Where to Stream: Better Than Us

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Netflix’s newest sci-fi stream is Better Than Us, a Russian series set in the near future where robots have been integrated into our day to day lives. It’s cool, though, because they’ve been programmed to follow the First Law, which says they can’t just outright murder all the humans. But what happens when one robot skips that bit of code and then befriends a family?

BETTER THAN US: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: A tech-y block of text rolls out on screen above glittering light as a child recites the First Law of robots (in Russian): A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

The Gist: In the year 2029, robots–well, they haven’t taken over, but they definitely have a prominent place in society in the service industry. Not only that, people roll around everywhere on Segways and have iPhone tech that projects from a bracelet onto their forearms. How that technology works with sleeves is unclear (a mystery for episode 2?).

The show is centered around Georgy Safronov (Kirill Kyaro), a medical examiner who’s holed up in his morgue with robot Vasily. His life is not so hot when compared to his ex-wife Alla (Olga Lomonosova), who’s remarried and has custody of their two kids. There’s moody teen Egor (Eldar Kalimulin) and the adorable Sonya (Vita Kornienko). Georgy’s world is turned upside-down, though, when he learns that his ex’s one-month trip to Australia with her new man and the kids is actually a permanent move!

The show’s other lead is a state-of-the-art, last-of-its-kind robot named Arisa (Paulina Andreeva) that’s purchased by the head of CRONOS (think Apple but exactly as nefarious as the name “CRONOS” implies). Viktor Toropov (Aleksandr Ustyugov) is a pro-bot public figure whose company makes fairy-bots to watch over kids and also sex-bots to pleasure adults. He even has his own personal collection of sex bots that he keeps at work, and Arisa’s the latest addition. But when a lowly CRONOS warehouse worker tries to have sex with Arisa behind the boss’ back, Arisa fights back and efficiently snaps the skeevy guy’s neck. Remember that First Law? Arisa’s been programmed to not care about that.

Arisa and Georgy’s fates intertwine when the CRONOS corpse arrives at the morgue. While Georgy tries to figure out why the cause of death has been listed as a heart attack (Russians covering something up?! No, they would never!), his daughter Sonya makes a surprising new friend: Arisa, who stowed away with the body.

The episode ends with the season’s status quo presumably set up. Georgy’s been left with Egor and Sonya because his ex and her new husband have to start their new jobs in Australia, even though Georgy’s launched a new custody battle, and the CRONOS bigwigs now know they have a murder bot on the loose.

Our Take: My knowledge of Russian TV shows is nil, but I have seen my fair share of Netflix originals that dabble in science fiction. So, I can say with certainty that Better Than Us is not another low-budget, you-can-see-the-strings WTF affair that Another Life was last month. The biggest thing this show has going for it is, without a doubt, the production design. The world feels lived in and, most importantly for what’s ultimately a grounded family drama, plausible. The future tech isn’t next-level bonkers, but the actors aren’t also trying to pretend that the basic iPad they’re holding is something cutting edge (Another Life).

And while there are a lot of robot/meaning-of-sentience-driven sci-fi stories you can already stream on Netflix (Ex Machina, Black Mirror, Altered Carbon, even Star Trek: TNG) and while parts of the show feels very Daytime Blade Runner in Russia, Better Than Us stands just apart enough to justify its existence. The sex-bots and one murder-bot add flair and flavor to what is really the most complex thing about the show: Georgy’s relationship with his family.

Sex and Skin: There are lots of sexily dressed lady robots hanging out in Toropov’s office, but none get activated.

The pilot concludes with an ominous shot of Arisa standing outside of little Sonya’s window. Don’t worry–Arisa has designated Sonya as a friend! Or maybe worry, because we also see old footage of Sonya murdering all the scientists that created her.

Sleeper Star: Vita Kornienko is a great kid actor and I also have to give it up to Paulina Andreeva as Arisa. Through a combination of hair and makeup and her stiff movements, she really does look like a sexy murder robot. The fact that the show has paired two of its best performers, Kornienko and Andreeva, is a smart move. More adventures of little Sonya and her murderous robot friend!

Most Pilot-y Line: “Thank you, Maxim. I just want to say that I see no harm in sex bots.” Of course you don’t, Mr. Toropov.

Our Call: STREAM IT if you like any of the other shows or movies I’ve listed. Better Than Us is in the same lane as all of them, and that’s not a bad thing.

Stream Better Than Us on Netflix