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Is Murderbot a Hilarious Hit or a Sci-Fi Snoozefest?
Let's be real—when you hear about a show starring a rogue robot that calls itself "Murderbot," you'd probably expect something dark and terrifying, right? I know I did. But Apple TV+'s new series completely flips that expectation on its head. Instead of another doom-and-gloom AI warning, we get this delightfully awkward cyborg who'd rather watch soap operas than actually murder anything. And honestly? I'm here for it.
A Cyborg's Unexpected Journey
Alexander Skarsgård absolutely nails the role of Murderbot (or Security Unit 238776431, if you're being formal). He's a cyborg with some seriously dark baggage—hazy memories of a massacre he might have caused—who's discovered the joy of binge-watching cheesy space operas. When he's assigned to protect a team of scientists, his main goal isn't perfect security; it's finding enough downtime to sneak in episodes of his favorite show, The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon. You know that feeling when you're trying to watch "just one more episode"? Murderbot gets it.
- The scientists come from what Murderbot dismissively calls a "hippie commune"—a freehold planet big on equality and group hugs (much to our cyborg's horror).
- I love how Murderbot's primary objective shifts from "protect humans" to "protect my secret addiction to trashy TV while occasionally saving these idiots from themselves."
- Can we talk about SkarsgĂĄrd? The subtle vocal shifts when Murderbot is internally freaking out but trying to appear normal had me in stitches.
What makes this show click is something I didn't expect—watching a supposedly emotionless cyborg trying to fake normal human behavior using soap opera lines as reference material. There's this brilliant moment when Murderbot attempts to comfort someone using dialogue straight from Sanctuary Moon, and it's both hilariously awkward and strangely touching. It's like watching your most socially anxious friend try to navigate a party—painful but endearing.
The show cleverly uses clips from Sanctuary Moon (featuring a captain falling for a navigation bot—scandalous!) that mirror what Murderbot is experiencing in real life. It's like the cyborg's emotional cheat sheet. There's something weirdly relatable about learning empathy from TV, isn't there? Haven't we all borrowed a line or two from our favorite shows when real life gets too complicated?
- One pleasant surprise? The episodes zip by at about 25 minutes each. No bloated streaming-era padding here!
- Some of the best scenes are just Murderbot reluctantly bonding with the scientists. There's this priceless moment when one of them tries to give Murderbot a nickname...
- While there is an underlying sci-fi plot with corporate baddies and danger, the heart of the show is watching Murderbot's emotional walls slowly crumble.
A Surprisingly Heartfelt Story
I went in expecting laser guns and cool cyborg fights (which we do get!), but stayed for the unexpectedly moving story about belonging. The show doesn't beat you over the head with heavy philosophical AI questions—instead, it shows rather than tells. There's something genuinely touching about watching Murderbot gradually, reluctantly care about these humans despite its best efforts not to. It reminds me a bit of "Ted Lasso" in space—you come for the high concept, but connect with the emotional journey.
Final Verdict: A Worthwhile Watch
Look, the show isn't perfect—sometimes it leans too heavily on Murderbot's internal monologue, and certain episodes could use a bit more action. But these are minor gripes about what's otherwise a fresh, funny take on sci-fi. Skarsgård deserves an Emmy for making me care deeply about a security unit that just wants to be left alone with its shows. The supporting cast creates this warm ensemble that forms the perfect contrast to Murderbot's prickly exterior.
If you're tired of sci-fi that takes itself too seriously, give Murderbot a shot. It's the perfect weekend binge—short episodes, big laughs, and yeah, I'll admit it, I got a little misty-eyed at the finale. Who knew a show about a TV-addicted cyborg would be one of the most human stories on streaming right now?
