‘Humans’ Season 3, Episode 1 Premier Recap: Synth Survival [SPOILERS]

Humans is a show set in the future where the latest trend in technology involves having a Synth, a robot designed to look like a human, programmed to serve their human owners. A suburban family tries to share life with the Synth without knowing the consequences of their actions. This episode recounts the aftermath of the events that transpired in the previous season as the characters transition into the current season.

In this week’s premiere episode of Humans Season 3, the Synths, led by Max (Ivanno Jeremiah) and Mia (Gemma Chan) struggle to survive in a haven for “malfunctioning’ Synths called The Railyard. Meanwhile, the Hawkins family try to adapt to the changes brought about by Laura (Katherine Parkinson) and Joe’s (Tom Goodman-Hill) separation. Niska (Emily Berrington) decides to live with Astrid (Bella Dayne) among the humans.

Hiding In Plain Sight

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Niska enters a bar that embraces Human and Synth integration. When she enters, she approaches the bar. A female Synth bartender tells her that she is safe inside the bar, so there is no need for her to impersonate a human. Astrid tells Niska that she is right, but then Niska replies that she is safer disguised as a human since she is a wanted Synth. The bar owners give a short speech about remembering both Human, and Synth lives lost on day zero.

Niska waits for Astrid outside the bar. While she is waiting, a man in a hood sprints out of the bar. Niska notices this, and as Astrid exits the bar, it explodes behind her, injuring her. Niska checks on her, and upon seeing that she is alive, she enters the bar to find any survivors. When she finds none, Astrid tells her to leave just as the police arrive at the scene.

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Seraph Sam (Billy Jenkins) follows the instructions being given to him by Karen Voss (Ruth Bradley), his new guardian. She tells him that he needs to pass as a human to completely mask their appearance as Synths. The next day, she sends him to school. Meanwhile, Mia checks on Astrid in the hospital.

The Hawkins Family

Toby (Theo Stevenson) and Sophie Hawkins (Pixie Davies) spend the weekend in their father’s fruit and vegetable shop in the Synth free village of Waltringham. Toby asks his dad if he has considered buying an “Orange Eyes,” the new “safe” versions of the Synths to help him in the shop but he replies that he is not going to consider that.

The kids prepare to leave their father’s shop. When their mother arrives, Joe leads them outside. Laura jokes about their weekend though Toby replies that he actually had a good time. When they get home, Laura finds a knot from Mattie (Lucy Carless) while Toby turns the TV on and he discovers the news about the bombing in the Human and Synth friendly bar.

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At school, Sophie attends a seminar about Synths. The speaker talks to them about differentiating Orange-eyed Synths from Green-eyed Synths, something that they are very well versed in. However, Sophie asks the speaker about the friendly Green-eyed ones, and this gets her into being made fun of by her classmates.

Laura unlocks the door to her office. Roland (Greg Austin) comes out of the shadows, startling Laura. When they enter her office, she directs him to a charging port. When she checks her messages, she receives one from Dan Stapleton, The News producer of a show called “The Panel” inviting her to the show to talk about recent events.

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One of her clients come inside the office. She notices Laura’s increased workload; then she tells Laura to hire an “Orange Eyes.” Laura asks Roland about this, and this surprises her. Laura asks her what she is there for, then she tells Laura that the Dryden commision, a commission looking for a permanent solution to the Anomalous Synth problem, wants her to be part of it.

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Laura receives a phone call while she is at work. She immediately puts it down when it turns out to be a hate caller. Laura lashes out at the second caller until the caller identifies himself. She ends up in school with her ex-husband, Joe, talking to Sophie’s teacher about an incident in school. When they leave the room, Joe talks to Laura about their difference of opinions when it comes to Synths. After this, he lets Laura speak to Sophie alone just as she had wanted; then he tells her to call him later to discuss further what they had just talked about. Joe hugs Sophie goodbye.

Laura talks to Sophie about the fighting incident at school. Sophie expresses her frustration in their situation where they cannot stand up for the people they love since it would get them into trouble, knowing what they know about Day Zero. Laura tells Sophie to Leave it to the grown-ups instead.

The Railyard

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While the Humans commemorate the anniversary of day zero of the release of the anomaly that claimed an estimated 110,000 lives. The Synths in The Railyard watch the tv broadcast when Agnes (Holly Earl) decides that she has had enough. She smashes the tv then she rants to them about how the humans disregard the lives of the Synths and that they do show the same feelings for the Synths; that they are not seen as equals. Max talks to Agnes, saying that in time, the humans would accept them.

While Max is reading a book, Mia approaches him, commending the way he dealt with Agnes. While they are talking, their power is suddenly cut. Since the government runs their facility, they have no control over this, and Max realizes that the government aims to disrupt their charging without having to have the Synths enter the Human communities. Mia asks him if they are doing the right thing in keeping what they know about the anomaly to themselves and Max replies that it is necessary for keeping them safe.

