‘Almost Human’, Fox’s solid new future cops show, has a synthetic elephant in the room that Alex Yarde has to address.
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Fox’s Almost Human is a futuristic crime procedural that stars Karl Urban as John Kennex, a surly, washed up, chemically dependent cop, who is the only survivor of an ambush on his squad by a crime syndicate. Kennex is asked to come back to work after waking up from a 17- month coma but now all cops must work with an android (I do wonder how the American economy—with the crime rate at 400%—can afford one super android per human police officer, but I will go with it). Michael Ealy stars as Kennex’s re-commissioned, empathetic, DRN android partner, Dorian.
The conflict between the main characters is very interesting. Kennex, who lost one of his legs and is now outfitted with an advanced prosthetic leg, resents the mechanical leg almost as much as the Robocop he is forced to work with. Dorian, re-activated after four years, finds he is obsolete. He’s disarmingly friendly but not as compliant or willing to be disrespected by Kennex. His need to redeem himself mirrors his flesh and blood partners.
In addition, Dorian is not like other androids. DRN (Dorian) model was decommissioned because their behavior mirrored humans too closely and were deemed unpredictable and glitchy. Turns out this weakness is his strength as a crime fighter. Dorian is analogous to an LP Album in a world of MP3’s. He’s not as “perfect”, but captures the “warm” essence of humanity in a way his higher fidelity more advanced “cool” MX replacements can never duplicate. This empathetic trait is explained, as Dorian’s “soul” program (yes, he’s African American and it does make it a wee cringe-worthy). Through squad car chit chat and large action set pieces the two outsiders forge an unlikely respect for each other.
In the pilot episode, Kennex is forced to confront the shattering realization that he may be the reason his entire squad was gunned down and a very personal betrayal. His character shows much more depth and growth over the course of the single episode than I’ve seen in seven episodes of Marvel’s Agent of SHIELD. It’s a testament to the excellent writing and production of JJ Abraham’s Bad Robot and the great acting of Mr. Ealy and Mr. Urban. Lily Taylor as Kennex’s Captain is solid too. A mentor to Officer Kennex, it was her call to pair the unlikely duo, (after a frustrated Kennex shoves is first MX Android partner post reinstatement out a moving vehicle). Having a female in a nonromantic, leadership role is a respectable thing. So, for me the pilot works. The writing is solid and characters are promising. This show has a lot going for it.
That being said, the premise of the show is still a little unsettling to me. A black actor given a nuanced co-starring role in a Sci-Fi show is a great thing. Historically, black people were invisible on television in general and Sci-Fi in particular. But the role in this case is to portray an “almost human” African American android trying to navigate human relationships. It is hard not to feel that there is some perpetuation of Dred Scott (Africans being valued at 3/5ths of a human being) going on. I am hoping that the show can prove to be intelligent enough to demonstrate some cultural sensitivity around this, but it is going to be tough to successfully thread that needle. What do you think? Feel free to post a comment below.
Interesting perspective regarding Dred Scott. Actually, I haven’t watched the show only because the trailers didn’t appeal to me in the least. I was disappointed to see someone with the talents of Michael Ealy relegated to such a role.
Thank you for this. As a long time sci-fi fan, I can’ T tell you how disappointed I am. As much as I’ D like to support, I can’ T get beyond the title and the Afro Robot side kick. Yet another ‘ kinder and gentler’ White Supremacist fantasy. Amazingly pathetic that your commentors are REALLY so mired in their own internalized racism and normalization of Black inferiority…. I’ M sorry when did ANY of ya’ ll confront and unpack your internal racist?? Lolol, by your pseudo-post racial comments I can tell you HAVEN’ T. And yes, that goes for… Read more »
@Brandon and dr.jiang It was only a few months ago that a cute,but nonetheless benign Cheerios commercial featuring a black father,white mother and their bi racial child,caused a tornado of racist complaints.It was a big national story that was discussed ad nauseum for a couple of weeks.Joanna Schroeder did a fine job covering the story for GMP,maybe you missed it.But let’s stick to the genre in question.Do you recall the much anticipated continuation of the alien saga Promethus?Well,in it our steelyeyed,truehearted hero,ably played by Idris Alba and his femme fatale Charlize Thieron had a tryst.Funny thing though,they never kissed, touched… Read more »
Well. Stated.
I really appreciate the conversation about race and the examination of the cultural nuances of racism and micro aggressions. I think these questions need to be raised more, but I wonder at what point is it counter productive. Like dr.jiang says “who happens to be played by a Black actor” unfortunately the likely remedy (if the producers felt the need to make one) would be to replace the co-star and thus eliminate a job from working Black actor.
OR, he’s considered less human because he’s supposed to be an android. (Who happens to portrayed by a black actor).
Just sayin
To preface this I am a 28 year old successful black man employed by fortune 500 company.
This is ridiculous, to try insinuate that this show is racist on these grounds is nothing short of silly. I was going to write a full criticism of this review, but I recognize that some people like to point fingers and cry racism whenever the opportunity appears to present itself, and those people will never change. Sad
I picked up racial overtones in this, especially in the second episode “Skin”–but perhaps more subtle than even many young black people will pick up. I felt it most clearly in the emotions Dorian felt as the “fully humans” dispassionately discussed people “of his kind” in his presence. I felt as though I was back in the early days of racial integration, being the “magic negro” who was educated enough to be “the first,” or “the only” in so many ortherwise all-white settings…and not infrequently witnessing the same kinds of discussions about “my kind.” I noted in the same way… Read more »
Funny, I didn’t sense any racist undertones in the first two episodes of this show: just two very appealing main actors, a few interesting supporting characters, and a sci-fi twist on the classic cop-partner/odd-couple dynamic.
