Humans is Channel 4’s new thriller from the makers of Utopia and Broadchurch.
Based on the hit Swedish drama Real Humans, the eight-part series is written by British duo Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley (Spooks).
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Katherine Parkinson (In the Club), William Hurt (Damages) and Tom Goodman-Hill (Mr. Selfridge) lead the cast, alongside Colin Morgan (Merlin), Neil Maskell (Utopia), Will Tudor (Game Of Thrones), Emily Berrington and Rebecca Front (The Thick of It).
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Episode 1
Sunday 14 June 2015, 9pm
> Read our spoiler-free review.
The Hawkins, a loving but troubled family decide to buy a ‘Synth’ called Anita (Gemma Chan). These life-like humanoids help with everything from washing dishes to homework.
Joe (Tom Goodman-Hill) hopes that a Synth will take the pressure off their marriage, but with Laura (Katherine Parkinson) hiding a secret from her family, could Anita cause more problems than she solves? And as Laura starts to suspect there might be something unusual about Anita, is their family in grave danger from this cuckoo in their nest?
Leo (Colin Morgan) is a human on the run with his Synth, Max (Ivanno Jeremiah), and the two unlikely companions are desperately searching for someone. But who or what are they running from? And why does this Synth seem to be so unlike the others?
Meanwhile retired Synth engineer George (William Hurt) reminisces about the past with his rickety Synth Odi (Will Tudor) who is more like a son than a piece of machinery, but their relationship is threatened when Odi malfunctions. Cop Pete (Neil Maskell) works on the Special Technologies Task Force, alongside his enigmatic colleague Karen (Ruth Bradley).
But at home, his housebound wife Jill’s (Jill Halfpenny) close relationship with her physio Synth Simon (Jack Derges) is pushing Pete away. Is he destined to become obsolete in his own marriage?
Episode 2
Sunday 21 June 2015, 9pm
Laura (Katherine Parkinson) becomes increasingly suspicious, feeling threatened by the presence of Synth Anita (Gemma Chan), the ‘so-called’ perfect mother figure in her home.
Hobb (Danny Webb) holds Fred (Sope Dirisu) prisoner in his facility, but while Hobb’s superiors marvel at this unique specimen, Fred voices his fears about what this means to humanity. After a violent incident, Niska (Emily Berrington) escapes her brothel prison, pursued by Karen (Ruth Bradley) and Pete (Neil Maskell).
Leo’s (Colin Morgan) quest for information takes him to increasingly dangerous places, but Leo has a secret of his own and his life is in danger.
George’s (William Hurt) worst fears are realised when the health service give him a new Synth, Vera (Rebecca Front), who he immediately despises. But is he stuck with her for ever?
Episode 3
Sunday 28 June 2015, 9pm
Laura finds herself at odds with her family when she tries to return Anita (Gemma Chan) to the shop. But when Anita saves Toby (Theo Stevenson) from a near-fatal road accident, Laura is begrudgingly forced to keep her. But do the family prefer Anita?
Joe (Tom Goodman-Hill) suggests that Laura is imagining Anita’s strange behaviour, but he can’t help noticing how human Anita appears when he has to strip her down to check for damage.
George (William Hurt) seems to have submitted to Vera’s (Rebecca Front) joyless routine, but he is hatching a daring plan to escape with Odi (Will Tudor).
Pete (Neil Maskell) and Karen (Ruth Bradley) investigate a murder at a brothel, but after Pete’s hot temper earns him a suspension, he’s stuck at home with Simon (Jack Derges).
Episode 4
Sunday 5 July 2015, 9pm
Laura (Katherine Parkinson) feels vindicated when Mattie (Lucy Carless) tells her that she has seen Anita (Gemma Chan) acting strangely. Laura insists that the family take Anita for testing and they’re shocked to discover she’s 14 years old – so who was her previous owner?
After meeting Leo (Colin Morgan) through the Headcracker forum, Mattie thinks she might have an idea. Pete (Neil Maskell) becomes stir crazy, stuck in the house with Simon (Jack Derges).
Sick of his selfish behaviour, Jill (Jill Halfpenny) finally snaps and Pete ends up on Karen’s (Ruth Bradley) sofa. Hobb(Danny Webb) is on Niska’s (Emily Berrington) trail, but Leo has a revelation that could change things for all of them.
Episode 5
Sunday 12 July 2015, 9pm
Killer Synth is the breaking news story of the day, and public panic is growing. Karen (Ruth Bradley) is hot on Niska’s (Emily Berrington) tail, but could her motives for finding Niska be more personal than professional?
The Hawkins debate whether to keep Anita (Gemma Chan) after learning about her history. But their decision may be too late as Mattie (Lucy Carless) takes a leap of faith and decides to trust in the enigmatic Leo (Colin Morgan).
Joe’s (Tom Goodman-Hill) future also lies in the balance as he struggles to keep his secret. Will Anita inadvertently reveal all?
Episode 6
Sunday 19 July 2015, 9pm
Things are at the lowest possible ebb for the fractured Hawkins family. With Joe (Tom Goodman Hill) in exile and the kids tired of their parents’ lies, Laura (Katherine Parkinson) finally decides it’s time to tell the truth. Her confession has incredible consequences for Anita (Gemma Chan) – but can Mattie (Lucy Carless) ever forgive her?
Meanwhile Karen (Ruth Bradley) has finally discovered Niska’s (Emily Berrington) whereabouts. But what will she do when she finds her?
Fred’s (Sope Dirisu) unexpected reappearance seems to signal a joyful reunion for the Synths – but their joy is short-lived, as a stark betrayal means one of them is forced to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Episode 7
Sunday 26 July 2015, 9pm
Rejected and alone, Karen (Ruth Bradley) sets out to George’s (William Hurt) house in search of Niska (Emily Berrington).
Meanwhile Pete (Neil Maskell) is determined to find out who Karen really is, but his enquiries reveal a truth stranger than he could ever have imagined. The hunted synths gather at the Hawkins, grateful to Laura (Katherine Parkinson) and family for providing refuge.
As humans and synths live alongside each other in peace, could this be the harmonious future that Leo (Colin Morgan) and co have longed for? But as Hobb (Danny Webb) gets closer, it may be too late for them to find out.
Episode 8
Sunday 2 August 2015, 9pm
With the Synths in captivity, Hobb (Danny Webb) is determined to extract Elster’s consciousness programming from their brains. But there is a final piece of the puzzle missing that nobody, including Leo (Colin Morgan), could ever have imagined.
The devastated Hawkins’ realise how much Mia (Gemma Chan) and her family mean to them and their courage is put to the test when they take on Hobb and his forces in an attempt to save the Synths from their lab-rat prison.
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