Time for a new show! This week we add episode recaps for Almost Human, a new show on Fox, set in the future with crime running out of control. The use of “synthetics” (robots) has become widespread for cops as partners, and our main protagonist, John Kennex, doesn’t like that much. Kennex is fueled with revenge to stop a group known as the Syndicate, who killed several of his men and caused him to go into a coma for 17 months, and losing his leg. He is assigned a new partner named Dorian–a robot with a consciousness. Curious to know more? Check out our episode recap for the Almost Human pilot after the jump!
Don’t need the Almost Human episode recap for the series premiere? Click here to jump directly to Josh’s thoughts on the episode!
To see Violet’s thoughts on the Almost Human pilot, click here to get directly there!
Almost Human series premiere Recap Overview
Need a quick Almost Human episode recap of the series premiere aptly titled Pilot? Here is a summary of events for the episode. Each event is linked to the more detailed Almost Human episode recap for the pilot if you need more information!
- John Kennex, a cop in the year 2048, relives the traumatic event that causes him to lose his partner and leg. He enlists the help of “The Recollectionist” to help him remember pieces of the attack after he has woken up from a 17 month coma.
- Kennex returns to work. Despite protesting, he is assigned a new android partner, that is now required for his job. We learn about a group called “The Syndicate”, which may be responsible for Kennex’s coma, and leg loss.
- Kennex investigates a new crime, which may be tied to the Syndicate. Detective Stahl meets him there, and they learn that the company robbed makes programmable DNA. Meanwhile, Kennex gets tired of his robot’s “concerns” and escorts him out of his moving vehicle.
- Kennex is assigned his new android, which literally seems to have a mind of its own. He also doesn’t take too kindly to Kennex‘s interrogative methods, and finds a different way for answers. Turns out it may all have been a ruse however…
- Upon investigating the address from the interrogated suspect, they discover a device which ends up killing a cop. Frustrated, Kennex returns to The Recollectionist to see if he can find more answers. He sees his ex-girlfriend before Dorian pulls him from the machine–saving his life.
- The Syndicate attempts to break into the police precinct, but Kennex and Dorian provide enough warning to hold them off. It seems they may have been after a female android from the evidence room
Almost Human Episode Recap: Pilot, the Details
Meet John Kennex
On the series premiere for Almost Human, we get a brief intro–explaining how the crime rate as increased exponentially, and in the year 2048, to assist police officers, androids were created. We then jump right into an action scene, seeing Detective John Kennex (Karl Urban) in the midst of what looks like a war zone. Several officers are injured, and Kennex tries to move in. His android resists at first, due to its “logical” approach, but eventually they go in. Kennex reaches his partner, who is severely wounded. His partner remarks that the “Syndicate” knew they were coming, insinuating that there must be an inside person for the crime organization. Kennex’s android refuses to help Kennex with his partner due to his improbability of surviving, so he is forced to work himself. An explosion knocks Kennex to the ground, and he sees a shadow group of people approach his location, and toss a grenade. He does his best to crawl away, but the explosion hits very close. He slips into a dream state, and he is laying with a woman, presumably his ex-girlfriend.
He is then snapped back to reality, and we learn he was in some sort of device that helps with memories. We learn that the scene we saw wasn’t in real time, and was actually him trying to remember the events as they happened. We learn that Kennex was in a coma for 17 months after the battle. He has been conscious less than a year, which this “doctor”, known as “The Recollectionist” warns is not advisable for using the device. The doctor won’t let him try again right away due to the taxing nature of the process.
He leaves, and we see he is taking some sort of drug–a red pill of sorts.
Kennex Hates Robots
Back home, Kennex reminisces about his girlfriend, looking at photos and old videos. He is interrupted by Captain Sandra Maldonado, who asks him to come in. Kennex tries to refuse, but she says that he needs him to come in, and that there is some information about “The Syndicate”. He seems more willing to come in after hearing that. We see that he has a fake leg now, from injuries sustained during the fight we saw.
