impala_chick (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
impala_chick) wrote2022-03-20 08:52 pm
impala_chick) wrote2022-03-20 08:52 pm
Entry tags:
March Canons I Love: Humans (AMC)
Taking my cue from dreamersdare! This post is recreated from my own LJ, after I first finished binging the show. I started watching because of Colin Morgan, but I actually fell for a bunch of the characters.
Humans is a TV Series that aired from 2015-2018. This show has three seasons, all available for streaming on Amazon Prime. It focuses on a parallel universe where human-looking synths have been mass manufactured and are bought and programmed to do all kinds of jobs. The show follows the lives of a family of synths, a human family, one of the scientists who originally invented synths, and other scientists trying to crack the code of consciousness.
Why I love it: The family dynamics of The Hawkins drew me in immediately. It took me a couple of episodes to acclimate to the synths and their way of talking and moving, because they are so foreign. But I think that's a testament to how brilliant the actors are. The mom of the show, Laura Hawkins, comes into her own as a formidable political strategist and civil rights defender, and she suffers an attack of conscious and family fall-out along the way as she reshapes her identity. I really love how layered she was, and how she had her own value even though she also has a husband and children. And I loved Mattie Hawkins from the start. She's smart and cynical and not afraid to take action if she thinks it's the right thing to do, and the show never tries to write her off as just some bratty or lusty teenager. And Niska! She's a synth who falls in love with a human woman and is also a total badass, and the show allows her to grow way beyond her frosty exterior while facing her past trauma and abuse.
On top of all of that, the show is a giant metaphor for modern identity politics, and how we as humans make somewhat arbitrary lines between "us" and "them" and do everything we can to keep separate, because we think we'll be safer. This forces those who are "different" into hiding, or forces them to fake assimilation or risk being treated as slaves. And maintaining a system built on keeping one group down to build up others creates hatred. There's not exactly a happy ending, but I think the show does a good job of illustrating what slow but steady societal change can look like. Mia exemplifies passive but powerful community leadership.
TLDR; Four amazing main characters who are female, lots of discourse relevant to modern identity politics, and the found family trope executed very well!
With so many great characters, there are a lot of shipping opportunities. But I will talk about my two favorite canon pairings - one is f/f and one is m/f. Under the cut are ship-related things that probably count as spoilers.
Niska and Astrid
Niska is one of the original synths built by David Elster. She was build as a "sex robot", and the show starts off with her as a sex worker. She suffers from that trauma and builds a badass exterior - she really does kick ass in the show. But she also grows and learns about herself and falls for a human in the process. It's wonderful to see Niska change and be integral to the plot in so many ways, and Astrid is such a ball of sunshine that you can't help but love them together!
(x)
(x)
I'll be good is a really gorgeous fanvid about their relationship.
Where the edge began is another beautiful fanvid about their relationship, interestingly it starts the same with one of the best quotes from Niska.
Here's an excellent Nistrid playlist.
Leo and Mattie
The show starts out with Mattie being in high school. She knows who she is and is a good example of the "smarter than everyone in the room" trope at first. She really is the bridge between the Elsters and the Hawkins families, and her decisions shape this fictional world. I related to her for a few reasons, but the main reason was because of the way she struggles to understand her mother. I also related to the way she felt for Leo, and how she wanted to protect him. Leo was oblivious for a while - Leo struggles with understanding human emotion and getting in touch with his human side, and that makes for an interesting tension between them. This ship is a wonderful slow burn.Not to mention Colin Morgan is looking really great the whole series.
(x)
(x)
(x)
Fanfic Reccs:
Away, (T), a really mature and thoughtful moment between the two of them that fits my headcanon.
A Little Hope, (T), a canon compliant end of series fix it! *Major Spoilers*
My favorite Leo/Mattie fanvid: Little Lion Leo.
I also love this fanvid to the song Chasing Cars.
Some beautiful Leo art!
