Paul Brian McCoy" />
Psycho Drive-In logo
Search
  • PDI Press
    Featured
    • BETTY WHITE VS THE STUPID WORLD: The Movie

      Paul Brian McCoy
      January 17, 2022
      Fiction, PDI Press, PDI Press Writers
    Recent
    • BETTY WHITE VS THE STUPID WORLD: The Movie

      John E. Meredith
      January 17, 2022
    • Betty White Vs the Stupid World (Chapter Seven)

      John E. Meredith
      January 16, 2022
    • Betty White Vs the Stupid World (Chapter Six)

      John E. Meredith
      January 15, 2022
    • PDI Press Catalog
    • PDI Press Writers
      • Fiction
  • Columns A-D
    • A Fistful of Dollar Comics
    • ABCs of Horror
    • All Binge… No Purge
    • Anything Joes
    • Beautiful Creatures
    • Big Eyes Smart Mouth
    • Big Sleeps and Long Goodbyes
    • Cahiers du Horror
    • Dispatches From the Field
    • Drive-In Saturday
    • Dungeons & D-Listers
  • Columns F-P
    • The Final Girl
    • First Looks… Second Thoughts
    • The Flesh is Weak
    • Innocence and Experience
    • Lost in Translation
    • Page to Screen
    • Popcorn Cinema
    • Psycho Essentials: The ’80s!
  • Columns S-Z
    • Schlock & Awe
    • Shakespeare on Film
    • Shot for Shot
    • Sick Flix
    • Unnatural Selections
    • Versus
    • Video Word Made Flesh
    • We Got Lists
    • Women in Horror
    • The Xeno File
    • Zombies 101
  • Reviews
    Featured
    • Skinamarink (2023) - Take Two

      Paul Brian McCoy
      January 30, 2023
      Movies, Reviews
    Recent
    • Skinamarink (2023) – Take Two

      John E. Meredith
      January 30, 2023
    • Skinamarink (2023)

      Nate Zoebl
      January 24, 2023
    • Christmas Picks: Black Christmas (1974)

      Paul Brian McCoy
      December 24, 2022
    • Books
    • Comics
    • DVD/Blu-ray
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Series
  • Interviews
    Featured
    • Interview with Indie Horror Master, Chris Bickel

      Paul Brian McCoy
      July 13, 2018
      Interviews
    Recent
    • Interview with Indie Horror Master, Chris Bickel

      The Final Girl
      July 13, 2018
    • David Black: Carnies, Carnage, and the Creative Chaos of Darkness Visible

      Dan Lee
      March 7, 2017
    • Jaiden Kaine joins the Marvel Universe as new Luke Cage baddie, Zip

      Andre Lamar
      September 29, 2016
    • SDCC 2016 Interviews: The Cast and Creators of Batman: The Killing Joke

      Jason Sacks
      July 28, 2016
    • SDCC 2016 Interviews: The Cast and Creators of Syfy’s Van Helsing

      Dave Hearn, Paul Brian McCoy
      July 27, 2016
    • Wondercon Interview: The Cast of Damien

      Gary Richardson, Laura Akers
      April 16, 2016
  • News
    Featured
    • Breaking Down The Upcoming DC Studios Slate

      Paul Brian McCoy
      February 1, 2023
      News, Shot for Shot
    Recent
    • Breaking Down The Upcoming DC Studios Slate

      Paul Brian McCoy
      February 1, 2023
    • John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum arrives on Digital 8/23 and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand 9/10

      psychodr
      July 30, 2019
    • X-Men: Dark Phoenix arrives on Digital 9/3 and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD 9/17

