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Geek Girl Authority
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
MURDERBOT Recap: (S01E05) Rogue War Tracker Infinite
Murderbot Season 1 Episode 5, 'Rogue War Tracker Infinite,' sees our SecUnit's secret come to the fore. It's intriguing to see how the PresAux group reacts to the news of its SecUnit always being in rogue mode. The outing also focuses on the state of Artificial Intelligence and how much we can rely on it. Is it really good? Can it be ethical? It's a relevant topic. 'Rogue War Tracker Infinite' is a delightful blend of biting humor and action that maintains a steady clip until that cliffhanger ending. RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Murderbot episode, 'Escape Velocity Protocol' Murderbot, 'Rogue War Tracker Infinite' We open with the PresAux crew talking while Murderbot (Alexander Skarsgård) looks zonked out. We learn they must remove the wires from the override device implanted by the Black SecUnit, which are still protruding from our titular bot. Then, we rewind to the final minutes of episode four, in which SecUnit shoots itself before the override to its combat module, courtesy of the Black SecUnit, takes effect. Naturally, Mensah (Noma Dumezweni), Pin-Lee (Sabrina Wu), Ratthi (Akshay Khanna) and Arada (Tattiawna Jones) go into panic mode. They decide to take SecUnit back to the PresAux habitat for Gurathin to examine. Mensah asks Arada to keep an eye out for any other hostiles. One woman, Leebeebee (Anna Konkle), calls out to the group from afar. Her reflexes kicking in, Arada fires at her. Thankfully, she stops before she truly harms Leebeebee. MURDERBOT Season 1 Episode 5, 'Rogue War Tracker Infinite.' Photo courtesy of Apple TV+. Leebeebee We fast forward to the PresAux habitat, wherein Murderbot tells us that, once it wakes up, it'll instantly kill the humans because of the tendrils left from the combat module override. Bharadwaj (Tamara Podemski) offers to extract said tendrils. RELATED: Alexander Skarsgård Goes Rogue in Murderbot Trailer Then, we're back on the hopper, with Ratthi at the helm. We learn Leebeebee is the only survivor of the DeltFall massacre. Arada asks her questions to ensure she doesn't go into shock. Leebeebee tells Arada that she's from Industrial Junction 151523. Corporation Rim. Mensah asks Leebeebee if she has any idea as to whose SecUnit attacked DeltFall. Leebeebee finds it intriguing that Murderbot shot itself to save the group. She remarks that it's quite handsome for a sentient construct. Then, Leebeebee goes on a tangent about its potential genitalia and how it would use its peepee. Leebeebee and the peepee. Sorry, I'm a 13-year-old boy. Also, this monologue made me snort, and it feels like something Konkle's Pen15 character would say as an adult. All Amateurs Next, we zero in on Ratthi and Pin-Lee. Ratthi asks about having children. Have Pin-Lee and Arada broached the subject? There's something about a massacre and a near-death experience that makes one think about the future. Pin-Lee admits they haven't thought about kids. RELATED: David Dastmalchian Joins Apple TV+ Murderbot Adaptation Back in the present, Bharadwaj removes the wires from the override device. Huzzah! Leebeebee is naturally triggered by seeing SecUnit. She learns our group hails from the Preservation Alliance and remarks that her DeltFall bosses referred to them as amateurs. Murderbot dryly states that only amateurs would risk their lives to save a rogue SecUnit. It sees more footage of it attacking and killing humans in its past. How ominous. MURDERBOT Season 1 Episode 5, 'Rogue War Tracker Infinite.' Photo courtesy of Apple TV+. After Bharadwaj finishes pulling out the wires, she declares that it's time to reboot SecUnit's system. She asks Gurathin (David Dastmalchian) to plug into its system to check for any bad codes. Uh-oh. Unfortunately for Murderbot, Gurathin's search yields results — he learns that our bot has hacked its governor module and gone rogue. Gone Rogue Later, Murderbot wakes up to all our PresAux crew's smiling faces. It's grateful that it's out of med bay and it didn't kill all its human clients. Gurathin informs the group