A security android struggles with emotions and free will while balancing dangerous missions and desire for isolation, evading detection of its self-hacking as it finds its place.A security android struggles with emotions and free will while balancing dangerous missions and desire for isolation, evading detection of its self-hacking as it finds its place.A security android struggles with emotions and free will while balancing dangerous missions and desire for isolation, evading detection of its self-hacking as it finds its place.
Browse episodes
Summary
Reviewers say 'Murderbot' is appreciated for its faithful adaptation of the source material, clever humor, and engaging character dynamics. Alexander Skarsgård's performance as Murderbot is often praised for capturing the character's essence. However, criticisms include the short episode lengths, deviations from the original plot, and mischaracterizations of supporting roles. Some reviewers also express disappointment with the show's pacing and the decision to humanize Murderbot too much. Despite mixed opinions, the series is generally seen as a solid, if imperfect, adaptation that retains the core charm and wit of the books.
Featured reviews
Murderbot may not be the exact adaptation I envisioned, but it's still a standout sci-fi series that deserves your attention. While I originally hoped for a tighter season that combined the first two novellas, the choice to expand the world and focus more deeply on the supporting characters was a bold-and ultimately rewarding-move.
The series smartly gives more weight to the human (and non-human) characters surrounding Murderbot, which adds richness to the universe and raises the emotional stakes. Moments like seeing Sanctuary Moon brought to life? A genius inclusion for longtime fans-and a clever entry point for newcomers.
That said, I do wish the pacing were sharper and that the show leaned more into what makes Murderbot, well, Murderbot: that sarcastic, deadpan, and deeply relatable internal monologue. It's one of the highlights of the books, and dialing that up in future seasons could take the show from great to unforgettable.
Still, the foundation is strong, the themes are smart, and the potential for Season 2 and beyond is massive. If you're into character-driven sci-fi with soul, heart, and the occasional awkward robot feels, Murderbot is absolutely worth the watch.
The series smartly gives more weight to the human (and non-human) characters surrounding Murderbot, which adds richness to the universe and raises the emotional stakes. Moments like seeing Sanctuary Moon brought to life? A genius inclusion for longtime fans-and a clever entry point for newcomers.
That said, I do wish the pacing were sharper and that the show leaned more into what makes Murderbot, well, Murderbot: that sarcastic, deadpan, and deeply relatable internal monologue. It's one of the highlights of the books, and dialing that up in future seasons could take the show from great to unforgettable.
Still, the foundation is strong, the themes are smart, and the potential for Season 2 and beyond is massive. If you're into character-driven sci-fi with soul, heart, and the occasional awkward robot feels, Murderbot is absolutely worth the watch.
This show is amazing. It's not to serious but still has important messages and points about human life. It's a feel good show. It's action. It's funny. It's something I didn't know I needed. I don't usually like sci-fi but this show wasn't focused solely on being sci-fi, which works well for my tastes. The last episode had me feeling so many different things, but left me feeling good in a sort of melancholy kinda way. Acting, amazing. Writing, amazing. Set, amazing. Of course every show has its flaws but no flaw made this show less enjoyable for me. I would love to see a second season, really hope there could be one. I will most likely be picking up the source material.
Great story, very good cast, high production value on screen; sadly, these 20-minute episodes are the letdown. I was delighted watching the first three episodes and the wait for the next week made me realize how short 20 minutes truly is. The story could have greatly benefited from a longer runtime. I believe the narrative would have been more engaging and satisfying if the show had been produced as a feature film, allowing for deeper engagement with the plot and continuing a strong character bonding for the audience. The brevity of each episode feels cut off and leaves the audience hanging to soon.
It takes a more zany comedy approach than the book, but it does work.
The cast are great and work well in their roles.
But - the episodes clocking in at 25 minutes is ridiculously short, it was really frustrating to just watch a few mins and then bang. Over. Wait another week.
Quite enjoyed the "show within a show" The Rise and Fall Of Sanctuary Moon" perhaps it should have it's own spin-off as well!
I quite enjoyed this adaption of Martha Wells first novel. I have already read the books.
Looking forward to the next season but please please please make the episides longer! I was watching two episodes back to back every 2 weeks towards the end to avoid the frustration of the way too short length.
The cast are great and work well in their roles.
But - the episodes clocking in at 25 minutes is ridiculously short, it was really frustrating to just watch a few mins and then bang. Over. Wait another week.
Quite enjoyed the "show within a show" The Rise and Fall Of Sanctuary Moon" perhaps it should have it's own spin-off as well!
I quite enjoyed this adaption of Martha Wells first novel. I have already read the books.
Looking forward to the next season but please please please make the episides longer! I was watching two episodes back to back every 2 weeks towards the end to avoid the frustration of the way too short length.
Murderbot offers a fresh, engaging plot with a unique central character and a ok sci-fi world genuinely compelling.
Each episode though clocks in at around 20 minutes of actual content, stretched to about 25 minutes with previews, credits, and ads. It feels like just as you're starting to sink into the story, it's already over. The result is a stop-start experience that doesn't quite let the emotional or narrative weight land.
It's disappointing, because this world and several characters have the depth to sustain longer episodes. Instead, we get something that often feels more like a high-quality teaser or mini mico series than a fully satisfying viewing experience.
Each episode though clocks in at around 20 minutes of actual content, stretched to about 25 minutes with previews, credits, and ads. It feels like just as you're starting to sink into the story, it's already over. The result is a stop-start experience that doesn't quite let the emotional or narrative weight land.
It's disappointing, because this world and several characters have the depth to sustain longer episodes. Instead, we get something that often feels more like a high-quality teaser or mini mico series than a fully satisfying viewing experience.
New and Upcoming Book-to-Screen Adaptations
New and Upcoming Book-to-Screen Adaptations
From literary classics to graphic novels and more, see what books have recently made, or will be making the leap to the big (and small) screen in 2025 and beyond.
Did you know
- TriviaAlexander Skarsgard had periodic Brazilian waxes to achieve Murderbot's entirely hairless appearance, which he very much came to regret as he'd underestimated just how painful they are.
Details
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content