      Paul Brian McCoy
      July 16, 2019
    • Trailers
  • Psychos
  • Merchandise
Breaking
  • Skinamarink (2023) - Take Two
  • Skinamarink (2023)
  • Christmas Picks: Black Christmas (1974)
  • Christmas Picks: Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 (1987)
  • Christmas Picks: Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)
  • Christmas Picks: Violent Night (2022)
  • RSS
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Who We Be
  • Contact
  • PDI Press
    • PDI Press Catalog
    • PDI Press Writers
      • Fiction
  • Columns A-D
    • A Fistful of Dollar Comics
    • ABCs of Horror
    • All Binge… No Purge
    • Anything Joes
    • Beautiful Creatures
    • Big Eyes Smart Mouth
    • Big Sleeps and Long Goodbyes
    • Cahiers du Horror
    • Dispatches From the Field
    • Drive-In Saturday
    • Dungeons & D-Listers
  • Columns F-P
    • The Final Girl
    • First Looks… Second Thoughts
    • The Flesh is Weak
    • Innocence and Experience
    • Lost in Translation
    • Page to Screen
    • Popcorn Cinema
    • Psycho Essentials: The ’80s!
  • Columns S-Z
    • Schlock & Awe
    • Shakespeare on Film
    • Shot for Shot
    • Sick Flix
    • Unnatural Selections
    • Versus
    • Video Word Made Flesh
    • We Got Lists
    • Women in Horror
    • The Xeno File
    • Zombies 101
  • Reviews
    • Books
    • Comics
    • DVD/Blu-ray
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Series
  • Interviews
  • News
    • Trailers
  • Psychos
  • Merchandise
Home
Reviews

Almost Human 1.01 “Pilot” & 1.02 “Skin”

Paul Brian McCoy
November 20, 2013
Reviews, TV

Warning: A non-numeric value encountered in /home/psychodr/public_html/wp/wp-content/themes/valenti/library/core.php on line 1104

Created by J.H. Wyman for Bad Robot Productions, Almost Human is Fox’s latest attempt to swim in the Science Fiction pool. This time, though, they’ve jumped into the deep end and it pays off splendidly from the initial concept to the cinematography to the special effects design to the inspired casting. There’s a casual familiarity to the world Wyman is creating here that feels like a natural extension of the work he did as Producer/Showrunner on Fringe. It doesn’t hurt that Almost Human‘s Cinematographer Tom Yatsko, Production Designer Ian D. Thomas, and Special Effects Coordinator Bob Comer, are also all veterans ofFringe.

I was a little concerned leading up to the premiere after news broke in September that Executive Producer and Co-Showrunner Naren Shankar (who has a nice resume himself, including work on one of my favorite shows of all time: Farscape), left the series due to creative differences, leaving Wyman the sole Showrunner. After that disastrous final season of Fringe — Wyman’s first as solo Showrunner — I didn’t quite know what to expect. Although, in retrospect, that final season might have fared better as a whole new show rather than as a continuation of Fringe. And on the plus side, Fringe didn’t really come into its own until Wyman and Jeff Pinkner took over as Co-Showrunners with the start of Season Two.

And hell, I think Seasons Two and Three are some of the best SF TV ever. So there.

AH_Bladerunner
Source: http://afishlearningpoetry.tumblr.com

One of the main strengths of those seasons was the way the alternate world’s advanced technology was integrated into the everyday workings of the characters, allowing the storytelling to unfold organically in a fully-realized Science Fiction environment. And this production team is doing the same thing with Almost Human.

The narrative framework here is essentially the same as that of the alternate reality Fringe Unit’s; a high-tech police procedural with an overarching story involving terrorist activity. Where Fringe was playing around with two worlds, however, Almost Human is staying fairly conservative right out of the gate (at least with the structure of the episodes; not so much with the content). So much so, in fact, that if it wasn’t for the charisma of the lead actors, I don’t know how engaging the show would be.

AH_Kennex

Mr. Science Fiction himself, Karl Urban (Chronicles of Riddick/Riddick, Doom, Star Trek/Star Trek into Darkness, Priest, Dredd, etc.) stars as Detective John Kennex, the manliest man who ever manned up for manliness. After he tosses his mandated robot partner out of a moving car (Manly!) for annoying him (Double Manly!), Detective Kennex is assigned a new robot partner — this time a discontinued model named Dorian and played with cool assurance by Michael Ealy. Dorian’s line was shelved due to some “malfunctions” caused by being programmed to behave as human-like as possible.