that SecUnit is immobilized from the neck down thanks to HubSystem. RELATED: New TV Shows This Week (June 1 – 7) Then, Gurathin informs the group about Murderbot's rogue state and that it hacked its governor module prior to working for the PresAux crew. Double uh-oh. Leebeebee starts panicking. She insists SecUnit is undoubtedly plotting its next move. Murderbot admits it was … sort of. Leebeebee leaves. Bharadwaj defends SecUnit, claiming that, despite hacking its governor module, it's been acting within the group's best interests. She believes they should trust it. Gurathin insists they have every reason to be cautious. After all, they've been sabotaged since they first set foot on this planet. The missing hazard reports. The gaps in the map. He places the blame squarely on our bot. And what about the DeltFall massacre? It could be connected somehow. Seccy Is One of Them Ratthi and Arada counter Gurathin, defending SecUnit. It told them to kill it after the Black SecUnit overrode its combat module. Why would it do that if it wanted to hurt them? Seccy is good! (I hope this nickname sticks.) RELATED: On Location: The Lighterman in Apple TV+'s Slow Horses Bharadwaj adds that if the Company wanted to use SecUnit to kill them, they'd be dead by now. Murderbot finally speaks up, contributing its two cents. It reveals that the Company would poison their supplies using the recycling system. However, the Company has a financial interest in keeping the PresAux crew alive. Then, the conversation pivots to how SecUnit spends its time — downloading thousands of hours of TV shows. Gurathin assumes it's using the downloads to send encoded messages to the Company. Ratthi references a deep cut of a Sanctuary Moon episode, which Murderbot instantly comments on. It's watched every episode. Also, Season 19? Any show going past Season 3 these days is a miracle. MURDERBOT Season 1 Episode 5, 'Rogue War Tracker Infinite.' Photo courtesy of Apple TV+. Trigger the Emergency Beacon After this, Murderbot proves it's not truly immobilized as Gurathin planned. It hacked HubSystem to override it. SecUnit begins choking Gurathin, pinning him to the wall. The others urge SecUnit to let him go. Murderbot tells Gurathin it doesn't like him. Once SecUnit releases Gurathin, Mensah insists it remain part of the team. She doesn't want to send it away. She promises not to disclose its rogue state, nor will anyone else in this room. RELATED: On Location: The Phoenicia Diner on Apple TV+'s Severance Mensah makes SecUnit promise it'll protect Gurathin as much as it does the others. SecUnit begrudgingly vows to honor her wish. Gurathin reminds Murderbot that HubSystem has been recording their conversation. Murderbot fires back that it fed HubSystem 'an hour of mundane activity from the logs.' So, take that. Then, SecUnit informs Mensah that HubSystem may have been compromised by an outside agent. Do not trust it. SecUnit also advises that they trigger the emergency beacon. Mensah agrees. Later, SecUnit finds Leebeebee staring at it, just like actors do in its favorite shows. Leebeebee reveals that she doesn't know if DeltFall launched their own beacon. She worked in maintenance and cleaning as part of her seven-year indenture to InterTrav Mining Solutions. MURDERBOT Season 1 Episode 5, 'Rogue War Tracker Infinite.' Photo courtesy of Apple TV+. Sometimes, You Gotta Do It Manually Gurathin remarks that he can't reach the emergency beacon. Neither can Murderbot. That can't be good. Leebeebee asks how the beacon works and how long it'll take the Company to get here. Ratthi reveals that it'll take them five days. Leebeebee wonders what'll happen if whoever orchestrated the DeltFall massacre finds out they're here. RELATED: Apple TV+'s Neuromancer Series Uploads 3 New Cast Members Murderbot volunteers to take the hopper to the emergency beacon to activate it manually. Mensah offers to accompany it since she's the best pilot. Later, Leebeebee apologizes to Murderbot for claiming it would kill them all. She didn't realize it was so nice. Then, she awkwardly kisses its chin for good luck. Hilarious. 'Melt me down now,' Murderbot thinks to itself. Meanwhile, Gurathin vows to analyze the data from the combat module override, reboot HubSystem and try to figure out why all this is happening. Mensah grabs Gurathin's hands and reveals she's glad he's here. Gurathin expresses the same sentiment. Then, SecUnit interrupts to tell Mensah that it's time to go. I'm still curious about the Mensah/Gurathin relationship. MURDERBOT Season 1 Episode 5, 'Rogue War Tracker Infinite.' Photo courtesy of Apple TV+. An Enemy in Disguise Later, Leebeebee asks Gurathin if she can assist him. 'I highly doubt it,' he replies. Ouch. Elsewhere, in the hopper, Mensah tells Murderbot all about her kids. Humans love to do that unprompted, don't they? RELATED: Read our Murderbot recaps The conversation pivots to how DeltFall fell prey to rogue SecUnits. Perhaps the enemy pretended to be the PresAux crew, making DeltFall believe they're lending a helping hand to another team. SecUnit observes that Mensah would've let an impostor like that in, no questions asked. It's the human way. Murderbot thinks to itself that it's strange to have an exchange like this without receiving orders. Then, our duo sees the emergency beacon ahead. Mensah tries to launch it with a burst communication. When the launch fails, Murderbot shares that they'll have to reboot it by hand. It encourages Mensah to land close by so it can plug in and start the sequence. They'll have four minutes to clear the area prior to launch. Fly Through the Fire Mensah tries to ask Murderbot about it choking Gurathin earlier. What was that about? Has it ever hurt a client before? Suddenly, SecUnit orders them to turn around. It gets an alert about a significant threat. The emergency beacon explodes in a fiery blaze. It engulfs the hopper as it nosedives toward the ground. Murderbot drops new episodes every Friday on Apple TV+. TED LASSO Season 4 Is Officially a Go at Apple TV+ Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Murderbot Season 1 Episode 5 – Release Date, Schedule, How To Watch
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Last night, an enemy targeted the titular Murderbot in episode four of the new Apple TV+ series led by Alexander Skarsgård. Next week, we will see PresAux go to great lengths to move forward while tensions rise, and we've got all the information on where to watch Murderbot episode five below. Alexander Skarsgård in "Murderbot," now streaming on Apple TV+. Alexander Skarsgård in "Murderbot," now streaming on Apple TV+. Apple TV+ So there's no need to wonder where is Murderbot episode five? We've got all the information on how to watch Murderbot season one, episode five, as well as the Murderbot season one, episode five release time and Murderbot season one, episode five release date. Murderbot Season 1 Episode 5 Release Date Murderbot season one, episode five, will be available to stream on Apple TV+ on June 6, 2025. New episodes of Murderbot season one premiere each Friday on Apple TV+ through July 11, 2025. Murderbot Season 1 Episode 5 – How to Watch Murderbot season one, episode five, will be available on Apple TV+ from 6 pm Pacific Time (PT) on June 6, 2025/9 pm Eastern Time (ET). To watch Murderbot season one, you will need an Apple TV+ subscription. A monthly subscription costs $9.99, following a 7-day free trial for new customers. What Time Does Murderbot Season 1 Episode 5 Come Out? Murderbot season one, episode five, will be available to stream from 6 pm (PT) on June 6, 2025/9 pm Eastern Time (ET). With the evening streaming release in the US, the debut time in other time zones will differ. Here is when Murderbot season one, episode five, will air in your time zone: June 6 BRT: 10:00 pm June 7 BST : 2:00 am : 2:00 am CEST : 3:00 am : 3:00 am IST : 6:30 am : 6:30 am JST : 10:00 am : 10:00 am AET : 12:00 pm : 12:00 pm NZDT: 2:00 pm Murderbot Season 1 Release Schedule Episode One: May 16 May 16 Episode Two: May 16 May 16 Episode Three: May 23 May 23 Episode Four: May 30 May 30 Episode Five: June 6 June 6 Episode Six: June 13 June 13 Episode Seven: June 20 June 20 Episode Eight: June 27 June 27 Episode Nine: July 4 July 4 Episode Ten: July 11 Murderbot Season 1 Episode 5 Runtime Murderbot season one, episode five, does not yet have a confirmed run time. Previous episodes of