Electric Dreams (TV Series) Human Is (2017) User Reviews

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[Lejink · 7/10 · 12 November 2017]

Another good episode in what is proving to be my favourite new TV series of the year. Before he comes back from leading an almost disastrous mission of plunder to a neighbouring planet for a vital chemical element, Bryan Cranston's Silas Merick character, a senior army officer, is clearly bored with his senior government adviser wife Vera, played by Essie Davis. There's no sexual spark between them as he treats her as coldly in their private as well as public life, driving her to seek solace in an underground sex-cellar at night and virtual jogging in the daytime.

However when she attends to him after his near-death injuries from the mission she's surprised and initially disconcerted by his apparently softened demeanour and even renewed sexual attraction towards her. Is this really the same unfeeling, unrelenting man she previously knew or has he been somehow changed after his near-fatal encounter with the inhabitants of the planet Rexor who can possess shape-shifting capabilities. Matters come to a head when Merick goes on trial, accused of being a surreptitious Rexorian - is Merick human or not, it seems his wife's testimony will determine whether he lives or dies.

Cranston, one of the series' executive producers, and Davis are very good as the central couple and the central theme of what defines humanity is well argued and indeed resolved by the end. I could have done without the mildly pornographic depictions of sex in the underworld that Davis witnesses plus the fashions of the future as depicted here seem positively turgid, but the central story was otherwise effectively told in another entertaining and thought-provoking episode of this continuing anthology.

An Evil Future Society

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 19 January 2018]

What some are missing as they criticize the conclusion of this episode is that the military entity here is not much different that some sort of unyielding, single minded group. Since these people are dependent on a substance necessary to their existence, they feel they can go to another planet and rape the resources of those people. When they meet resistance, they people they are stealing from try to defend themselves and keep what is theirs. It is stated early on that they have no interest in any sort of agreement or negotiations. So the others are seen as evil. Well, in the process of escaping, Bryan Cranston's comes back a different man. Of course, he is seen as having been infiltrated by the enemy. While the conclusion was a bit predictable, I still thought it was pretty good.

Promising but..

[jonassladen · 6/10 · 12 March 2019]

Seeing many mixed reviews pro and con for this episode. I unfortunately agree that the series as a whole is disappointing. Many good commented points on how interesting this plot could be. Such as, the underlying humanitarian notes (the Terrans were heartless in their efforts to take what they wanted from the Rexorians; yet Vera and Silas experience real shifts in emotion). This story with a little work could have been believable and even a bit like Star Trek as one reviewer commented (some very good Voyager episodes come to mind although I wouldn't go so far as to put them in the same league).

What ruined it for me was the subjectiveness of some of the plot lines of the story. If they could see video of the battle and the aliens entering the ship, why couldn't they have seen further video - on the ship. And mainly, if they know for sure that he has become a Rexorian, was their advanced science not able to determine if there was a hint of alien in the DNA or the mind of Silas? Why was it just up to peoples' opinions in a rigged court setting as to whether Silas was a Rexorian? Overall rating of 6 for the theme and the possibilities of what could have been.

It's about humanity not war

[felakan · 9/10 · 23 June 2019]

I'm baffled by the reviews I read here. People complaining that the wife accepts her husband to be alien, just to have a better marriage and having fun in the sheets from now on. Or people are not satisfied with the conflict scenario between earth and the other planet and think there should be some kind of conflict solution being presented by the end. But that is not what this story is all about. I mean do people even read the episode title?

It is about what makes a human really human. As Vera tells the council in the end, being human means to be compassioned, loving, caring and giving oneself up for someone else. That is the big question mark! Because Silas is not human anymore, yet he shows the characteristics mentioned by Vera. Characteristics that were missing by Silas the human. So once again, the big question here is: What makes a human really human?

In my opinion this episode is done pretty well. The environement looks futurustic, stylish and cold. The actors play humans that lack emotions and compassion. People who are quick to go to war. They fit right into this prison looking environment. I enjoyed the story and the performance of Cranston and Davis. The visuals transported me into this future world where humankind lost sight of compassion and love.

Excellent

[mandyplodek · 10/10 · 20 April 2022]

Excellent episode which asks, what is love? What does it mean? When you find it in the least likely place, do you turn away from it? Brian Cranston does an excellent job of portraying his character. The emotions of both the leads are intense.

