Channel 4's Humans aren't scared of Westworld: "There's room for two shows about androids"

Last year, Channel 4's Humans wowed critics and audiences with its morally complex tale of scarily lifelike androids living amongst mankind.

In 2016, HBO's Westworld wowed critics and audiences with its morally complex tale of scarily lifelike androids living amongst mankind.

So is there a rivalry between these two thematically similar shows? Not a bit of it – with Humans star Gemma Chan insisting that she's "loved" the early episodes of Westworld.

"I think the territory that their show explores and that our show explores – 'Who are we? What makes us human?' – these questions are so rich," said Gemma. "So I think there's definitely room for more than one show in this area. I really enjoyed it."

"I welcome it, actually," added Humans writer and co-creator Sam Vincent. "It's really exciting to look at it and see what they've done differently, and the conclusions they've arrived that are similar – but if there's room for 156 shows about cops, there's room for two about androids."

Meanwhile, producer Derek Wax argued that while Humans might share some themes with Westworld, the two shows' approach and atmosphere could not be more different.

"What we have is a world that I think feels very grounded and real," he said. "We are dealing with domestic, intimate issues and I think that really remains the DNA of Humans.

"There's been thousands of movies, from Terminator to Blade Runner to Robocop... hundreds and hundreds of movies have explored AI, it's just an accident that Westworld should've aired at the same time.

"But I think that because they all explore it in such different ways, you get very different angles and perspectives on the subject."

So there you have it. But here's another interesting nugget we've unearthed...

Speaking to Digital Spy on set for Humans, movement director Dan O'Neill – who devises and shapes the unique movements of the Synths – told us he avoided potential inspirations like the original Westworld movie.

"When I was first asked to do it, I decided not to look at Blade Runner and Westworld and all those examples of AI, because I just thought we'd end up impersonating something," he said.

Personally, we're more than happy to keep watching both...

Humans returns to Channel 4 this Sunday (October 30) at 9pm on Channel 4.

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