What do you do when you want to make Science-Fiction like Blade Runner, set in the future, with replicants and all, but you don't have Ridley Scott's money ? You make a science-fiction series set in a future that looks exactly like our present, but that has replicants in it. Except here they're called Hubots. Apart from the name change, they are pretty similar. And the blade runners in Real Humans are called EHURB, less stylish policemen in charge of arresting any hubot that would create trouble. Humans use their hubots as modern slaves, in factories, at home, or in brothels. Need a cook who will also clean your house and take care of your children ? Want an improved inflatable doll ? Or just a companion that is more talkative than your dog ? Try the hubots. They are pleasant to be with, they never get tired, they always smile, they always agree. Some humans even start to like them better than their human partners. The problem is, hubots are machines under the law, not worth more than your car or your bike. So you can't go to a club with them, and human-hubot couples are not well considered. Fortunately, Inger Ergman, who at first was a bit reluctant about having a hubot at home, finally grew quite fond of her Anita. And as she has friends who date hubots, she's going to use all her skills as a lawyer to alter the law. Of course, hubots are not all obliging and slavish. Anita, for instance, used to be an independent robot in love with Leo, who leads a group of autonomous hubots determined to be and remain free. But if some hubots want to be free, if they can fall in love, it means that they can have feelings, and a conscience. So should we still assign them the same values as a that of a car, and throw them away when their bug can't be fixed ? Should we consider them as humans ? Should human-hubot couples still be considered an abomination ? In these tense times of debate about gay marriage, Lars Lundström's questions about what love is and about the power of feelings, are definitely well-timed.
Review of Äkta människor