Max inquires about the interview Mia was scheduled to have, and she replies by saying that the magazine’s readers are likely to be uninterested in Synth stories, so they should find a new way to connect to the Humans. Suddenly, Flash (Ritu Arya) and Anatole (Ukweli Roach) tell them about the loss of Thomas, a Synth who was being sustained through the use of the primary power source. Mia decides to exit The Railyard to find another way to broker peace between the Humans and the Synths.

Mia, Anatole, Flash, and Max hear about the news through a radio inside The Railyard. Moments later, when everyone had dispersed, Mia was drawing. Flash approaches her, telling her about Humans who have just arrived, claiming to be journalists who wanted to talk to their spokesperson. While Mia was at the interview, Max and Flash slow dance to the music from the radio. Anatole interrupts this by changing the frequency into the one where the message by the unknown Synth was being broadcast.

Upon hearing the news, the Synths inside The Railyard hold a meeting. They express their concern over their situation since the Synths responsible for the bombing have practically condemned them all. Some of the Synths express their sympathy for the aggressive Synths. Max eases the tensions among his fellow Synths. Flash notifies Max about a supply run she is going to do.

Peace Between Humans and Synths

Laura arrives in the studio for the show, “The Panel.” Laura sits beside the Junior Minister for Special Technologies as well as the leader of an organization called “We are Humans.” The discussion starts when it is suddenly interrupted by a broadcast from an unknown source. The broadcast features a Synth wearing a hoodie and bandana who tells the viewers that a Synth revolution is at hand.

Flash and a Synth named Julian arrive in one of the supply shops in town. As they finish their purchase, they exit the shop and find that the Human escorts have left them. They try to enter the shop again, but the shop owner closes the shop. Suddenly, an angry mob of Humans approaches them. Flash tells Julian to remain calm until one of the Humans strike her with a crowbar. Flash struggles to reach out her hand.

Mattie arrives at The Railyard. Max welcomes her in. Agnes comes out of one of the buildings along with some other Synths then they look at Mattie. Max tells Mattie that things have been changing inside The Railyard, but she insisted that she had to go to them. They approach Leo Elster’s (Colin Morgan) bedside. He is currently in a coma. Anatole gives his finding; then they leave Mattie with Leo. Max instructs Anatole to keep Leo’s presence a secret from everyone. While they talk about this, Gordon (Staz Nair) tells Max to come with him outside.

In the woods near The Railyard, Max and Gordon find the bodies of Flash and Julian, hanging on a tree. At that same day, Laura met up with Mia in the woods. They talk about how the video has affected the case they were about to present regarding Synth rights as well as the situation inside The Railyard. Laura tells Mia about the opportunity given to her in joining the Dryden commission then they disagree about this completely. Laura leaves Mia in the woods.

Mattie talks to Leo about her experiences ever since Day Zero. She expresses her regret in what she has done. Elsewhere in The Railyard, Max looks stands beside the table where Flash’s body was placed. He checks on Anatole who is working on an unconscious Synth. After giving his diagnostics to Max, Anatole tries to console Max over Flash’s death. Max tells him about his disappointment on himself since he was not able to protect Flash. Anatole dismisses this, and he tries to reason with Max, saying that it was not his fault.

That evening, Max sat down on the outside of the building. He hears footsteps then he tells the person to leave him alone. After he discovers that it was Niska, they have a short conversation. It turns out that Niska was after the Synth responsible for the bombing at the Human and Synth friendly bar. She decided to look for information or perhaps even the Synth responsible in The Railyard. After this, their power was cut off.

Max returns to the medical station where Anatole was keeping the unconscious Synth. After Anatole tells him that she would only stay powered for four minutes, he decides to get the batteries they were using to keep Leo alive. At first, Mattie tried to stop him, but after he explained that it was a calculated risk, he eventually got hold of the battery and was able to extend the unconscious Synth’s life cycle.

Outside, Gordon hears the grass rustling. He approaches the gate, and he finds a gun pointed at him. It was a police raid. The police run inside, and they proceed to round up the synths. Anatole and Max leave the medical station to parley with the police force. He tells them that they will fully cooperate. The team leader gives the other policemen orders.

At the lobby, Agnes decides to stand. This immediately causes the policemen to aim their guns at her. Simultaneously, Mattie attempts to stabilize Leo’s condition. Niska hears the policemen outside the medical station, so she takes a weapon. However, she thought about a better idea. Max asks Agnes to kneel back down, but she refuses. Another male Synth even joins her. Because of this, the policemen immediately turn the safety functions off their weapons. The policeman aiming at Agnes’ head aims it closer to her.

Humans returns Tuesday, June 12th, with “Episode 2” at 10/9c on AMC.