Pilot Review: Almost Human

Almost Human (FOX)
Premiered November 17 at 8pm

With the possible exception of “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D,” I was most excited about this new entry for the fall. A late premiere date and then subsequent pushback a few more weeks wasn’t a good sign, but I’m relieved to say that, at least so far, this show has lived up to my expectations. Though by now the second episode has already aired as part of the show’s two-night premiere, I’m choosing to postpone my review of that installment in order to be able to focus solely on the pilot hour. It could have been that this show relied too much on its visual effects or on its futuristic concept and didn’t bother to actually showcase interesting plotlines, as has been the misstep of so many similar shows in recent years, but, fortunately, that’s not the case. There does still exist some slightly wooden dialogue, particularly on the part of the human in our featured duo, Karl Urban’s John Kennex, but it’s just part of his gruff exterior. Kennex is an energetic and strong lead, not one to play the rules or care that he’s breaking them. In contrast, Michael Ealy’s Dorian is a much more sympathetic protagonist who manages to display much more humanity than his more advanced android counterparts while utilizing the same technological abilities and processing his decisions based both on logic and emotion. A much more mature Minka Kelly than the one seen in her previous roles and a similarly stoic Lili Taylor help to create a decent ensemble, along with the very recognizable Mackenzie Crook of “Pirates of the Caribbean” and the British version of “The Office” as the go-to tech expert. It’s just like a show like this to involve the romantic interest of the main character as a sworn enemy of the state, and I think that this show is edgy and gritty enough to sustain its dystopian universe. For now, I’m very excited to see what episode two brings.

How will it work as a series? Kennex and Dorian seem to get along well, and ending the episode with Dorian smiling because Kennex actually extended a surprising degree of kindness to him was telling of an equal commitment to drama as to action. Their enemy is certainly formidable, and the apparent presence of another Synthetic on the other side is definitely appealing.
How long will it last? This isn’t its regular timeslot, and it’s unlikely that all viewers will come back for more, but based on the ratings for the Sunday night debut, this show is looking very good. Though “Terra Nova” and “Alcatraz” fizzled quickly, I think this one is a better investment for FOX, and they’re likely to seize on that success with a renewal soon.

Pilot grade: A-