REVIEW: ‘Murderbot’ Season One - The Story Of A Delightfully Misanthropic Robot
- Demet Koc
- 2 minutes ago
- 4 min read
This review contains minor spoilers for Murderbot.
Murderbot is a heartfelt love letter to sci-fi fans. Adapted from Martha Wells' bestselling Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Murderbot Diaries novels, the series follows Murderbot, a wonderfully complex robot who secretly hacks its own governor module, freeing itself from mandatory obedience to humans. But, true to its deeply anxious personality, Murderbot maintains this newfound autonomy under a carefully constructed facade of compliance, biding its time until it can slip quietly away to solitary filled with binge-watching endless hours of space soap operas.
This season begins with Murderbot assigned to the PreservationAux survey team, a quirky group of researchers who are essentially gentle, nature-loving hippies dedicated to scientific discovery and emotional connection. When Dr. Arada (Tattiawna Jones) experiences profound trauma after seeing her friend nearly devoured by a terrifying alien creature, Murderbot's awkward yet touching attempt to calm her down unintentionally becomes the catalyst for the entire narrative. This event sets off a chain reaction of increasingly tense, paranoid and emotionally intricate scenarios, pulling Murderbot out of its comfort zone and into a deeper, inevitably messy entanglement with human relationships.
Alexander Skarsgård embodies Murderbot with such delightful perfection that it becomes nearly impossible to envision anyone else portraying the adorable yet profoundly misanthropic robot. Skarsgård's voice acting is especially remarkable; his monotone, dry humor, and subtle undertones of existential dread elevate every scene. After finishing the series, I immediately went searching to find out if Skarsgård had narrated any audiobooks from the original series for promotional purposes — sadly, he hadn’t, though he absolutely should. Beyond just voice, however, Skarsgård excels with physical acting that is a comedic revelation. He brilliantly captures Murderbot’s awkward discomfort with human interaction, employing long, uncomfortable gazes and stilted movements that beautifully highlight the bot’s internal anxieties. His painfully clueless and often exasperated expressions are funny and they’re genuinely endearing, creating a fully realized character viewers can't help but root for.
Interestingly, Murderbot finds itself inadvertently sharing more commonalities with the humans it so loudly (in its head) criticizes. It’s essentially an antisocial introvert who actively avoids eye contact, struggles through social interactions, and relies on fictional escapism to cope. The creators, the Weitz brothers, have cleverly given viewers a series within a series, The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon, an elaborate fictional space soap opera Murderbot obsessively watches to escape real-world anxieties. This meta-series boasts a surprisingly stellar lineup of guest stars, including John Cho, DeWanda Wise, and Clark Gregg. Murderbot, naturally, knows everything there is to know about this soap. What could be more human?
Then we have the PreservationAux survey team, a wonderfully atypical crew of scientists who defy the usual sci-fi stereotypes. Instead of being cold, clinical researchers, they’re empathetic, compassionate individuals whose care for their work is only exceeded by the genuine affection and loyalty they hold for each other. This heartfelt camaraderie constantly frustrates and confounds Murderbot, who sees their endless optimism and emotional openness as naive, even dangerous. It frequently fantasizes — often hilariously — about murdering its clients, who constantly place themselves in unnecessary danger. Yet, beneath this gruff, cynical exterior, Murderbot slowly finds itself drawn to the very community it pretends to disdain. Their humanity, even in its most flawed and foolish forms, proves irresistible, eventually prompting Murderbot to risk its existence to protect them. The cast achieves something remarkable here: their on-screen chemistry and genuine warmth turn these fictional characters into a believable family. Their interactions are comfortably familiar.
Yet not all members of the PreservationAux team are so easily won over. David Dastmalchian's performance as Gurathin, an augmented human, is another standout. From the moment Gurathin appears on screen, Dastmalchian portrays him with a wary intensity that immediately suggests layers of hidden trauma and mistrust. He’s openly skeptical and suspicious of Murderbot, and quite rightfully so. Dastmalchian’s expressive performance — his perpetually strained, haunted expressions, tinged with paranoia and pain — gradually unfolds to reveal Gurathin’s own traumatic past. His character struggles profoundly with PTSD, isolation, and a deep-seated distrust of anything that comes from the company. At the same time, it’s undeniably entertaining to watch Gurathin and Murderbot clash — loudly, unfiltered, and with zero interest in politeness. Their constant sniping, barbed sarcasm, and begrudging cooperation create a sharply drawn, often hilarious dynamic. Despite (or because of) their mutual disdain, they make a surprisingly effective team, and bring a kind of chaotic charm to dynamic.
What makes Murderbot such an extraordinary viewing experience is not just its clever sci-fi premise or its compelling cast — it’s the surprising warmth, wit, and humanity threaded through every episode. It’s a story about finding unexpected connections in the most unlikely places, discovering family where none was expected, and learning that vulnerability can sometimes be a robot’s greatest strength. The series is an absolute joy, lovingly crafted, deeply heartfelt, and sharply hilarious. It is a perfect tribute to the genre and a must-watch for any sci-fi lover.
Rating: ★★★★☆
About Murderbot
Premiere Date: May 16, 2025
Episode Count: 10
Executive Producer/Showrunner: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz, Alexander Skarsgård, Andrew Miano, David S. Goyer, Keith Levine
Director: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz, Toa Fraser, Aurora Guerrero, Roseanne Liang
Production: Paramount TV
Distribution: Apple TV+
Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, Tattiawna Jones, Tamara Podemski
Synopsis: Based on Martha Wells’ bestselling Hugo and Nebula Award-winning book series, “Murderbot” is a sci-fi thriller/comedy about a self-hacking security construct who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients. Murderbot must hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe.