It’s a year since Mattie uploaded the software that released synths around the world from their mental bonds, but freedom comes at a price, as factions of humanity are pushing back.

One of the great strengths of Jonathan Brackley and Sam Vincent’s sci-fi drama is that it acts as both a cautionary tale and feels like it has been ripped from today’s headlines. It’s not so futuristic that we can’t relate to it, and yet some of the ideas are so prescient and relevant that we wish they weren’t real. In the opening episode of the third series, the world has moved on from Day Zero, and while over 100 million synths lost their lives, the greater focus has been on the 110K human casualties.

A new model of synths, the Series 11 ‘Orange Eyes’, are 100% safe, replacing their ‘dangerous’ green-eyed counterparts. Series regulars Mia (Gemma Chan), Niska (Emily Berrington) and Max (Ivanno Jeremiah) are part of the rogue society outcasts, each having their own personal crises in this first hour. Joe Hawkins (Tom Goodman-Hill) and wife Laura (Katherine Parkinson) have separated, their opposing views on artificial humans being too much of a barrier.

This series really hits the ground running, with an explosion, a fight and military incursion, not forgetting the introduction of some insidious extreme politics and tough moral questions. It’s a strong opener, providing strong clues as to how the battle/amity between human and synth with evolve. The cast are faultless, and thankfully there’s still a vein of humour to stop things getting too grim.

Verdict: It might not have the budget to match, but Humans has more of a heart than other recent ‘synth dramas’ like Westworld or Blade Runner 2049. Great storytelling, with punchy cliffhangers at each break and a tease to bring you back the next week, this is a great start to the series. 9/10

Nick Joy