/p>\n

Not only does this brilliant cast put on a compelling performance, but the storyline still feels like it could happen at any moment, even 10 years after it first aired. <\/p>\n

Nowadays, artificial intelligence has become a big part of our everyday lives, from ChatGPT to Character AI to AI-rendered pornography.<\/p>\n

So the questions raised by Humans around the abuse of women and capturing human consciousness in technology have never felt more relevant. <\/p>\n

Especially considering our growing co-dependency on technology, in many ways, it feels we are already living out the events of the show.<\/p>\n

Beyond its pertinent themes, it makes for gritty and grounded television with the human and robot relationships forming the beating heart of the show.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the speculative nature of the show means it goes in weird and wacky places that might not be the most realistic but are certainly fascinating to watch unfold.<\/p>\n

It is one of the rare times I have found myself rooting for the robots – not an easy feat.<\/p>\n

Although I think it did lose its way by season three, the first two seasons stand up as vibrant additions to the British sci-fi genre.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Lucy\t<\/div>
The Hawkins family get involved in the dangerous world of Human-Synth relations (Picture: Colin Hutton\/Kudos)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One fan, RT user Pat K called it an ‘uncomfortable watch’ and Jared M shared they were ‘looking for a new psychological deep sci-fi show that would make me think, and here it is.’<\/p>\n

Although some of the story arcs, themes or plots may seem outdated, the crux of the show holds up thanks to this layered approach.<\/p>\n

The first two seasons hold water with water-tight characters and motivations even if, as some fans have pointed out, it does lose steam by the final season with shakier plotlines.<\/p>\n

Speaking of the ethos behind the show in 2015, the co-creators told Den of Geek there is ‘a strain of resistance to sci-fi in British TV commissioning’.<\/p>\n

They added: ‘But people who are nervous of the term usually actually mean \u201cspace opera\u201d rather than \u201csci-fi\u201d. <\/p>\n

‘We\u2019re more the speculative science fiction of ideas, the kind that doesn\u2019t go to other galaxies but puts the scary, weird idea right in your living room.’<\/p>\n

And that they do. <\/p>\n

For those who haven’t watched it Humans is available to stream on Channel 4 now<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Got a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page – we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Channel 4 show Humans just turned 10 years old (Picture: Colin Hutton) Exactly 10 years ago, Channel 4 released one of the best tech dystopian series of the decade – and no, it’s not Black Mirror. The star-studded 2015 series – featuring Gemma Chan, Colin […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5028,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5026"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5026"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5026\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5032,"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5026\/revisions\/5032"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5028"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5026"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nichesitetool.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}