And if the first two episodes are any indication, that included pretty much total independence in their decision making. Dorian seems more human than Kennex when the series begins, and their dynamic is the glue that should keep viewers watching, even when the actual plots are goofy (or borderline nonsensical). And the plot of episode two is pretty darned goofy.

AH_Dorian

In fact, the plots for the Pilot — terrorist group targets cops with designer plague so they can steal some unknown something from the evidence room — and Episode 2: “Skin” — Sexbot makers kidnap and steal the skins from women because it’s much better than the synthetic skin the Sexbots (or Bangbots, depending on who you ask) already have — border on utter stupidity. Although I liked the idea of the designer plague, it really wasn’t executed very well at all after the first kill.

The best parts of both episodes have been Kennex and Dorian driving around bickering and being smartasses to each other. Dorian’s playfulness is an excellent counter to Kennex’s dour, barely subdued hostility, and watching that playfulness rub off on the emotionally damaged cop is priceless (see: Stabbing himself in his cyborg leg because he thinks it will entertain children). Add to that, Dorian setting up an online dating account for Kennex under the pseudonym Doctor Richard (pronounced Ree-shard — but all I could do was laugh and say “Doctor Dick!” over and over) after scanning the detective’s testicles and concluding that he was “backed up” and needed a sexual outlet.

AH_TheBoys

I’m almost sad that there has to be boring-ass cop stuff interfering with the fun.

The other performer who got me to watch is Lili Taylor as Captain Sandra Maldonado, but unfortunately she is entirely wasted here. She’s the tough-but-fair boss who hooked Kennex up with Dorian for a mystery reason, and so far she’s not really being given much to do. And it was kind of painful watching her force the word Sexbot out of her mouth with a straight face.

So we’re two episodes in and instead of a cop show, I want to see Urban and Ealy drive around and play with tech while being lovingly dickish to each other. I have a feeling that’s not what Fox signed on for, so expect more borderline stupid cop plots that allow our heroes to bond in curmudgeonly gruff ways while providing a few moments here and there to ponder the morality involved in having robotic slaves.

(Visited 164 times, 1 visits today)
Almost Human 1.01 "Pilot" & 1.02 "Skin"
3.5Overall Score

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Almost HumanKarl UrbanLili TaylorMichael Ealy

The Dark Knight Trilogy: Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Box Set
Agents of SHIELD 1.08 “The Well”

About The Author

monsterid
Paul Brian McCoy
Co-Founder / Editor-in-Chief / Dreamweaver

Paul Brian McCoy is the Editor-in-Chief of Psycho Drive-In. His first novel, The Unraveling: Damaged Inc. Book One is available at Amazon US & UK, along with his collection of short stories, Coffee, Sex, & Creation (US & UK). He recently contributed the 1989 chapter to The American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1980s (US & UK). He also kicked off Comics Bulletin Books with Mondo Marvel Volumes One (US & UK) and Two (US & UK) and PDI Press with Marvel at the Movies: 1977-1998 (US & UK), Marvel at the Movies: Marvel Studios (US & UK), and Spoiler Warning: Hannibal Season 1 - An Unauthorized Critical Guide (US & UK). Paul is also unnaturally preoccupied with zombie films and sci-fi television. He can be found babbling on Twitter at @PBMcCoy.

Daily Top Ten

  • Misfits 2.04Misfits 2.04 by Felicity Gustafson
  • The Final Girl: Hi, I’m Chucky. Wanna Play?The Final Girl: Hi, I’m Chucky. Wanna Play? by The Final Girl
  • All Through the House (2016)All Through the House (2016) by Fred L. Taulbee Jr.
  • Creepshow (1982)Creepshow (1982) by Charles Webb
  • Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter DVD ReviewAbraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter DVD Review by Danny Djeljosevic
  • Wrong Turn 5: Bloodlines Blu-ray ReviewWrong Turn 5: Bloodlines Blu-ray Review by Paul Brian McCoy
  • Jaiden Kaine joins the Marvel Universe as new Luke Cage baddie, ZipJaiden Kaine joins the Marvel Universe as new Luke… by Andre Lamar
  • Advance Review: The Legend of Tarzan (2016) Blu-rayAdvance Review: The Legend of Tarzan (2016) Blu-ray by Paul Brian McCoy
  • Adventure Time 6.22 “The Cooler” Adventure Time 6.22 “The Cooler” by Dave Hearn
  • Polar (2019)Polar (2019) by Nate Zoebl
400x400 GI Joe Funko Banner

