Jean Baudrillard present the idea that in postmodern culture, the boundaries between the 'real' world and the world of the media have collapsed and that it is no longer possible to distinguish between reality and simulation. Move over, he discusses the idea that in a postmodern age of simulacra we are immersed in a world of images which no longer refer to anything as 'real'. In addition, we can also link this to the idea that media images have come to seem more 'real' than the reality that they supposedly represent, creating a hyperreality - a heightened version of realness.
We can relate the work of Jean Baudrillard to our set text, Humans, in many ways. Through its premise and main plot line, Humans as a show represents our need for and attraction to hyper-reality over reality with the synths themselves representing simulacra. The invention of the synths and their popularity with Joe in particular further comments on the idea that we as a society are becoming less font of reality and more font of what is trying to replicate it. The synths are represented as 'humans, but better' and they are constructed as having the perfect mix of all desirable human elements. With the real humans such as Laura and Joe portraying the reality, and Anita and the other synths acting as simulacra, it is easy for us to relate this theory to the show.
In particular scenes, including in episode 1 when Laura is walking out of the train station in to the city setting, the audience are presented with synths in many scenarios and doing a multitude of different activities. This encourages audience confusion as to who actually is human and who is a synth. This is apparent a lot throughout the show, but most poignantly, in my opinion, through the character of Sophie. Her character is represented as the naive, excitable young girl who can not seem to fathom the difference between her real, human mother, and Anita, a fake, robot made to appear real. This is an example of how the show represents and comments on the idea that we can no longer tell the difference between what is real and what is a simulation and how the lines are being blurred.
In addition, the setting and mise-en-scene of Humans is very similar to our real world, it is a parallel world to our own and can be considered a is a hyperreality. We see similarities between our world and the world of Humans such as the cars, schools and homes but the setting is repackaged and mediated.