Here's what we think of the new futuristic cop show Almost Human.
By: MattInRC
FOX's new futuristic procedural Almost Human needs a dash of humanity and a sprinkle of bad ass.
Things on television just aren't what they used to be. Not too long ago, premiere schedules were predictable - we sat down in September and enjoyed mostly new episodes clear through April, with season finales just in time for May Sweeps. Now, premieres seem to happen all year, forcing potential viewers to do more work than ever to keep up. Why this happens is something only for morons running FOX, CBS, NBC, and CBS can explain. How did FOX's November 17/18 premiere Almost Human stack up? We give you The Verdict below!
Show: Almost Human (FOX)
Time: Mondays, 8PM
The Concept: A rogue cop and his synthetic partner fight crime in the not-too-distant future.
The Verdict: Stories of trust between machine and man has been debated in Science Fiction for quite some time, with a balance generally struck in which both sides win while making the world better. It's clear that Creator JJ Abrams wants to tell a similar story, and he's cast two likable leads in Karl Urban and Michael Ealy. Both are competent actors, with Urban high on our Bromance List. He's a compelling lead in nearly everything he touches, and has tough cop seemingly written into his DNA. Ealy works as an emotional synthetic, and the two exchange some good lines in the premiere. Lili Taylor is competent as Urban's police chief, but neither she nor hottie Minka Kelly had very much to work with script-wise. Granted, this was a pilot about Urban's John Kennex after he awakens post-ambush that left him in a 17-month coma, and so long as these supporting stories are fleshed out, we'll be happier.
While there's hints of a wider story behind the buddy cop procedural - how Kennex's girlfriend might have been involved in the attack, as well as a mole within the police force - we're a little worried about the show's heart, and the fact that there doesn't appear to be one. Nothing's too terrible here, but nothing is amazing either; the idea of yet another procedural and villain of the week is just not as appealing as it used to be,. Sure, it's the first episode and we felt the same early on about FOX's hit Sleepy Hollow and look where that got us. Almost Human needs to embark on terrific multi-episodic cases, with the synthetic Dorian and the human Kennex struggling to identify themselves in this new world order. The procedural side would benefit from this, giving our characters more time to develop what we hope will be deep and complex backstories, while giving audiences plenty of action and setting up this future in more detail . Early indications are that fans are just as concerned: after a strong Sunday premiere, ratings for the Monday regular slot were rough to say the least.
It's possible that FOX might have another great show on its hands, with its high production value and good cast. But, it also needs to find its footing story-wise - Karl Urban kicking ass while pursuing his past is a compelling mix, so long as each episode finds that balance which makes good television so rewarding. Will Almost Human continue to be as unemotional as the robots which patrol the future's streets, or will it find its soul among the all-too-familiar genre?
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