Weekly Top Ten

  • Advance Review: The Legend of Tarzan (2016) Blu-rayAdvance Review: The Legend of Tarzan (2016) Blu-ray by Paul Brian McCoy
  • Skinamarink (2023) - Take TwoSkinamarink (2023) – Take Two by John E. Meredith
  • House of Wax (2005)House of Wax (2005) by The Final Girl
  • Drive-In Saturday: Heavy Metal 2000 (2000)Drive-In Saturday: Heavy Metal 2000 (2000) by Alex Wolfe
  • The Final Girl: I Spit on Your Grave (2010)The Final Girl: I Spit on Your Grave (2010) by The Final Girl
  • Adventure Time 6.06 “Breezy”Adventure Time 6.06 “Breezy” by Dave Hearn
  • Sick Flix: Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)Sick Flix: Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975) by Corin Totin
  • The Hills Have Eyes (1977) vs The Hills Have Eyes (2006)The Hills Have Eyes (1977) vs The Hills Have Eyes (2006) by Corin Totin
  • The Watcher (2016)The Watcher (2016) by Jessica Sowards
  • Unnatural Selections: Insecticidal (2005)Unnatural Selections: Insecticidal (2005) by Brooke Brewer
400x400 UA Affiliate Banner

FACEBOOK

FACEBOOK

Latest Reviews

  • Skinamarink (2023) – Take Two

    John E. Meredith
    January 30, 2023
  • Skinamarink (2023)

    Nate Zoebl
    January 24, 2023
  • Christmas Picks: Black Christmas (1974)

    Paul Brian McCoy
    December 24, 2022

psychodrivein

Today at https://psychodrivein.com Breaking Down Today at https://psychodrivein.com

Breaking Down The Upcoming DC Studios Slate
 
Here's everything we know about the upcoming DC Studios slate straight from the mouth of James Gunn!
---
Read more of Paul's article at the link in our profile!

#DCStudios #DCU #JamesGunn #SupermanLegacy #Superman #CreatureCommandos #Waller #TheAuthority #SwampThing #Supergirl #SupergirlWomanOfTomorrow #Lanterns #GreenLantern #HalJordan #JohnStewart #BoosterGold #ParadiseLost #TheBraveAndTheBold #Batman #Robin #DamianWayne
Today at https://psychodrivein.com Anything Joes Today at https://psychodrivein.com

 Anything Joes: S01E52 - Winterfest III

Greg and Jaren discuss their trip, experiences, and acquisitions at Kentuckiana's Winterfest III!
---
Watch the @anythingjoespod boys at the link in our profile!

#AnythingJoes #GIJoe #Kentuckiana #Winterfest #CaptainMarvel #FawcettComics
Today at https://psychodrivein.com Skinamarink (2 Today at https://psychodrivein.com

Skinamarink (2023) - Take Two 

Much of what you get out of SKINAMARINK depends on what your own mind brings into it.
---
Read more of John's review at the link in our profile!

#Skinamarink #KyleEdwardBall #JaimeHill #LucasPaul #RossPaul #DaliRoseTetreault #JamieMcRae
Today at https://psychodrivein.com Lost in Transl Today at https://psychodrivein.com

Lost in Translation 430: Willow (2022)

Willow updated thirty-five years later shows how the original can grow, even with imperfections.
---
Read more of Scott's article at the link in our profile!

#Willow #DisneyPlus #ErinKellyman #TonyRevolori #EllieBamber #WarwickDavis #RubyCruz #AmarChadhaPatel #DempseyBryk #JoanneWhalley
Today at https://psychodrivein.com Skinamarink (2 Today at https://psychodrivein.com

Skinamarink (2023)

Skinamarink is the latest indie horror sensation and it’s easy for Nate to root for. But did it all add up in the end? 
---
Read more of Nate's review at the link in our profile!