Murderbot have run between 24 and 29 minutes. What Will Happen in Murderbot Season 1 Episode 5? The plot details for Murderbot season one, episode five, "Rogue War Tracker Infinite", are as follows: PresAux pulls out all the stops to forge a path forward. Tensions mount when trust is tested — and a DeltFall survivor joins the fold. (as per Apple TV+) Previous episode synopses can be found below: Episode One: On a fresh assignment, Murderbot's newfound free will leads to odd behaviour, sparking suspicion from the PreservationAux team. On a fresh assignment, Murderbot's newfound free will leads to odd behaviour, sparking suspicion from the PreservationAux team. Episode Two: Mensah and Bharadwaj risk everything to investigate a mysterious region. Gurathin goes toe-to-toe with Murderbot. Mensah and Bharadwaj risk everything to investigate a mysterious region. Gurathin goes toe-to-toe with Murderbot. Episode Three: The PresAux team heads to a new base to search for answers. Murderbot gets tangled up in a SecUnit showdown. The PresAux team heads to a new base to search for answers. Murderbot gets tangled up in a SecUnit showdown. Episode Four: As an enemy takes aim at Murderbot, an ally tries to orchestrate a getaway. The team grapples with a leadership shakeup and a shocking ultimatum. (as per Apple TV+)
Newsweek
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Murderbot Season 1 Episode 4 – Release Date, Schedule, How To Watch
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Episode three of Murderbot wrapped up on Apple TV+ last night. Alexander Skarsgård's Murderbot got involved in a conflict between SecUnits as the PresAux crew travelled to another base, seeking answers. With two episodes debuting last week, you may wonder: where is Murderbot episode four? Alexander Skarsgård in "Murderbot," now streaming on Apple TV+. Alexander Skarsgård in "Murderbot," now streaming on Apple TV+. Apple TV+ READ: How To Watch the New Guy Ritchie Film 'Fountain of Youth' Well, from this week onwards, Murderbot will debut one new episode weekly through to the season finale on July 11, 2025. We've got all the information below on how to watch Murderbot season one, episode four, as well as the Murderbot season one, episode four release time, and Murderbot season one, episode four release date. Murderbot Season 1 Episode 4 Release Date Murderbot season one, episode four will be available to stream on Apple TV+ on May 30, 2025. New episodes of Murderbot season one premiere each Friday on Apple TV+ through July 11, 2025. Murderbot Season 1 Episode 4 – How to Watch Murderbot season one, episode four will be available on Apple TV+ from 6 pm Pacific Time (PT) on May 30, 2025/9 pm Eastern Time (ET). To watch Murderbot season one, you will need an Apple TV+ subscription. A monthly subscription costs $9.99, following a 7-day free trial for new customers. What Time Does Murderbot Season 1 Episode 4 Come Out? Murderbot season one, episode four will be available to stream from 6 pm (PT) on May 30, 2025/9 pm Eastern Time (ET). With the evening streaming release in the US, the debut time in other time zones will differ. Here is when Murderbot season one, episode four, will air in your time zone: May 30 BRT: 10:00 pm May 31 BST : 2:00 am : 2:00 am CEST : 3:00 am : 3:00 am IST : 6:30 am : 6:30 am JST : 10:00 am : 10:00 am AET : 12:00 pm : 12:00 pm NZDT: 2:00 pm Murderbot Season 1 Release Schedule Episode One: May 16 May 16 Episode Two: May 16 May 16 Episode Three: May 23 May 23 Episode Four: May 30 May 30 Episode Five: June 6 June 6 Episode Six: June 13 June 13 Episode Seven: June 20 June 20 Episode Eight: June 27 June 27 Episode Nine: July 4 July 4 Episode Ten: July 11 Murderbot Season 1 Episode 4 Runtime Murderbot season one, episode four, does not yet have a confirmed run time. Previous episodes of Murderbot have run between 24 and 29 minutes. What Will Happen in Murderbot Season 1 Episode 4? The plot details for Murderbot season one, episode four, are currently under wraps. Previous episode synopses can be found below: Episode One: Oh, a fresh assignment. Murderbot's newfound free will leads to odd behavior sparking suspicion from the PreservationAux team. Oh, a fresh assignment. Murderbot's newfound free will leads to odd behavior sparking suspicion from the PreservationAux team. Episode Two: Mensah and Bharadwaj take dangerous risks exploring an unknown area while Gurathin confronts Murderbot. Mensah and Bharadwaj take dangerous risks exploring an unknown area while Gurathin confronts Murderbot. Episode Three: The PresAux crew travels to another base seeking answers. Murderbot becomes involved in a conflict between SecUnits. (as per Apple TV+)
Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Murderbot Season 1 Episode 3 – Release Date, Schedule, How To Watch
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors The Alexander Skarsgård-led Murderbot hit Apple TV+ last Friday with two brand new episodes following the self-hacking security construct drawn to its vulnerable clients despite being horrified by human emotion. This week, a new episode lands on the streaming service, following the PresAux crew who travel to another base in search of answers. Meanwhile, Murderbot finds himself in a conflict between SecUnits. Alexander Skarsgård in "Murderbot," now streaming on Apple TV+. Alexander Skarsgård in "Murderbot," now streaming on Apple TV+. Apple TV+ We've got all the information below on how to watch Murderbot season one, episode three, as well as the Murderbot season one, episode three release time, and Murderbot season one, episode three release date. Murderbot Season 1 Episode 3 Release Date Murderbot season one, episode three will be available to stream on Apple TV+ on May 23, 2025. New episodes of Murderbot season one premiere each Friday on Apple TV+ through July 11, 2025. Murderbot Season 1 Episode 3 – How to Watch Murderbot season one, episode three will be available on Apple TV+ from 6 pm Pacific Time (PT) on May 23, 2025/9 pm Eastern Time (ET). To watch Murderbot season one, you will need an Apple TV+ subscription. A monthly subscription costs $9.99, following a 7-day free trial for new customers. What Time Does Murderbot Season 1 Episode 3 Come Out? Murderbot season one, episode three will be available to stream from 6 pm (PT) on May 23, 2025/9 pm Eastern Time (ET). With the evening streaming release in the US, the debut time in other time zones will differ. Here is when Murderbot season one, episode three will air in your time zone: May 23 BRT: 10:00 pm May 24 BST : 2:00 am : 2:00 am CEST : 3:00 am : 3:00 am IST : 6:30 am : 6:30 am JST : 10:00 am : 10:00 am AET : 12:00 pm : 12:00 pm NZDT: 2:00 pm Murderbot Season 1 Release Schedule Episode One: May 16 May 16 Episode Two: May 16 May 16 Episode Three: May 23 May 23 Episode Four: May 30 May 30 Episode Five: June 6 June 6 Episode Six: June 13 June 13 Episode Seven: June 20 June 20 Episode Eight: June 27 June 27 Episode Nine: July 4 July 4 Episode Ten: July 11 Murderbot Season 1 Episode 3 Runtime Murderbot season one, episode three, does not yet have a confirmed run time. Previous episodes of Murderbot have run between 24 and 29 minutes. What Will Happen in Murderbot Season 1 Episode 3? The plot details for Murderbot season one, episode three read: The PresAux team heads to a new base to search for answers. Murderbot gets tangled up in a SecUnit showdown. Previous episode synopses can be found below: Episode One: On a fresh assignment, Murderbot's newfound free will leads to odd behaviour, sparking suspicion from the PreservationAux team. On a fresh assignment, Murderbot's newfound free will leads to odd behaviour, sparking suspicion from the PreservationAux team. Episode Two: Mensah and Bharadwaj risk everything to investigate a mysterious region. Gurathin goes toe-to-toe with Murderbot. (as per Apple TV+)
Engadget
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Engadget
How Murderbot's Chris and Paul Weitz adapted All Systems Red for TV