Flawless

[jcain1635 · 13 January 2018]

I found this episode to be far better than anything in black mirrors most recent season. The directing is masterfully done, the acting is gripping, and the soundtrack is haunting. There is however one way I think they could have improved the story and made it a little darker. In the original short story the reader is presented with the information that the husband is not dead and can in fact be brought back. This would have added an extra layer to the story given that the wife would have actively had to choose to allow her husband to die in place of her just making the decision to not kill the Rex in the television adaptation. I only read it perfect because I could not find a single flaw in this episode and I don't consider missed opportunities to be infractions.

Human Is

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 11 May 2018]

Bryan Cranston plays Silas Merick, a brave army officer in a future desolate Earth now called Terra.

He is also a jerk who treats his wife Vera coldly and callously. Vera finds comfort in an underground sex club and jogging in a virtual reality world.

Terra is at war with the planet Rexor IV. Although it seems the humans are the aggressors exploiting Rexor's resources for themselves.

Following a bloody battle with the aliens in Rexor, Silas returns as a changed man. He is warm, loving and kind to Vera. He is also accused of being a metamorph and stands trial.

The drama has a nice twist by Vera who exploits the propaganda given in his testimony by General Elin. It is something reminiscent of Star Trek.

Really different. So unique

[robfollower · 9/10 · 24 January 2020]

We get a great episode. Bryan Cranston and Essie Davis are fantastic and give their roles a real sense of character. The visuals are not top of the line, but they have a unique and consistent vibe that matches the story wonderfully. Wow. Loved this episode! Really different. So unique. 9/10

Human Is Whaaaaattt...?

[LorenBieg · 6/10 · 18 January 2018]

Killin' me with this show. I'm trying, I'm really REALLY trying to like it. But, this one is just a stinker. I'm giving 6 stars because it's visually successful, the sets and costumes were fantastic (except the brothel set and judges costumes, both of which were just awful), the battle and the Rexorian creature effects were cool, and I have a deep love for Bryan Cranston that results in stars no matter what he is cast in. But, overall the Terra 2025 world is not interesting enough to make me care. The characters are flat. The drama pedestrian and predictable. The dilemma had me curious at first, but is not developed enough to create real interest besides "a problem to solve". Some outstanding actors are completely wasted on a script with crappy dialog and a plot twist that boiled down to: "Is he a Rexorian? Is he not a Rexorian? No wait, is he a Rexorian? Ah, yeah. He's a Rexorian." But so what? What does it mean for the Rexorians and the Terrans? I'm supposed to feel something because Vera can be happier with this guy than the real Silas? Is there a war now? How will it affect the Terrans ability to get the Hydran they need? Is Terra Earth? Does it matter? What's with all the "loyalty to the state?"

My challenge to other fans of science fiction is to be harder on this show. It needs to take the level up if it's going to survive. Some incredible talent is behind it. I don't understand any review higher than a 6. I feel like I'm being generous.

I will avoid a spoiler for you

[markkbranson · 9/10 · 13 January 2018]

This episode of "Philip K. DIck's Electric Dreams is nearly superb. I own that I only scored it a nine from the possible 10 because the pace is a little slow and the film is a touch dark for me. However, Cranston's performance impelled me to a nine because here is a 61 year old man who does a sex scene and it is believable.

Now for some disclosure: this sex scene does avoid frontal nudity of Cranston. However, his passion that seemingly comes through for me and Davis's reaction (the actress playing his wife) is 100% on target.

Some have negatively reacted to this episode in that Cranston and Davis are not passionate enough AND that this ending is unambiguous. Certainly, I disagree with the first assertion above and do concede the second. However, just because the ending is unambiguous does not limit the episode's effect on the viewer. I was as moved here as I was in "The Matrix" "episodes one and two. If a video effectiveness can be measured the viewers reaction, you have to acknowledge my score and you have to watch this episode and let the events happen (with a certain degree of Cranston's back story creeping in.

If you watch this episode with the guidance I have noted here, you will be moved and you will certainly enjoy this episode. If you allow a preconceived judgment shape your experience, then you will not like this episode as much as some of the others. So you decide and watch,

[7.3] Humanity is in your heart and soul

[cjonesas · 7/10 · 10 September 2021]

An interesting episode to ponder upon its concept. Well acted, well made, but somewhat lacking in directed flow. Would have been nearly sufficient to have the two leads and nobody else around them, figuratively. Brilliant acting by the two leads.

Not bad sci-fi, not bad at all!

[mwolfsteiner · 8/10 · 20 April 2022]

For me as a hard sci-fi fan, "Human Is" is a rare gem of a dark and gritty genre short film that has great futuristic set designs and a story with twists and turns in an unfolding psychological drama, with the two main characters brilliantly played by Brian Cranston and Essie Davis, touching profounder themes along the way (what are exclusively human characteristics and how well can those be imitated by malevolent forces?; or how the longing for illicit excitement can lead to neglect of one's duties and responsibilities endangering national security).

