Almost Human Episodes 1-3 Recaps: Dont Call Me Synthetic (Series Premiere)

"Almost Human" airs Mondays on Fox at 8 ET (right before "Sleepy Hollow"). I finally had time to catch it. I was expecting another odd couple cop show but was pleasantly surprised.

The year is 2048 and crime has skyrocketed. Every cop in the LAPD must been partnered with a life like android. John Kennex (played by the always wonderful Karl Urban) is almost killed in a police ambush. He was in a coma for almost two years and now has a synthetic leg. He is at first partnered with an android who he shoves out of a speeding car after he asks too many questions. He hates "synthetics" and blames them for all of his problems (including the death of his partner).

John goes to his friend Rudy Lom and asks for another android. Rudy is the resident science geek. You know the ones that can make anything, hack into anything and explain anything that needs explaining on the show. John is given the only android available (a model DRN). Dorian (played by the equally wonderful Michael Ealy) was decommissioned four years ago. Apparently his model of android had some emotional issues due to their "synthetic souls". The current models of androids (MXs) do not have the soul chip since that didnt work out so well. Rounding out the cast is: Captain Sandra Maldonad who is John's boss (I LOVE Lilli Taylor) and Valerie Stahl another police officer (portrayed by Minka Kelly). I'm sure Valerie will be a future love interest of John.

John has faulty memories of the police ambush. He tries to retrieve them via a black market procedure which almost kills him. He does however find out that his girlfriend Anna (who has disappeared) was the one who lead the ambush. Ouch!

Dorian seems to be more human than the human. When he tried to comfort the sexbot that had to be deactivated (because she had human skin) he said "you're going to a better place" and "I will remember you". Oh that gets me right in the feels chip.

And the baddies (N’Syndicate) are still at it. They have a chemical known as Myclon Red. It can cause horrific diseases. They are also able to disable all the MX models. What are they up to-- world domination?

Episode 1 "Pilot"
Episode 2 "Skin"
Episode 3 "Are You Receiving?"

Miscellaneous stuff:

The intro had a real "Minority Report" vibe to it.
The police caution tape is now a hologram that you can walk through.
DNA bombs, Facemaker devices and light bombs. Interesting stuff.
Whatever the killers sprayed their faces with so the surveillance cameras couldn't see them was very cool. I need some of that.
Apparently android hookers in the future (known as "bang bots") are very attentive and caring. When will these be available at a "Best Buy" near me?
I must admit episode 3 with the hostages stuck in a high rise was my least favorite of the three episodes.

Fun Quotes:

"Dorian, you've been shot and you're heads full of bubblegum. You cant do this alone"- John to Dorian after he repairs his head wound with a dirty q-tip, fingernail clippers and bubblegum.
"No one messes with my coffee warmer"- John about Dorian (who he was trying to use to warm his coffee at the beginning of episode 3).
The scene where Dorian tells John he needs to date more often was hilarious. He says "I did a full scan of your testicles and they're are at full capacity. You're backed up man." TOOO FUNNY!

“Dorian, you’ve been shot, your head’s full of bubblegum … you can’t do this alone.”
Read more at http://collider.com/almost-human-season-1-episode-3-recap/#YWAjR6JHd4UlfcFd.99

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). The characters are compelling. The acting and tech are top notch. The show is surprisingly "human" for lack of a better word. I will definitely keep watching.