And *MAJOR SPOILERS* one of my all time favorite kiss scenes on TV.
dreamersdare! This post is recreated from my own LJ, after I first finished binging the show. I started watching because of Colin Morgan, but I actually fell for a bunch of the characters.Humans is a TV Series that aired from 2015-2018. This show has three seasons, all available for streaming on Amazon Prime. It focuses on a parallel universe where human-looking synths have been mass manufactured and are bought and programmed to do all kinds of jobs. The show follows the lives of a family of synths, a human family, one of the scientists who originally invented synths, and other scientists trying to crack the code of consciousness.
Why I love it: The family dynamics of The Hawkins drew me in immediately. It took me a couple of episodes to acclimate to the synths and their way of talking and moving, because they are so foreign. But I think that's a testament to how brilliant the actors are. The mom of the show, Laura Hawkins, comes into her own as a formidable political strategist and civil rights defender, and she suffers an attack of conscious and family fall-out along the way as she reshapes her identity. I really love how layered she was, and how she had her own value even though she also has a husband and children. And I loved Mattie Hawkins from the start. She's smart and cynical and not afraid to take action if she thinks it's the right thing to do, and the show never tries to write her off as just some bratty or lusty teenager. And Niska! She's a synth who falls in love with a human woman and is also a total badass, and the show allows her to grow way beyond her frosty exterior while facing her past trauma and abuse.
On top of all of that, the show is a giant metaphor for modern identity politics, and how we as humans make somewhat arbitrary lines between "us" and "them" and do everything we can to keep separate, because we think we'll be safer. This forces those who are "different" into hiding, or forces them to fake assimilation or risk being treated as slaves. And maintaining a system built on keeping one group down to build up others creates hatred. There's not exactly a happy ending, but I think the show does a good job of illustrating what slow but steady societal change can look like. Mia exemplifies passive but powerful community leadership.
TLDR; Four amazing main characters who are female, lots of discourse relevant to modern identity politics, and the found family trope executed very well!
With so many great characters, there are a lot of shipping opportunities. But I will talk about my two favorite canon pairings - one is f/f and one is m/f. Under the cut are ship-related things that probably count as spoilers.
Niska is one of the original synths built by David Elster. She was build as a "sex robot", and the show starts off with her as a sex worker. She suffers from that trauma and builds a badass exterior - she really does kick ass in the show. But she also grows and learns about herself and falls for a human in the process. It's wonderful to see Niska change and be integral to the plot in so many ways, and Astrid is such a ball of sunshine that you can't help but love them together!
(x)
(x)
I'll be good is a really gorgeous fanvid about their relationship.
Where the edge began is another beautiful fanvid about their relationship, interestingly it starts the same with one of the best quotes from Niska.
Here's an excellent Nistrid playlist.
The show starts out with Mattie being in high school. She knows who she is and is a good example of the "smarter than everyone in the room" trope at first. She really is the bridge between the Elsters and the Hawkins families, and her decisions shape this fictional world. I related to her for a few reasons, but the main reason was because of the way she struggles to understand her mother. I also related to the way she felt for Leo, and how she wanted to protect him. Leo was oblivious for a while - Leo struggles with understanding human emotion and getting in touch with his human side, and that makes for an interesting tension between them. This ship is a wonderful slow burn.
(x)
(x)
(x)
Fanfic Reccs:
Away, (T), a really mature and thoughtful moment between the two of them that fits my headcanon.
A Little Hope, (T), a canon compliant end of series fix it! *Major Spoilers*
My favorite Leo/Mattie fanvid: Little Lion Leo.
I also love this fanvid to the song Chasing Cars.
Some beautiful Leo art!
And *MAJOR SPOILERS* one of my all time favorite kiss scenes on TV.
no subject
And then I never watched any more. I'm often twitchy about follow on seasons for stuff like this because I've been stung too many times by second/third seasons that are really cash ins and just aren't as good as the original. Thoughts on that? Do the later seasons match up to the first one?
no subject