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Is there anything JJ Abrams hasn’t got his fingers in lately? If he’s not working on films (as we geeks all know he’s the man behind the next Star Wars), his Bad Robot production crew is pumping out television series as well. (Revolution and Person of Interest for example). Almost Human was one of those projects, along with creator J.H. Wyman. For what my opinion is worth it was a good series with lots of potential, if you aren’t familiar with the series here is a brief intro. In 2048 the crime rates are so high that each human officer is paired with an android counterpart, called MX-43’s (futuristic, androids, good start right). Our protagonist John Kennex, played by Karl Urban (LOTR and Star trek), is an officer that ends up in a long coma after an accident. When he returns to duty after a series of “accidents” with Mx’s he is teamed up with an older model DRN model named Dorian, played by Michael Ealy (Underworld- Awakening, Seven Pounds). So we have a good start with a good cast, so that’s great, right? Doesn’t this sound like something that you could sink your teeth into? Maybe not, because if you noticed, I used the term ‘was a good series’ earlier, because after 13 episodes (unlucky for some, Almost Human being one) Fox decided not to renew the show. Why you may ask? Well maybe it was due to viewing figures in the
- “I think the concepts and ideas behind the show were amazing. It was a very ambitious show for network TV. But I really like this world that they had created. A vision of the future that was not so far fetched.”
I have to agree with this, maybe a little bit too ambitious but surely we want programs to push boundaries. I then decided to see if the cast had any idea that the show wouldn’t be renewed, as i thought that maybe rumors may have gone around the set.
- “We had no indication at that time we were not being renewed. During the filming of the last episode it was close to Christmas so everyone was exhausted from 6 months of shooting with long hours, which is normal.”
So, the cast had no idea that Fox planned to end the show after a single season. Almost Human isn’t the only show that viewers had taken to but was cut after the first series, since it joins the likes of Firefly and Terranova, which I will admit isn’t bad company to be in. Then I had to see if Darren would ever get involved in the series if it was snapped up by another network.
- “If the series had been picked up again I of course would have jumped on board. I can’t say for sure but I think they were considering getting the MX’s more involved with the storyline. There seemed to be some hints dropped in the last few episodes. But for now I consider it a closed chapter until it resurfaces. I know the fans have compared us to “Firefly” and would like to see a movie someday.”
So if they can produce a series with that quality of effects and action on a TV budget, then on a major film budget surely the skies the limit. I couldn’t talk to Darren about Sci-Fi without asking him about his own influences growing up, and I will admit, the man has taste after my own heart!
- “Growing up I enjoyed films like Star Wars, Star Trek, Alien, Indiana Jones and of course Bruce
Lee films. TV wise i was a huge fan of shows like Monty Python, Faulty Towers, Miami Vice, Knight Rider, Six Million Dollar Man & Battlestar Galactica (the original series).”
Personally, like Darren, I had high hopes for a season 2, we haven’t even finished season 1 over in the UK! But in the end Almost Human was almost a hit, as it won over as many fans, me included. So another series has left our screens promising much but under performing and leaving us a little empty. But not to worry, I doubt it will be long before our taste buds are tingling over something else, exciting the geek inside us all, yes even you! Darren E Scott, Garfield Wilson, and Anthony Konechny of Almost Human will be joining us for the July 2nd recording of our Geeks With Wives – Popcorn Podcast, where we discuss all things Almost Human, and much much more.