REVIEW: ‘Murderbot’ Continues Apple TV+’s Sci-Fi Winning Streak

AppleTV+ has invested deeply in adapting books and or book series on their platform. From heavyhitting dramas like Pachinko to grief-filled low sci-fi Sunny, the manga-inspired Drops of God, and the science fiction stunner Silo. Now, the platform is adapting The Murderbot Diaries series of books written by Martha Wells with Alexander Skarsgård as its titular character.

Murderbot is a thrilling blend of sci-fi and comedy about a self-hacking security robot who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients. When he overrides his programming, he dubs himself Murderbot. Played by Skarsgård, Murderbot must conceal his free will as he protects a group of scientists from an unaffiliated planet who are unaware of the dangers posed by the world, including unknown creatures and other security bots.

To put it simply, they’re hippies, and Murderbot has to try to show them how the world works. Called SecBot by the scientist, Murderbot doesn’t want to be a part of their crew. He really wants to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out his place in the universe.

Alexander Skarsgård knows how to carry a television show.

Alexander Skarsgård is good on film, but on television? He’s an icon. His vocal delivery never ceases to set the tone and pace of the series, and his ability to highlight emotions through his narration pushes Muderbot even further than just what’s on screen. But it’s not just his voice that makes this sci-fi series the hit that it is; it’s also his physical performance.

Skarsgård understands how to use every inch of his body, which, as an android, is different from other projects audiences have seen him in. His stiffness has heart, and it all comes out as he begins to loosen his body and breathe. Still, Skarsgård shines in the action moments of the series, and no matter what happens, he consistently brings the comedy, physical and otherwise.

SecBot is awkward and relatable. Yes, he names himself Murderbot, but he really doesn’t embrace it, if only because he knows he will be melted in acid and recycled. Instead, he wants to watch his show, “The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon.” The peace he craves isn’t because he hates humans, even if they have treated him horribly; it’s because he has a show to catch up on. What’s more relatable than that?

Murderbot puts forward central questions about humanity, sentience, and capitalism. That said, the simplicity of the series and the single perspective we’re given through SecBot’s eyes allows the audience to see the story shift as he moves from Murderbot, the name only he knows, to the reliable SecBot and a vital part of the crew he’s defending. The narration that we receive throughout the 10 episodes sets expectations and tone perfectly, and never feels out of sorts, but more specifically, never feels like too much exposition.

Murderbot knows exactly how to hit every sci-fi note perfectly.

With his security protocol hacked, SecBot must try to conceal his thoughts on the situation at hand. He has to try to remember the original programming he has to maintain. But most importantly, he’s leaning on Sanctuary Moon to teach him how to interact with humans now that he’s having to do it off the cuff. The situational humor that arises from misunderstandings of pleasantries and the general disparity between a train security robot and the hapless humans it is supposed to protect works wonders.

Murderbot’s larger ensemble cast is also phenomenal. Stuck on a planet as things begin to get more dangerous and realizing that the Corporation has lied before sending them there, the group of scientists doesn’t really evolve from its core archetypes. But that’s okay. Each of the characters exists to teach Murderbot something more about humanity as a whole, even if they keep making terrible mistakes.

The head of the expedition, is the wise but gullible Mensah (Noma Dumezweni) is a mother of seven and acts as the leader and matriarch of the expedition. Right next ot her is the altered human, David Dastmalchian as Gurathian, who can interface with technology and is SecBot’s largest hurdle in the group.

Then there is the couple Pin-Lee (Sabrina Wu) and Arada (Tattiawna Jones), and the guy making his way into being their third, Ratthi (Akshay Khanna). Finally, there is the pacifist and kind-hearted Bharadwaj (Akshay Khanna). And all of them just keep confusing SecBot as they proceed to welcome him as a part of the team, treating him like a colleague instead of something they own.

The crew at the center of Murderbot is just as endearing as their SecBot.

While Mensah and Gurathian stand out the most on their own when it comes to the relationship they build with SecBot, each of the extended cast works brilliantly off of each other. Their chemistry together as a team is sharp, funny, and consistently excellent. Even when they’re making mistakes, you can’t help but laugh and buy into the crew as they are. Their inability to work perfectly together also makes Murderbot the perfect addition to their little space family as their SecBot.

As for production design, Apple TV+ continues to bring its very best to sci-fi television. Murderbot’s aesthetic embodies a retrofuturistic design that feels new and old at the same time. The campiness of the aircraft, machines, and weapons all work to create a series that applies a different layer of charm every time the next episode starts. This series is visually beautiful, but also doesn’t venture too far into things audiences haven’t seen before. Murderbot feels familiar but never feels bland.

Murderbot thrives on the smart use of dialogue and the contradictions we see on display as we get to know SecBot more and more. But while this series finds a second gear because of Alexander Skarsgård’s stellar lead performance, the ensemble cast of clumsy, extremely intelligent, but also extremely gullible and kind hippie scientists creates a story that doesn’t spend too much time lulling into traditional tropes.

Instead, the series knowingly plays with science fiction television, either through the Star Trek parody “The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon” or through SecBot’s choices to emulate his favorite show. Murderbot is in conversation with the larger genre that it falls into. This is what allows the series to find an ample amount of charm from beginning to end.

This Apple TV+ Original thrives on its dialogue, both between characters and through narration.

Additionally, in a time when CGI continues to be the heaviest critique of streaming series, Apple TV+ continues to deliver its best, with giant monster battles and explosions that all work perfectly and never feel disconnected from the worlds they’re set in. When Murderbot goes large, it doesn’t leave anything to the imagination, and it doesn’t suffer for it. Instead, it crafts a larger and more dynamic world.

The practical effects used in bringing Murderbot to life work extremely well, and Skarsgård plays it up to the max. Where the series’ investment into effects shines is when SecBot is dealing with any number of injuries. Whether it’s having his organs reprinted after a chunk is taken from his side, his spine is exposed, or anything else, the way that the series visualizes injury is uncanny. It rides the line between realistic and mechanical, highlighting the fact that he’s made of organic materials, which adds more context for the technology of this sci-fi world.

One of the other standouts of the series is how it blends elements of retrofuturism color palettes with pure high sci-fi technology. The designs for the different security bots are all unique, but they’re grounded enough to make the audience always question who’s behind the mask, even if you only see Murderbot’s face.

Murderbot continues Apple TV+’s winning streak with sci-fi television. Add in the fact that, like Silo before, there is ample book material to keep going. This is a series that deserves your attention, and as many seasons as there are books in the series. Humor, action, and the weirdness of science fiction keep this series hitting every single episode.

Murderbot is streaming on Apple TV+ starting May 16, 2025 with new episodes released every Friday.