Outcasts

Outcasts, which aired on BBC One between 2010 and 2011, showcases a unique and fascinating blend of drama and science fiction. This captivating television series, featuring Liam Cunningham among a strong ensemble cast, projects an intriguing peek into the future of the human race.

The show presents a not-too-distant future, specifically set in 2040, where a group of settlers claim a new home in the cosmos – a planet known as Carpathia. The planet, named after the rescue ship that responded to Titanic's distress signal, signifies a beacon of hope and rescue for the human race, just as it did in history. The planet's environment is deemed habitable for humans, presenting a second chance for mankind to evolve and flourish, but not without its challenges.

Liam Cunningham, widely recognized for his roles in 'Game of Thrones' amongst other projects, embodies the character President Richard Tate. He gives a stunning performance as a deeply flawed but fundamentally moral leader striving to maintain a sense of civilization, order and justice in the newly founded society named Forthaven. Under his leadership, a group of pioneers battles against the harsh elements of the alien world while managing the human dynamics and politics within their community. Struggles for power and control intertwine with the fight for survival.

The cast also highlights Hermione Norris, notable for her excellent roles in 'Spooks' and 'Cold Feet,' who plays a complex character, Stella Isen. Yet another significant character is Mitchell Hoban, a security officer played by Jamie Bamber known for 'Battlestar Galactica.' It's through these rich, diverse characters that the show navigates the complex terrains of survival, existence, and human nature in various scenarios that are not always black-and-white, but often reside in grey areas.

However, beyond human conflict and survival, the show also engages with an abstract concept of advanced intelligence – the Advanced Cultivars or 'ACs,' artificially engineered humans. With emotions, advanced intellect, and indefinite lifespans, these ACs are a part of society, often leading to friction, fears, and philosophical questions about homosapien's position and identity.

On a slightly different layer, Outcasts also subtly introduces viewers to past secrets, unresolved mysteries, and hidden agendas of characters, adding depth to the plot. These revelations blend beautifully into the storyline, creating complex characters and sometimes moral dilemmas.

Outcasts succeeds in attending to many elusive themes, like humanism, authoritarianism, racism, and existentialism, making it a very thought-provoking series. The show attempts to contemplate on a rather philosophical perspective: What is the core of human nature? What does it mean to be human? What would humanity do if it got another chance to start over, and what implications would it hold on the social, ethical, and moral front? It approaches these questions through the perspective of various characters, their stories, and their distinctive situations.

The series brings forth the landscape of Carpathia and the interiors of a brave new world through its stunning visual and set designs unlike typical dystopian or utopian renditions. It subtly depicts a sense of desolation and eeriness yet reveals a scenic, beautiful side to the planet, playing into the otherworldly feel. The cinematography expertly encapsulates the striking contrast between the natural elements of a wild, alien environment and the containment of man-made structures of Forthaven.

Outcasts deftly presents an enthralling voyage into the not-so-unfathomable future where the human race stands at the brink of extinction, full of action, tension and emotional quandaries, making it an engaging watch for viewers who enjoy the finer intricacies of human-centered dramas and the expansive possibilities of science fiction. It offers a captivating exploration of human spirit, resilience, societal structures, and much more, highlighting mankind's quest to survive, evolve and redefine its existence. Despite hovering on the brink of destruction, Outcasts portrays the human race in its most visceral form, always aiming for light in the darkest of times, always searching for a new dawn.