What I regret story wise is the unnecessarily long and edgy brothel scene and the fact that the threat posed by Silas' change was not more fully explored.

All in all, great sci-fi and a tense story of suspicion, desire and deceit.

Mixed Feelings

[drpunkrock · 7/10 · 12 December 2019]

Well, what to say about this? Both leads, Cranston and Davis are very good in this. They have a good chemistry together, it works good. I also like the sets even though there is a problem with them. Probably due to budgetary reasons ED has been a little cheap on the sets. It all has a little grimier, more ramshackle look than Black Mirror. It is fine for some episodes but for this one it is problematic since it is set in 2520. Even though Earth might be devastated by some apocalyptic event or whatever but it just does not look like 500 years in the future. Also people talk exactly like we do today. It all does not fit together very well. In addition to that the whole setting in underdeveloped. There are some plotholes and they could have dived into some other aspects of the story and not just focus on the "Is he an alien or not"- schtick, which did not really work as a twist. Furthermore Liam Cunningham is way underused. He should have gotten more stuff to do!

Starts out well, goes south fast

[korereviews · 5/10 · 21 November 2017]

Honestly, what is with this series? Every single episode takes some bizarre left turn into weirdville (and not in a good way), marring what started out looking like it might be an interesting sci-fi story with good actors. I haven't read Philip K. Dyck's original books, so I don't know if the fault is his or the screenwriters', but the writing here, as in other episodes, is terrible. In most cases, they tease you with a sci-fi premise, only to turn the episode into a boring romance or emotional drama. The only thing sci-fi about the episodes are the sets. That's NOT why I tuned in, thank you very much. And this episode went even further off the rails, inserting jarringly unnecessary soft-porn scenes that leave you going wwhhhaaatttt? (If you always wanted to see Bryan Cranston's wrinkly, naked ass, this is the show for you.) If Electric Dreams was trying to compete on the same level as Black Mirror, they're not even close...

"I haven't seen your hair down like that in a long time."

[classicsoncall · 8/10 · 10 January 2022]

The twist here for me was not that Silas Herrick (Bryan Cranston) returned to Earth as a metamorphed Rexorian, but that wife Vera (Essie Davis) disavowed her loyalty to the State to confirm that he was her real husband. No doubt, she was compelled by the attention he showed her while exhibiting an entirely new and changed personality. No need therefore, to resume those trips to the underground sex palace, or jog the virtual landscapes to relieve her sexual frustrations. Had Yaro's (Ruth Bradley) testimony held up, Vera might have been labeled treasonous, but in a bit of Captain Kirk/Star Trek reverse psychology, she convinced the Council that Silas was the real deal, even when he wasn't. For his part, Silas, in his Rexorian persona, was probably playing a little tri-dimensional chess game of his own, and staying a couple moves ahead of his accusers.

A change for the better?

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 1 November 2017]

Five hundred years in the future and Earth, now known as Terra, is undergoing an ecological disaster which is destroying the atmosphere. The solution lies in extracting a needed mineral from another planet… the problem is the best source is on an inhabited planet; Rexor. The Rexorians are reportedly savage beings so it will have to be taken by force. Vera is married to Silas, a colonel who has been decorated for bravery but is cold with her. He leads the next mission to Rexor and it goes terribly wrong; the unit is ambushed and it initially appears that everybody is lost. Then the ship returns with two survivors, including Silas. Vera soon notices a difference; Silas is now attentive and loving… it is as though he is a different man. Perhaps he is… the Rexorians are metaporphs capable of taking over a person at a genetic level while keeping all of their memories. Soon he is arrested but how could he be a Rexorian; it is known that they are savage beings with no empathy.

This was an enjoyable conclusion to the first batch of episodes. Essie Davis and Bryan Cranston impress as Vera and Silas and the rest of the cast was solid too. The story is interesting even if it does feature a twist that won't surprise too many viewers. It does a fine job of creating a world that shows clear signs of being somewhat dystopian even if the people we see are at the higher echelons. Some aspects are a bit bizarre; most notable when, in an early scene, Vera slips away to a sex club that looks like a slightly less camp version of something that could have appeared in 'Barbarella'! Given the downbeat endings to many of the stories it was nice to get a feel good ending here. Overall I enjoyed this instalment and look forward to the series returning.

Human Is

[bobcobb301 · 6/10 · 26 December 2017]

It wasn't that bad, but this was also a far cry from some of the great Black Mirror or Twilight Zone episodes over the years.