#Skinamarink #KyleEdwardBall #JaimeHill #LucasPaul #RossPaul #DaliRoseTetreault #JamieMcRae
Today at https://psychodrivein.com Anything Joes: Today at https://psychodrivein.com

Anything Joes:  S01E51 - Army Surplus 

Greg and Jaren discuss GI Joe compatible toys that AREN'T created by Hasbro, the most recent news, and get caught up on recent listener mail!
---
Listen to the boys at the link in our profile!

#AnythingJoes @AnythingJoesPod #GIJoe #EagleForce #ActionForce
Today at https://psychodrivein.com Anything Joes: Today at https://psychodrivein.com

Anything Joes: S01E50 - G.I. Joe #16 / Night Attack! 

The next stage of Cobra's plan is unveiled as the Joes try to stop Dr. Venom from unleashing his deadly virus upon the population!
---
Watch and listen to @anythingjoespod at the link in our profile!

#AnythingJoes #GIJoe #MarvelComics
Today at https://psychodrivein.com Lost in Transl Today at https://psychodrivein.com

Lost in Translation 429: The Barbie Movie Teaser

Suffice to say that Barbie is probably the best known doll worldwide, recognizable on sight. 
---
Read more of Scott's article at the link in our profile!

#LostInTranslation #Barbie #BarbieMovie #MargotRobbie #RyanGosling #GretaGerwig
Today at https://psychodrivein.com Lost in Transl Today at https://psychodrivein.com

Lost in Translation: Wrapping Up 2022

With the end of the year approaching, it’s time to look back on how adaptations fared at the box office in 2022 with a brand-new LOST IN ADAPTATION!
---
Read more of Scott's article at the link in our profile!

#LostInTranslation #TheBatman #AvatarTheWayOfWater #SpiderManNoWayHome #BlackPantherWakandaForever
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Latest Columns

  • Breaking Down The Upcoming DC Studios Slate

    Paul Brian McCoy
    February 1, 2023
  • Anything Joes: S01E52 – Winterfest III

    Greg Engle
    February 1, 2023
  • Lost in Translation 430: Willow (2022)

    Scott Delahunt
    January 27, 2023

TWITTER

My Tweets

Look Who's Talking

millyleu
millyleu - 12/10/2022
Anything Joes: S01E47 – G.I. Joe #15 / Red Eye To Miami!
But he is cute as a cat though 😁 DN.M6K2M.ME/y9928YW
Kilo Magno
Kilo Magno - 12/10/2022
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
How could she forget such an important thing? a.X-LAB.FUN\h9928B
Matt The Lurker
Matt The Lurker - 12/10/2022
BETTY WHITE VS THE STUPID WORLD: The Movie
The lady in red is so beautiful tb.ZHUZHOU.INFO/F9928AN
RSSTwitterFacebookinstagramtumblr

Archives

Large_rectangle_336X280
All work on this site is Copyright © each individual writer.
  • PDI Press
    • PDI Press Catalog
    • PDI Press Writers
      • Fiction
  • Columns A-D
    • A Fistful of Dollar Comics
    • ABCs of Horror
    • All Binge… No Purge
    • Anything Joes
    • Beautiful Creatures
    • Big Eyes Smart Mouth
    • Big Sleeps and Long Goodbyes
    • Cahiers du Horror
    • Dispatches From the Field
    • Drive-In Saturday
    • Dungeons & D-Listers
  • Columns F-P
    • The Final Girl
    • First Looks… Second Thoughts
    • The Flesh is Weak
    • Innocence and Experience
    • Lost in Translation
    • Page to Screen
    • Popcorn Cinema
    • Psycho Essentials: The ’80s!
  • Columns S-Z
    • Schlock & Awe
    • Shakespeare on Film
    • Shot for Shot
    • Sick Flix
    • Unnatural Selections
    • Versus
    • Video Word Made Flesh
    • We Got Lists
    • Women in Horror
    • The Xeno File
    • Zombies 101
  • Reviews
    • Books
    • Comics
    • DVD/Blu-ray
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Series
  • Interviews
  • News
    • Trailers
  • Psychos
  • Merchandise
%d bloggers like this: