Review: Ann Droid – A Fresh and Funny Robot Comedy
Ann Droid, a new comedy series on BBC One, features Diane Morgan as Linda, a preloved robot carer, and Sue Johnston as Sue, a widowed elderly woman. The show premiered on BBC One and is now available on iPlayer. It offers a unique take on AI and robotics, blending humor with poignant moments.
Plot Overview
The story begins with Sue, widowed two years ago, hospitalized after fainting due to low blood pressure. Her son Michael (Paul Ready), who is moving back in with his cheating ex, purchases a preloved robot carer named Linda on a 24-month contract. Sue is initially appalled but develops an unlikely bond with Linda, who reminds her to take medication and devises social activities to combat isolation.
Key Characters and Performances
Diane Morgan fully commits to the role of Linda with unblinking stiffness, while Sue Johnston delivers a heartbreaking performance as Sue struggling with grief. The supporting cast includes Michelle Greenidge as Jamaican nurse Brianna, Sarah Kendall as overburdened delivery driver Cass, and Kathryn Hunter as Sue's best friend Eileen. Other robots include Roxy (Nicole Sadie Sawyerr) and Keith (Ed Jones).
Themes and Comparisons
The series explores debates around AI and robotics, offering a perspective that robot carers can be incompetent yet compassionate. It recalls Channel 4's Humans and Stefan Golaszewski's Mum, but feels fresh due to Morgan's deadpan humor and the quirky characters. The show also touches on elder-care robots already in use in Asia, addressing isolation and the need for care.
Humorous and Tearjerking Moments
Linda is hooked on The Apprentice and Cotton Eye Joe, and uses laser-beam eyes to taser a jiu-jitsu instructor. The series is a tearjerker, with Johnston's Sue frequently heartbreaking. In one scene, Linda provides words while Sue's friend Tom scatters his cousin's ashes, highlighting the robot's poignant parsing of human emotion.
Conclusion
Ann Droid is a silly, singular comedy shot through with love and care. It treads carefully on the reality of elderly isolation, offering warmth and humor. As Brianna warns, the home can be lethal for the elderly, but this show finds humanity in a mechanical companion.