We meet Detective Valerie Stahl (Minka Kelly) next, who is talking with another detective, when they see Kennex come in, and remark that he has been gone a while. Meanwhile, another detective, Richard Paul (Michael Irby), isn’t thrilled to see him back. Kennex checks in, and his new android–785–greets him. Kennex isn’t happy to see him, and rebuffs him.
He meets with Maldonado, and refuses to have a robot partner, but Maldonado says it is required. She gives him his psych report, which indicates he should never return to service. Despite this, Maldonado shows him some footage of a robbery that Syndicate is suspected for involvement. They have captured one of the suspects, to be interrogated. Meanwhile, Maldonado asks Kennex to keep the Syndicate connection between the two of them.
Time For a Different Kind of Robot
Kennex visits the crime scene, and they investigate. Stahl meets him at the scene. The building robbed is used for making tissue to re-grow organs and such. At hearing something called “Myklon Red”, Kennex is sent into shellshock mode for a second, but comes back around. Kennex talks with Stahl, but then gets back in his car, popping another small red pill. His android comes up, and warns he is going to report on where Kennex as the night before, and on his flashback he had a few minutes ago. Kennex tries to talk him down, and seems to for the time being.
As they drive down the road, the android continues his investigation of Kennex’s whereabouts the night before. Annoyed, Kennex opens the passenger door, and tosses the android out on the road, where he is promptly destroyed by a semi-truck.
Next we meet Rudy Lom (Mackenzie Crook), as Kennex pays him a visit. Kennex asks for a new android, given the “software” glitch of the last one. Rudy only has one available, which Kennex refers to as “one of the crazy ones”. These versions of androids were more complex, being “almost human”, as they display emotions, and have “breaking points” as Rudy explains. Dorian, the android (Michael Ealy), is woken up.
Dorian Doesn’t Like Violence
Kennex and Dorian are driving and Dorian talks to Kennex–more than Kennex would like. Kennex calls him a “synthetic”, which Dorian doesn’t seem fond of. As they drive, Kennex’s leg gives him “calibration” problems.
Meanwhile, a group, presumably “The Syndicate”, captures a detective–for reasons we do not know yet. Kennex returns to the station, and tells Dorian to register. Kennex is brought up to speed on the abduction of the officer, and Kennex gets to work, interrogating the robber they have had in custody.
He gets pretty physical, and Dorian isn’t comfortable with how violent Kennex is getting. Dorian takes over talking to the suspect, and Dorian realizes that the suspect shot himself. The suspect comes clean, telling Kennex is was trying to get away. Kennex heads out to the address the suspect provides, and in the meantime, the suspect is being taken to lock up. On the way, he asks to use the restroom and winds up pulling a device from his throat he had been “storing”. It seems to be a beacon of some sort.
All a Part of The Syndicate’s Plan
Kennex and his team move in, and Dorian moves ahead checking for explosives. Dorian wants to investigate the trip wire on the device, and both Kennex and Dorian move in. It heads to a man in a cage of some sort. Kennex realizes he was set up and calls the officer moving the interrogated suspect to return to the station. It is too late though, as the man in the cage is gassed to death and the vehicle transporting the suspect is attacked–and he escapes.
Dorian apologizes to Kennex. Dorian analyzes the chemicals used to gas the victim. As they work on their investigation, Dorian is aggravated with how Kennex is treating him. They argue, and Dorian explains how he is different than the other “synthetics”. Dorian storms off, and Kennex gets a call from Rudy, who says that the poison used targets inoculations that cops mandatorily receive.
Kennex heads back to The Recollectionist and demands he put him in the machine again, so he can try to find more information out about the Syndicate. Inside again, he relives the moments again. His body is under severe pressure from the process, and his nose begins to bleed. The process is stopped–by Dorian, just after Kennex sees his ex-girlfriend with the Syndicate.
