AMC's 'Humans' Writers Jonathan Brackley, Sam Vincent Dish Episode 1: Pilot! EXCLUSIVE!

After months and months of waiting, the season premiere of Humans has arrived on AMC. In an exclusive interview with MStars News, writers Jonathan Brackley and Sam Vincent discuss episode 1, the pilot, which introduces audiences to Dr. George Millican (William Hurt), and Anita (Gemma Chan).

With the season premiere airing on AMC, June 28, Humans is an eight-part sci-fi drama series. In a parallel but futuristic present, the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a so-called "Synth." These Synths are a highly-developed robotic servant eerily similar to its live counterpart. While a suburban family purchases a refurbished synth, Anita (Chan), Dr. Millican (Hurt) strives to hold onto Odi (Tudor), who has all the memories he lost in a previous stroke inside his programming.

MStars participated in conference event speaking with the Humans scribes as they dished on the highly anticipated season premiere. We recommend readers reading our recap first because this conversation dives straight into the episode.You could also read our interview while watching the repeat.

On how the original drama, Real Humans, influenced them:

Jonathan Brackley: Well, the show is actually based on a Swedish show called, Äkta människor which translates as, Real Humans. And we were approached by Qdos, the British production company that made the show, who we've worked with several times over the last two or three years. And they'd won the rights to remake the Swedish version.

They want to remake the Swedish show and they asked us if we were interested. And we watched the original. It was so full of wonderful and fascinating ideas that we jumped at the chance, because we thought we could bring our own take to it.

On putting their own stamp in the remake:

JB: I think we based most of our characters on characters or amalgamations of characters from the original Swedish show. And I think certainly in the first episode at least, you see quite a lot of similarities in their plot strands where they start.

However, we take ours in a completely different direction. So by the end of our series, all our characters are in a completely different place to where they are in the Swedish show.

I think probably overall, generally our show is probably a bit darker than the original Swedish show. The material sort of lends itself to exploring sort of darker, seamier side of humanity I think.

And we were allowed to do that, particularly because we were on a network in the UK - Channel 4. And on AMC here, we're allowed to do that. Where in the Swedish show was on a more mainstream network and they couldn't really do that.

On what William Hurt brings to George Millican:

Sam Vincent: Gravitas, in a single word. He just - he is an intellectual himself and I think he just bleeds through into his characters and he just provides such intellectual (unintelligible). It's just not actually that easy to find an actor who you feel could have done such world-changing, high level work.

So I think more than anything that just his share craft and how brilliantly he is. He brings a huge amount to that part.

On the movement of the Synths, especially Gemma Chan's:

JB:I think that was a very sort of deliberate choice physically for us when we were creating this show. We wanted the Synths to move in a very graceful way, and that was born out of a very practical concern because we wanted to treat the show in a very realistic way.

And if these things really did exist, they would use a massive amount of power. So they would have to store that in batteries. When they did move ,they could never waste a single movement. Everything would have to be very economical. And so they tend to move with a very sort of graceful smoothness.

On discussing the show's central theme, 'What makes us 'human?':

SV: We tried very much in the show to be quite neutral on the question of whether or not this was a good or bad thing. We wanted to show lots of good aspects of it, and lots of bad aspects of it and let the audience decide, to present it as neither a utopia nor a dystopia.

But my own views on it are that humanity is only going in one direction. We are not going to suddenly slam on the brakes on technological progress. What we have to do, we're going to keep going so it's a matter of adaptation and preparation and understanding how this is changing us.

Because that's the really interesting thing. And I hope this is what the show is about; its core, is how is technology changing us and how will it continue to change us. And that more than anything is the key here.

On the cliffhanger the episode leaves viewers on (read our recap):

SV: There's a struggle going on within her which is leading to instincts becoming sort of corrupted and misguided, so her action there will become very clear and as, as a clearing house she looks at the window and the rain on the window just before she does what she does at the end of Episode 1.

But it becomes clear I think later on why she glitches in that way and does that particular thing. Of course, you know, of course it's very dangerous and worrying but it's not necessarily malevolent, or although maybe it is. That's I can't really think of anything more to say that wouldn't spoil it, sorry.

On the upcoming season:

SV: I will say that in Episode 3 there is a moment that a lot of people; maybe a majority of people will have to watch through their fingers. I'm not giving any way - anything more than that, but it's a key moment for the show. Yes, we have a few good ones. You, Jon?

JB: Episode 4 is going to be - yes, the audience is going to be pretty shocked with what happens in Episode 4, so look forward to seeing that one.

Humans begins on AMC June 28 at 9pm.

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