‘Murderbot' would rather be watching TV
When Murderbot is assigned to protect a group of hippie-coded scientists, it initially pays them no mind. But over time, the PreservationAux team's basic human decency — particularly that of its captain, Mensah (Noma Dumezweni) — helps the detached, disaffected unit come out of its shell.
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Both the 2018 novella and the Apple TV+ show are character studies masquerading as sci-fi potboilers. Readers of Wells' book identified with Murderbot, who prefers to bury itself in distractions rather than engage with a cruel world that regards human-robot hybrids as disposable property.
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In particular, 'All Systems Red'
Akshay Khanna, Tattiawna Jones, Sabrina Wu, David Dastmalchian, Noma Dumezweni and Tamara Podemski in "Murderbot."
Apple TV+
The show retains most of these characteristics, as the title character accompanies the PreservationAux team to investigate an anomaly in the planet's mapping.
Even though Murderbot's new clients are far more attuned to its needs (they even use its proper pronouns!) than previous clients, they still struggle to understand the SecUnit. One crew member in particular, an 'augmented human' named Gurathin (David Dastmalchian), harbors suspicions. Like Murderbot, Gurathin can connect himself to computers and seems to share some of the protagonist's social awkwardness. But the scientist insists that Murderbot is 'weird' and confronts it at every turn.
'True Blood' fans will be happy to hear that Skarsgård takes his helmet off far more than the book's SecUnit ever did. His portrayal of a character who would rather fight a squadron of assassins than look someone in the eye is both carefully calibrated and oftentimes quite funny.
Unfortunately, 'Murderbot' falls short in its attempt at balancing a light sci-fi saga and a deeper understanding of its protagonist's psyche.
Too much of the show's story is told through Murderbot's inner monologue, which is amusing at times but too often feels intrusive. Even '
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It's hard not to compare the adaptation of 'Murderbot' to Denis Villeneuve's successful translation of Frank Herbert's heady sci-fi novel 'Dune.' Beyond the superficial similarities – both are set on remote desert planets terrorized by subterranean worm-like creatures; both feature Dastmalchian playing an enhanced human computer — both Villeneuve and showrunners Paul and Chris Weitz had to grapple with how to portray information-laden inner monologues on screen. While the brothers' decision may be true to the novel's intent, it can be exhausting to watch.
Then there's the show's paper-thin plot, which involves a rival expedition, multiple sabotage attempts, and a corporate overlord primarily concerned with profit margins. The Weitz brothers attempt to beef up the story from 'All Systems Red' by transforming single lines into full scenes, borrowing flashbacks from Wells' other stories, and creating new characters out of thin air.
Some of those changes are welcome, providing a modicum of depth to characters that are barely more than names on a page in 'All Systems Red.' Mensah, indefatigable in the novella, suffers from panic attacks, and uses Murderbot as an unwilling therapist. Gurathin's reserved nature leaves him terrified of being abandoned but unwilling (or unable) to fully express his love for his crewmates.
Other times, these changes lay bare how stretched the runtime of 'Murderbot' really is. A trio of scientists (Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, Tattiawna Jones) navigating the complex dynamics of throupledom are used for comic relief that doesn't really land. And in a bit of stunt casting, the show repeatedly dramatizes scenes from Murderbot's favorite TV show, casting Harold Cho, Clark Gregg, DeWanda Wise, and Jack McBrayer in a hammy 'Star Trek' parody. It's nice to see these actors having fun with their limited screentime, but as the minutes stretch on, you realize how empty these digressions are.
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Whether you read Murderbot as neurodivergent or not, the show treats its differences with respect and depth. As much as the human characters are often relegated to comedic effect, their enthusiastic embrace of Murderbot and instinctive acceptance (minus Gurathin) of its needs around social interaction is one of the show's more appealing aspects.
Ultimately, 'Murderbot' is a flawed show with a few laughs and a good heart that will appeal to a very specific subset of viewers. But at a time when the country's
Starring:
Alexander Skarsgård, Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, and Tattiawna Jones. On Apple TV+
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