Thoughts on Murderbot

Lately my wife and I have been watching Murderbot. I’ve been a fan since All Systems Red came out in 2017, so I have some thoughts.

Apple’s series has, so far, stayed close to the novella’s plot. A few survey crew members have been trimmed for simplicity, but the main events remain intact. What’s interesting, and sometimes a little jarring, is how the show handles the human characters around Murderbot.

The novella unfolds entirely through Murderbot’s first-person perspective. To it, humans are mostly one-dimensional “clients,” background figures who barely register beside the real priorities: monitoring security feeds, avoiding conversations, and catching up on favorite serial dramas. That narrow focus fuels the story’s humor and pace.

On screen, though, a purely Murderbot-centric lens wouldn’t be sustainable. The adaptation gives the humans more personality, but at times pushes them toward caricature. Dr. Mensah, once calm and decisive, now appears more anxious and less sure of herself. Ratthi has shifted into a kind of clownish, ineffectual role. Gurathin, by contrast, remains closest to his novella self, still managing to be abrasively forthright. There’s also been a noticeable expansion of the crew’s multiple-partner relationships. In the novella, those were stated matter-of-factly, as background cultural detail. In the series, they’ve become a running subplot, earning significant screen time. I’m not sure whether this is meant to engage interest, to signal inclusivity, or simply to provoke certain segments of the audience.

Another noticeable change lies in Sanctuary Moon, Murderbot’s favorite serial. The novella mentions it only by name, leaving readers to imagine the show however they like. In Apple’s version, we’re treated to vivid clips of a rather cheesy production. Something between those extremes might have served better: enough detail to flesh out Murderbot’s obsession, but not so much that it feels like parody.

Overall, though, I’m enjoying the series. Alexander Skarsgård, as Murderbot, took a little getting used to. I’d always imagined Murderbot as a bit more androgynous, but his performance has won me over. He captures Murderbot’s dry humor and social aversion in a way that feels true to the spirit of the books.

I’m reserving final judgment until the series concludes, but so far, it’s been fascinating to watch how a tightly focused first-person novella transforms into a broader, cinematic experience.