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Ann Droid the TV show - somewhere to chat about it

Phased
HI all
What really stood out to me about the recent BBC TV comedy series Ann Droid is how much the robot character feels like an accidental metaphor for the autistic experience. Watching a character try to navigate the world by logically analyzing social rules, copying behaviors to fit in, and managing literal interpretations of language feels very familiar. And I admit I found that a little unsettling.
Underneath all, I experienced it as it's a really sharp social commentary about how growing old has become in our society.  Massive gaps in social support and the way techno fixes are being looked to to patch over an overstretched social care.  Also how family and informal social care networks are overstretched too for supporting their loved ones.
I am maybe overdoing my analysis, but I'd suggest that it manages to be a profound, dark critique of modern social isolation whilst still managing to maintain its warmth as a light comedy.
And in my opinion less "cringemaking" than some of Dianne Morgan's other work...
Oh and it made me laugh too!
thoughts and discussion good people?
Parents

  • I haven't got a TV license so I managed to watch just the first two episodes at a friend's house. My friend is NT and while I was laughing most of the way through, I did notice that she wasn't laugGrimacingng quite as much. I just loved watching the straight forward logical interactions. I did recognise myself in some of the interactions too.Grimacing  Maybe the sad parts came later but the two episodes I watched were heart warming and funny. I think the main characters were strong enough without the addition of the son and daughter in law who IGrimacingound a bit cringe.Grimacing I am pleased to hear a new series has been commissioned.Tada

  • in reply to Lonehare12
    Lonehare12 said:
    think the main characters were strong enough without the addition of the son and daughter in law

    Yes, I thought that too.

Reply Children
  • in reply to Marianne72

    Hi  I'm sorry I missed your reply and have taken so long to respond to it.

    The possible future with some pretty terrifying possibilities scare me sometimes too.  As far as I can make of it though, it's something people have always had to live with.

    At present, personally, I console myself with somehow or another people (including myself) have somehow managed to come thro' it and still be carrying on.  Responding to warnings and evolving realities with a sort of "so far, so good" capability.

    This isn't to say that great harm has been experienced by far too many and as a species we could do with tidying up our act a lot and maybe deserve a bit of a kick up the rear sometimes.

    Meanwhile, the sun and the moon continue to rise and set.

    Best wishes

    Phased

  • in reply to Marianne72

    I didn't really enjoy the son and daughter-in-law characters at all. They confused me, as he was taken advantage of, but then wasn't a particularly likable character either. They were very flat villans, and of no consequence, where as the people from the shop were all quirky and interesting. The pervert husband who got the sex robot was very creepy. (A bit harsh but the way he kept leering at the female robots wasn't nice, nor the way he wanted a 'stupid' one that he could feel superior over). I would rather they weren't brought back in the next series, but am affaid they probably will be.

  • in reply to Phased

    \yes, I remember seeing falling over robots on several chat shows and people laughing, I bel they're not laughing now. That marching column of robots sent a chill up my spine. I think, like climate change, no one is listening to the warnings of scientists like Einstein and Hawking, but getting carried away by 'what is possible.'

  • in reply to Marianne72

    yes  .  maybe incubators were thought so too once, i don't know and i am playing "devils advocate" there

    that image - China is developing robot tech an incredible rate.  The recent video of the "robot games" I saw on the BBC was of a "humanoid" robot breaking the time of Usain Bolt's 100m record - the videos available from last year's "games" were mostly notable for the humour of watching robots fall over.  It is happening and i find the best approach personally to do my best to be sanguine about it - or at least say "what will be will be" these days and make the best of life as able.

  • in reply to Phased
    Phased said:
    or the robot gets pregnant!

    Scream what an appalling thought!

    robots.pdf

  • in reply to Marianne72

    Light and shade in everything I guess  :-)

    Charity shops and dinner parties are more me - a counterpoint to all the use it up and throw-it away theme of growing older perhaps.

    I feel somewhat for Michael's robot love - I wouldn't fancy that job myself.

    I hope for a bit more of the stories too.

    More getting together and maybe another break up or 2 all mixed up, or the robot gets pregnant!

  • in reply to Phased

    Could look at it that way - but I prefer the people in the charity shop and during the dinner party. There is very little likeable about the Michael and Renee characters. Hopefully the BBC will run another series and Michael will improve after finding a robot love!

  • in reply to Marianne72

    The son and daughter in-law maybe there for the sake of the plot  and  and (spolier alert for when uou get to see the rest of the series ) hehe or just run of the mill idiots like "the rude mechanicals" in a midsummer night's dream - comic relief and provide a disasterous play within a play!