Netflix’s new show, Russia’s Better Than Us, explores a near-future society where humanoid robots are taking over human jobs. Set outside Moscow, Russia, the story centers around Arisa, a female robot who escapes from her factory and integrates into a human family.
Along the way, there are police investigations, corporate intrigue, and family dramas. I won’t say much more about the plot because there are twists and turns along the way that change the story on a dime. Simply put, the show is influenced by Humans, Law and Order, and This Is Us/Parenthood. With such a mix of inspiration, it may seem like too much, but it all fits together seamlessly. There are no filler episodes or unnecessary plotlines. Everything happens for a reason in each of the 16 one-hour episodes.
The show also doesn’t take a stand on whether or not this technology is good for society, However, both sides are represented and each fully lays out its case. On the Pro side, there is Cronos—the tech company behind Arisa—and the Russian Government. The Con side is represented by an anti-robot terroristic organization called the Liquidators. The show leaves it up to the audience to decide for itself the answer to the question of where robotics fits into society.
As an imported show dubbed into English, the voice acting is quite good, although there are times where the audio does not exactly match up with the mouth movement. This is not completely unexpected, however, keeping in mind that Russian is a radically different language from English. The few times this happens doesn’t take away from anything. As for the cast itself, they are excellent. The lead actress—Paulina Andreeva—was nominated for a Apkit award for Best Actress in a TV movie or Series for her work as Arisa. This is a well deserved nomination.
Overall, this series holds the audience’s attention throughout. It is a well done, thought provoking, entertaining show. My rating: 10/10.
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