Humans Season 2 Episode 1 Review: How Did You Know Who You Were?

After a nearly year and a half absence, "Humans" returns to AMC. For those unfamiliar, the story is a British import about "synths" (synthetic appliances) who have been created to support humans in a myriad of ways-- menial tasks, dangerous jobs, sex surrogates, child care, companions for those with little/no human contact, etc. They are so lifelike that synths can sometimes only be recognized by their glowing green irises. See my season 1 overview here: Humans Season 1

At the beginning of season 2, Niska (previously a synth sex worker) has fled to Berlin. She meets a woman named Astrid. Their relationship runs into issues when Niska is not able open up about herself. How can she? There isnt much to share at this point. Niska asks "how did you know who you were?" Astrid takes this to mean when did she know she was a lesbian but Niska is hoping to learn more about being human.

Niska releases Elster's code (that she secretly copied in season 1) into the network hoping to make other synths self aware. It does not have the desired effect but a few synths eventually break free. Ten (a South American mine worker) eventually makes his way to the UK to meet Max and Leo Elster (part synth). Unfortunately Ten doesnt last long and is "killed" by a group trying to recover another synth (Hester) who was working in a chemical plant.

Anita/Mia goes to work at a restaurant. Will she have a love connection with cafe owner Ed? A new character is introduced. Carrie-Anne Moss is Dr Athena Morrow. Milo Koury (head of Qualia) persuaded Athena to join him. Milo wants Athena to reverse engineer one of the sentient synths so they can be mass produced. Dr Morrow has some secrets of her own and isnt entirely with the program.

On the human front, Joe and Laura attend marriage counseling. The counselor is a synth. Too funny. Let's not forget that Joe had sex with synth Mia/Anita in season 1. I'm still not sure if that constitutes cheating or not. Anyway, to top things off, Joe is laid off from his job and replaced by a synth. How will he be able to support the family?

Niska returns to the Hawkins household and demands to be tried for murder as a human. She wants Laura as her lawyer. Is Niska willing to spend the rest of her "life" in jail if she is found guilty? Getting equal rights for synths seems to trump anything else for her.

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). Many will draw comparisons between "Humans" and "Westworld". "Humans" aired first (unless you count the "Westworld" 1970s movie). It is the less flashy of the two but also the most poignant. "Humans" examines the multitude of ways AI would change our lives and what it means to be human. It's a thought provoking series that's definitely worth watching. And with only eight episodes per season, it's not a big committment.