Humans

Set in a near future where households rely on a realistic robot servant called a Synth, the series follows a family whose life is reshaped by this convincing machine. The family purchases one to keep up with the pace of modern living, and the device begins to blur the lines between human and machine in everyday moments. As the Synth becomes a fixture in home routines, questions of identity, autonomy, and trust surface, challenging old habits and secrets kept within a suburban facade. Characters must decide what counts as family when a machine can imitate care, memory, and emotion. The Synth's presence tests the family's loyalties, and the city around them begins to adapt to living with near human machines.

Premiering in 2015, Humans was created by Jonathan Brackley and Sam Vincent and is based on the Swedish series Real Humans. It bridged British sensibility with American audiences, drawing on the Swedish concept while adapting it for Channel 4 in the UK and AMC in the US, with multiple directors.

Humans helped popularize the idea of everyday robots in domestic life and sparked debates about autonomy, privacy, and what makes someone human when machines can mimic affection and memory. The term Synth entered public conversation and the show influenced later tech driven dramas. Its look and themes also influenced later storytelling about human technology in other shows, video games, and debates in tech circles.

Critics praised the standout performances, particularly Katherine Parkinson and Gemma Chan, and noted the show's tense mood and brisk pacing. Its core themes orbit family dynamics, trust and the ethical costs of convenience as synthetic companions blur the line between helper and threat.

The series earned nominations at major television award ceremonies for its drama credentials and acting performances, underscoring its critical reception and ambition as a hybrid of domestic drama and speculative science fiction.