The Syndicates Comes for Its Price, but Fails
Dorian asks him about what he saw later, and Kennex remains vague. He then comes clean about it to Dorian. Dorian tells Kennex he has a fix for his leg. He tells him to put olive oil on the joint to fix the problem. Dorian and Kennex seem to be getting along better now. Dorian talks about his ability to make inferences and conclusions. Kennex then realizes that the damaged data of the fallen detectives MX robot could be analyzed by Dorian possibly, and figure out what was on it.
They find the broken robot, and are able to see the video data that had been damaged. Kennex learns that there is something in the evidence room that the Syndicate is after, and he warns Maldonado to lockdown the building.
As he tells her this, the Syndicate shuts down the MX robots, and prepares to move in. Luckily, Dorian isn’t on the same frequency as the other droids, and is not shut down. The cops move to the roof, and begin assault the invaders. After a big shoot out, they are able to stop the invasion.
Kennex and the force try to figure out what The Syndicate was after, but so far they are unable to. We see another android, a female, lighting up in the evidence area.
Kennex talks with Maldonado, and asks why Dorian for his new partner. Her response: he is special.
Our final scene of the episode has Dorian and John on a first name basis.
Josh’s Thoughts: Almost Human Series Premiere
I really enjoyed this series premiere of Almost Human. Violet and I were lucky enough to see this first episode at Comic-Con, and enjoyed it then, and re-watching it, I enjoyed it for a second time. It certainly has a Robocop/I, Robot feel to it, and I liked both of those movies, so I won’t complain too much. Karl Urban does a great job playing the disgruntled, revenge seeking cop that detests “synthetics”.
Dorian, the robot with a soul, seems very interesting. I am hoping to learn more about how he actually “works” as the show goes on. How much can identity, self awareness, emotions, and consciousness be programmed into a machine? It certainly is interesting to see where his lines are drawn as far as programs versus sentience is.
Obviously, the girlfriend is going to come back up again. I really want to know how much of his memories are “real ” that he is seeing. Is she really a part of this “Syndicate”? Is she working undercover? Where did she disappear to? Hopefully we find out soon enough.
Violet’s Thoughts on the Premiere of Almost Human
I was very impressed with the Almost Human pilot at San Diego Comic-Con Preview Night, and now that I have finally been able to watch it again, I am just as impressed as I was the first time around! Of the three pilots we got to see at SDCC (The Tomorrow People and The 100 being the other two), Almost Human was the one we were most excited about, so we were really bummed to find out it would be premiering so late in the fall season, originally scheduled to air November 4 — and then it got pushed back another 2 weeks!
I loved the pilot in July, and I loved it yet again. (Although I felt like there was a scene or something missing from the on air pilot that was in the SDCC screening. I might have imagined that, though.) The way that the futuristic elements were handled was great. I didn’t feel like anything was too over-the-top, or fake looking, or out of place. I thought everything felt and looked realistic. The story itself was very interesting and intriguing, and I find myself wanting to get more details and solve this big mystery. Karl Urban did a great job playing John Kennex, the shellshocked, rugged, gruff-speaking cop who is reluctant to embrace the future, and Michael Ealy’s portrayal of Dorian complemented Kennex perfectly. The show had just the right amount of subtle humor, despite its overall serious tone.
The only hesitance I have is with Minka Kelly. Being a big Friday Night Lights fan (I still miss that show!), I’m afraid that all I’ll ever be able to think of her as is Lyla Garrity, ex-cheerleader. I’m not sure I’ll be able to take her seriously as a grown up police detective, especially the way she seemed so smitten with Kennex. I’m thinking that may develop into a relationship sometime down the road, once Kennex gets over his traitor ex-girlfriend.
Overall, although a late entry, Almost Human is a “must watch” for the fall season!
Scenes from Almost Human, Episode 2, Skin
Here are scenes from the next Almost Human episode, titled Skin:
Scenes from Almost Human, Season 1 Episode 2: Skin
What did you think of the series premiere of Almost Human? Let us know your thoughts on the Almost Human pilot in the comments below!
I think this show had a lot of potential, and it wasnt terrible, I think given time it could have done pretty well. But much like taylor kitsch, when karl urban is the lead in something you can be sure it will fail.