However, I did sense sexist undertones in the first episode, and then beaten over the head with the sexist overtones of the second episode.
The most promising thing I see in this show is the two main characters struggling to observe and honor the humanity of someone different than themselves, and for that, I will probably continue to watch.
If the android was white, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. I could apply the same logic as you are if the actor playing Ealy’s part was Caucasian.
I haven’t watched the pilot (yet–badly want to!) so I don’t know how authoritative my comment will be, but it strikes me that maybe the association you’ve picked up between black “almost human” android = how blacks have historically been viewed/treated is intentional. It seems to me that the subtext of the show is that the (hero) android is capable of showing more humanity than the (anti-hero) human, thus demonstrating his right to be an equal partner. That Urban’s character has an artificial leg is an additional commentary that none of us is purely, 100% “human” (white?) and that’s something… Read more »
Funny how many people are so quick to say you shouldn’t even entertain the notion that a parallel could be drawn here, or seem to respond as if the author is outright condemning the show in some way.
Fact: It’s a reality, even if it’s not a reality for you, the reader.
It does not mean the show is bad, or that the author is playing the victim card just because something happens to be reminiscent of an time in our history and he points it out.
Don’t be so quick to feel guilty and explain it away, yeah?
Finally, someone who is rational
I think you pulled the racism card a little too fast there chicken little. I for one will be extremely happy when the psyches of black folks are truly free from slavery and racism. But I think for many those things exist like burning hot coals in the hands of people that either don’t realize they have the choice of setting them down or feel some kind of obligation to continue the victimization in the present and on into the future. Letting it go is not a betrayal to one’s ancestors. It is actually giving them a gift. If it… Read more »
I’m hoping it’s a subtle but infinitely sharp dig at race, actually.
My gut reaction is to say you’re taking two things that aren’t related and stretching to relate them. Does Slavery, Dredd Scott and a century of pseudo-science mean that black people are essentially barred from science-fiction roles? Because as a lover of science fiction, let me tell you that the human condition is maybe the most common theme in the genre. If a black character can’t exist in that world without having racism called into question, then I wonder if you’re simply putting too heavy a burden on the character. The irony of the title “Almost Human” is not only… Read more »
Maybe the director/casting agents of this show simply picked the best actor for the role. I highly doubt they picked him specifically because he is black. I think you may be reaching here.
Of course, they could have just as easily had a black man playing Urban’s role and a white man playing the android, but I doubt they were factoring race into their casting decisions.
@ Brian Being 28 years old and having a job at an elite company doesn’t signal an end to racism.You are not the first black person to find success in spite of racism.That is the point,isn’t it,making it regardless of racism? I am not so sure that those who make it aren’t damaged anyway. Besides,why TF should anyone have to deal with that shit to live?Have some blacks succumb to the unreal pressures and have given up.No doubt.What the hell do people expect.Think about it,WHITE guys are now getting a taste of what it is like when the educational systems,family… Read more »
You are reaching. Almost seems like you are grasping to find something racist.
Sad
I don’t believe Mr. Yarde is grasping for anything, this is just his style. I find he has a way of making people do self inventory incognito.
Oh there’s a delicious circularity to the whole thing. The way I see it, the whole human – android tension is nothing but a parallel for troubled human – human relationships. Yes, it’s overtly a non-emotionally-charged stand-in for race relations, and could also be an effective parallel for gay rights. I don’t know if the Urban & Ealy casting is just effectively ‘subtitles’ for the nuance-impaired (“see, this is an analogy to contemporary race relations”), but they’re each so great in the roles that I’d like to think that they were both cast without any thoughts to this. And I… Read more »
I’m saddened by this “accusation”. I’m liking this show so far.
Ealy is a great actor who had a starring role on Showtimes “Sleeper Cell” and USA (unfortunately) cancled Common Law among others.
Jasica Nicole (Fringe/JJAbrams) had a great role and character too. Are we to assume she wasn’t the lead actress because of race? Gosh I hope not.
This could be a great show and Ealy seems perfect for the role.
“It is hard not to feel that there is some perpetuation of Dred Scott (Africans being valued at 3/5ths of a human being) going on. I am hoping that the show can prove to be intelligent enough to demonstrate some cultural sensitivity around this, but it is going to be tough to successfully thread that needle.” I believe a lot of black people unconsciously relish the victim role in part for moral superiority and displacement of the responsibility for change and self-examination it provides. With this mindset, nearly anything can be turned into masochistic fuel, and it is. PS: I’m… Read more »
Alex Yarde (Author) First, thank you for reading and responding to my review. As you may know, Dred Scott, an African American slave taken by his owners to free states and territories, attempted to sue for his freedom. In a 7–2 decision, written by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, the Court denied Scott’s request and found that a person descended from Africans, whether slave or free, was not a citizen of the United States, according to the Constitution. In fact, the Court found that a slave was the private property of his owner and thus could not be taken from… Read more »
“those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it.” Sigh. It is sad to me how much that phrase gets trotted out as a justification for maintaining the badge of honor called victimhood. For one lessons from the past don’t necessarily apply forever and ever. And also too often people concentrate on the wrong thing and lose the real lesson. When I was a kid I grew up in a lower middle class neighborhood that was full of people of many ethnic backgrounds. And all of us kids in that neighborhood did everything together. Bmx bikes, surfing, skateboarding,… Read more »
First- thank you for reading and responding to my Review. George Santayana, the author of the quote I paraphrased, was a great Spanish philosopher, essayist, poet and novelist. who, in his Reason in Common Sense, The Life of Reason, Vol.1, (worth reading) wrote “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” It’s rooted in the philosophies of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. …. whatever they are ready to cope with; all else they ignore, or pronounce to be monstrous and wrong, or deny to be possible.” Sound… Read more »