Teach 109

Flat and heartless, 9 June 2007
　　Author: bob the moo from Birmingham, UK
　　In the future, androids are used as training tools for surgeons to practice techniques on. As well as the physical side of the exercise, the potential "death" of the android shows the tutors how the potential surgeons deal with losing patients. Dr Garrett is a hot potential but has never really bought into the "human" nature of the android but that starts to change when her tutor Dr Winston assigns her android Teach 109 as her next patient.
　　This simple drama is on the theme of humanity as Teach displays learning and emotion and gradually breaks down the coldly scientific exterior of Garrett. The plot is that simple and whether it is any good or not depends totally on the delivery. Sadly this is totally middle-of-the-road from Kletter as writer and director as he fails to really bring out the heart of his characters – which is a pretty big failing when you consider the subject matter. His direction is so-so but the fact that the script doesn't ring true is his first problem.
　　This translates into two draft and flat performances from the lead two. Patric plays up the "android" side of his character but forgets that the point is he is supposed to be very human. Perkins is just as weak and not even the distinctive presence of Jones does anything to raise proceedings. Vaguely interesting then, but you do have to wonder what the point of it is when you consider that the heart of it is lacking to the point of non-existence.