Robot Stories Are Still A Thing

I suppose this could be traced back to the reboot of Battlestar Galactica over a decade ago, but robots and androids have become an increasing presence on film and television, particularly in the last 2 years.

In the movies, the new Terminator film comes out next week, and the previews suggest we will see a new generation of killer robots traveling through time and space.  Chappie is now out on your digital medium of choice (and I’ll post about any science fiction science policy/SciFiSciPol once I see it), so you can compare its robot police to those from either edition of Robocop or the 2013 series Almost Human.  Robots also have a role in the recent film Tomorrowland (of which I’ll have more to post later this week).

Starting tomorrow on AMC is Humans, a series focused on an alternate present where people can purchase a robotic servant, called a Synth.  The program has already premiered in the UK on Channel 4 (which co-produces the show with AMC), and is based on a Swedish program called Real Humans.  Episodes are supposed to be available on various digital platforms shortly after premiering on AMC.  The program is also cross-promoted on the Good Men Project, where you can read essays prompted by the issues broached in the show.

Early numbers from the UK airings are strong, and if they are replicated in the U.S., the show may run longer than the eight episodes airing this summer.  Once I get a few episodes in, I may have something to say here.