For Paul and Chris Weirtz, Murderbot — the upcoming TV adaptation of Martha Wells' sci-fi novella All Systems Red — was an experiment: Can you have a hero who tries to do nothing? The 10-episode sci-fi series , which debuts May 16 on Apple TV+, follows an anxious security robot (Alexander Skarsgård) assigned to protect a survey group on a planetary mission. As the mission progresses and deadly surprises emerge, Murderbot grapples with concealing its capacity for free will — an ability enabled when it hacked its governor module — and its insecurities around humans, all while navigating existential questions about its purpose in the universe. Above all, though, Murderbot wishes it could spend its days simply viewing the 7,532 hours of video content it secretly squirreled away in its system for entertainment — a true media junkie, like most of the show's viewers. Bringing All Systems Red to TV took years, delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Writers Guild of America strike in 2023. But with support from Apple TV+'s head of worldwide video Jamie Erlicht, a fan of Wells' work, Paul and Chris chipped away at the show's scripts, sending every version to Wells for feedback. (Wells, as a consulting producer, ultimately weighed in on other aspects of the project, including design and casting.) The series stays faithful to All Systems Red — the first of several books and short stories comprising The Murderbot Diaries — in most of the ways that count. The plot largely follows that of the novella, but also makes substantial additions. Members of the PresAux survey group which Murderbot protects, including Dr. Mensah (Noma Dumezweni), Gurathin (David Dastmalchian), Pin-lee (Sabrina Wu), Ratthi (Akshay Khanna), Arada (Tattiawna Jones) and Bharadwaj (Tamara Pdoemski), now have more nuance and deeper backstories. The Preservation Alliance, an independent group of planets which the PresAux survey group hails from, is now eccentric, even downright bohemian. During Murderbot's season premiere, PresAux holds hands in a meditative circle, eyes closed, deliberating over whether to rent the refurbished Murderbot for their mission. Soon after landing on the planet, they dance in the desert, their bodies heaving, arms waving to the music's beat — little touches inspired by aspects of Chris's two decades of experience with Burning Man. (Several members of the mission also find themselves navigating the particular dramas of polyamory.) 'We also wanted a sense of these people being out of their element and out of their social setting,' Chris told Engadget. 'They're in the corporation rim, which is a really brutal, extractive capitalist world, but these people are egalitarians from outside of that system. They are [seen as] freaks not just to Murderbot, but to the corporation flunkies who are upselling them.' While Murderbot's favorite TV series, The Rise & Fall of Sanctuary Moon, is referenced in Wells' novel, in Murderbot, the futuristic soap opera is its own fleshed out universe – a bonafide show-within-a-show. Intended as a parody of classic sci-fi, most obviously the original Star Trek series, Sanctuary Moon's scenes are rife with heavily saturated sets and gaudy costumes. John Cho, as the captain of a starship, falls madly in love with a navigation systems robot (DeWanda Wise); Jack McBrayer portrays a navigation officer out of his depth. Their performances are comically over-the-top, but that's the point. 'I have a theory that people think of good acting as being very restrained, and that is the case often, but my theory is that humans are emoting maniacs all the time. They're hamming it up in front of the mirror, in their bathroom,' Paul said. 'There was something great about being able to enter a David Lynch-like telenovela world and do the sci-fi version of those things.' Casting the droll but irreverent character of Murderbot took time. Part-human, it experiences a full range of emotions but struggles with deep-seated social anxiety, and detests showing its face to humans — which may help explain why the character has become popular with members of the neurodivergent community. Skarsgård, whose diverse acting resume includes a Viking prince in The Northman , a ruthless tech CEO in Succession , the titular character in The Legend of Tarzan and a physically abusive husband on Big Little Lies, had traits and experiences Paul and Chris felt were essential for effectively playing the show's central character. As one might expect for a security robot, Paul Weisz noted Skarsgård is "physically imposing.' "You get the sense maybe he could kill somebody," said Paul. But much like the titular character Paul felt this sometimes terrifying exterior belied something much more nuanced. "Alexander also has a really quirky sense of humor. His mind is very different from his body. He's really unique.' Bringing in Cho and McBrayer for their roles in the Sanctuary Moon scenes wasn't nearly as intensive a search; Cho and the Weitz brothers had worked on several projects together over the years . 