It's 2048 and scientific advancements have led to new drugs and higher crime rates. The police force is using combat androids with every human officer. John Kennex (Karl Urban) hates the robots after an earlier incident where the androids left him and another cop in a firefight. He is severely injured and when he returns, captain Sandra Maldonado (Lili Taylor) pairs him up with one of those androids. He throws it out of the car. Then he is given an older DRN model eventually called Dorian (Michael Ealy). The older DRN model is more humanlike and found to be too unstable. Other recurring characters include the eccentric android technician Rudy Lom (Mackenzie Crook) and fellow detective Valerie Stahl (Minka Kelly) who turns out to be one of the genetically refined "Chrome".
It's a sci-fi show that tries to tap into the same audience as 'Fringe'. For the most part, it does exactly that and never more. While 'Fringe' squeezed by and grind out 5 seasons, this one couldn't squeeze through the biggest hurdle and gets canceled after the first 13 episodes.
Looking back, there were a few minor missteps. Using sexbots in the second show seemed a little desperate. The third one is a complete ripoff of 'Die Hard'. Despite a bit of logic problem, it was a bit of fun. The show probably needed more of a female touch. The wooden acting from Minka Kelly doesn't help although it's explained by a later show. It did get better over time. However the wall idea seems out of left field. I do like Mackenzie Crook as the wacky science nerd but he could do with a female sidekick. Lily Taylor is a great actress but she isn't allowed much room here. The chemistry between Urban and Ealy is good and getting better as the show develops. That chemistry is the most important part of the show and it's too bad that Fox cut it short.
It's a sci-fi show that tries to tap into the same audience as 'Fringe'. For the most part, it does exactly that and never more. While 'Fringe' squeezed by and grind out 5 seasons, this one couldn't squeeze through the biggest hurdle and gets canceled after the first 13 episodes.
Looking back, there were a few minor missteps. Using sexbots in the second show seemed a little desperate. The third one is a complete ripoff of 'Die Hard'. Despite a bit of logic problem, it was a bit of fun. The show probably needed more of a female touch. The wooden acting from Minka Kelly doesn't help although it's explained by a later show. It did get better over time. However the wall idea seems out of left field. I do like Mackenzie Crook as the wacky science nerd but he could do with a female sidekick. Lily Taylor is a great actress but she isn't allowed much room here. The chemistry between Urban and Ealy is good and getting better as the show develops. That chemistry is the most important part of the show and it's too bad that Fox cut it short.