Following the collapse of civilisation, androids are tasked with raising human children on a mysterious planet. But perils await them, both from the hostile environment and within their own group.

HBO Max’s glossy, high-concept, adult sci-fi boasts Ridley Scott as both an executive producer and the director of the first two instalments, before handing over to son Jake for the third. It’s a good-looking show, with impressive use made of the Cape Town locations, and there’s enough going on to hold your attention.

Amanda Collin’s Mother and Abubakar Salim’s (Assassin’s Creed: Origins) Father are two androids tasked with populating a new home. Their ship crashes on the edge of a hole and they barely escape before it plummets below the surface. But they have what they need to ‘grow’ six children, and we witness their emergence from life-giving gloop and their early years of life. But mortality comes in the form of illness and local dangers, and then they have visitors from the sky. I’m not inclined to say any more about the story, as it is crafted to reveal itself as required, and Mother in particular has a fascinating back story.

This 10-part drama is written by Aaron Guzikowski, who also penned Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners and is attached to upcoming Universal Wolfman movie. It also features Travis Fimmell (Warcraft) as Marcus and we’ll look at his role in future episode reviews.

Of course, Ridley Scott is no stranger to artificial people, having used them extensively in his movies, from Alien and Blade Runner to Prometheus and Alien: Resurrection. Here they reassuringly ‘bleed’ the same white liquid as Ash from Alien, and these parents boast a fun, retro look in their shiny latex bodysuits and Flash Gordon helmets.

Verdict: A strong start to an epic tale. The pacing is less wham-bang than most examples of this genre, helping establish the passage of time, but the drama is ever-present, teasing greater conflict to come. 8/10

Nick Joy