'It's like a Faustian bargain when you work with us once, that we're probably going to get your home cellphone,' Paul mused. 'Jack McBrayer is best friends with Alexander, so that was the route to [him]. In terms of John, we worked with him first on American Pie , and I think we've done 12 things in different ways with him over the years. So it's a little like The Godfather where it's like, someday , I'm going to ask you for a favor.' Filmed in Ontario, production started in 2024, lasting six months. Shooting the show's planetary scenes meant scouring for locations like mining quarries, slag heaps and abandoned factories. Interior shots for scenes at Port Freecommerce, a vast star base, in the season premiere were filmed on soundstages in Toronto. All along, Paul and Chris set out to present a far-flung universe seen less often on screen in recent years. Shirking the dark, grim aesthetic heavily favored in many more recent sci-fi TV and film projects, they worked with production designer Sue Chan to create a universe dominated by bright lighting, white and gray sets, light-colored fabrics and colorful patterns. 'We drew on the wellspring of science fiction we read when we were kids and on science fiction paperback covers of the 1980s, which always seemed to have such great concept design and a bright, interesting world in which to lose yourself,' Paul recalled. 'Specifically, it seemed like since this was a world that was dominated by corporations, there'd be a lot of logos everywhere. There'd be a cheapness to a lot of what was manufactured. Also, if you look around, there are a lot of things that seem to have been extruded by giant 3-D printers. Even the food is extruded by 3-D printers.' Designing Murderbot's armor was a collaborative process with the costume department, led by costume designer Carrie Grace and specialty costume designer Laura Jean Shannon. To start, they looked at helmets from virtually every well-known robot depicted in military and sci-fi movies from the last 50 years. Initial designs resembled Star Wars stormtroopers, but Skarsgård 'really pushed' for the robot's look to be 'something unique,' according to Paul. Drawing inspiration from The Little Rascals ' Petey, who had a large black circle around one of his eyes, the team built a large, distinctive black eye piece into Murderbot's helmet visor. Murderbot spends much of its time clad in armor, but it also has downtime when the armor comes off, revealing an impossibly smooth humanoid form resembling Mattel's Ken dolls. To achieve that look, Skarsgård regularly waxed his entire body during filming. 'Alexander actually volunteered to have his body waxed, because he thought it was what would be best for the character,' Chris recalled. 'I remember discussing it with him, and I said, 'Listen, man, I don't know if people are even going to notice , but it might make just a tiny bit of difference in terms of the believability of the character.'" '[Alexander's] like, 'Yeah, I should wax myself,'' Chris continued. 'Then for the next five, six months, he had to do that every week until he realized eventually that his next role was to play a hairy biker [in the romance drama Pillion ].' In Murderbot , Paul and Chris saw more than a quirky sci-fi novella — they saw a deeply human story wrapped in armor and deadpan humor. Their TV adaptation doesn't just bring Wells' world to screen with panache, it leans into the quiet radicalism of a character who resists heroism, craves isolation and struggles to navigate the messiness of human connection. That emotional core — unexpected, thoughtful, and entirely sincere — is what makes Murderbot more than just another sci-fi romp. It's a mirror for our most vulnerable selves, disguised as a robot who'd really rather be watching TV.