The payoff at the end was not what I was hoping for. I was hoping for a crazy twist like everyone else was Rexorian and he wasn't, instead it played out almost like a predictable procedural with him being a Rexorian.

A little bit of Shakespeare in this

[michaelmross-662-822108 · 8/10 · 28 April 2021]

Bryan and Essie play their roles perfectly. Touches some universal themes: war and peace, love and hate. All in 47 minutes.

Sometimes Humans Are Less Than Human...

[BritneyPWrites · 6/10 · 21 April 2020]

...and monsters make better men. Or do they?

A fairly slick presentation of a less-than-original concept.

Different strokes.......

[jrpa · 9/10 · 5 October 2018]

What i see from professional reviewers and from the watchers, fans or otherwise, is a distinction between people who like hard-boiled science fiction and those who want their science fiction politically corrected until it looks like "San Junipero". I prefer raw, hard-boiled sci-fi. "Do Androids dream of Electric Sheep" is a a good example of Philip K. Dick's writing versus the produced-for-the-masses teleplay -- Blade Runner was an upbeat story with a happy ending compared to the book it was inspired by.....

Getting warmer

[KittieC · 10/10 · 14 January 2018]

I'm really starting to warm to PKDED. Having just come off watching the Black Mirror series, the anthology-style scifi is clearly developing nicely as a renewed genre and Human Is, with great performances by Brian Cranston and Australia Essie Davis really pushed a lot of buttons for me. Sexy, nicely shot and it makes the most of a slightly predictable but well paced story. It's got its flaws - the extended 'uptown gal goes downtown for a sexy time' scene is one of them - but in overall it gives me lots of encouragement to keep watching. However, if we still have to wear stockings in the year 2520, that will suck a LOT.

But my marriage!!!

[Rat_27 · 1/10 · 18 January 2018]

By this time, I had already started to cool on the series. And ... that is an understatement. I thought the first one was OK, the second one was absolutely horrible, and here we go ... Malcolm in the Middle guy. Nope. This one sucked even more. The show is about a military guy, but the main character is his wife. And ... she jeopardizes the ENTIRE human race, simply because the invading alien has given her a happier marriage??!?!?! Are you effing kidding me? Everyone might die, but ... as long as she gets her tingles, so be it? And, the admiralty witnessed two alien lifeforms. Confirmed one of them, and then what? Thought the other just went away and got distracted or something? Why?

This is a terrible show, and this was one of the worst episodes. Feminism has absolutely ruined sci-fi.

Human is Summersby

[davemcadam · 8/10 · 24 July 2022]

This is a rewriting of Summersby with Jodie Foster. I could just imagine Vera saying, "You are not my husband, because I could never live him the way I love you." Good story,, a bit predictable, and definitely Summersby.

If you're going to rewrite, at least keep the humor

[jim-baldridge · 4/10 · 1 March 2022]

I'm currently reading (well, listening to) the exhaustive collection of PKD short stories (The Minority Report I through V -- I'm in the middle of IV after II and III).

While I don't mind rewrites (e.g., the terrific actual movie The Minority Report), what I'm finding in this series, and this episode in particular, is that it fails to capture any of the the feel or character of the original stories.

Human Is is really funny. He comes back a dapper gentleman with a Victorian style of speech and impeccable manners, because that's all the Rexorians had to learn from. He has no idea his behavior is odd. He's insufferably polite. Yes, the plot doesn't make sense but that's why it works. It's delightfully silly.

All PKD stories have a biting sense of humor and sarcasm, which is what separates PKD stories in the first place. They entertain throughout.

Another funny story, one of my favorites, is A Present for Pat in which a guy brings back a gift for his wife (Pat) from Ganymede that turns out to be minor deity. The god turns his best friend and coworker into a frog and his wife to stone. The guy's accepting reaction to these events is hilarious. It would make a great episode.

Reading PKD's stories draws you back to the original Twilight Zone, which also had a biting sense of satire in every episode. This series does not. It takes itself entirely too seriously.

Might as well be called Is Human

[agof · 1/10 · 22 September 2022]

Instead of a dude more heartless than vulcans being replaced by a likeable poor sod refugee by immoral means on a planet valuing human life stronger than the will of three letter agencies, this is a story of a the most human old white male on earth being replaced with a righteous strong and capable honeypot infiltrator fighting for the homeland against colonizers.

Has zero themes of the story and wears it's dead skin as a coat to tell low-budget low brow dances with smurfs variation.

The film is terrible, it is extremely boring and bad. It's more interested in luring teenage boys with bared bossoms to than to say something or show something.