Murderbot – Series Review | Apple TV+

MURDERBOT on Apple TV+ is a new Sci-Fi, Thriller, and dark Comedy series starring Alexander Skarsgård in the title role. It’s a wonderful hybrid that entertains perfectly with its half-hour episodes. Read our Murderbot Season 1 review here!

MURDERBOT is a new Apple TV+ series with ten 30-minute episodes in the season. This is a wonderful genre hybrid with sci-fi, thriller, and comedy at the forefront. However, you can also expect mystery and action, so there’s plenty to enjoy.

This includes a wonderful cast led by Alexander Skarsgård in the title role. The series premieres on Apple TV+ with its first two episodes. Following this, we’ll be getting weekly episodes each Friday until the season 1 finale on July 11, 2025.

Continue reading our Murderbot Season 1 review below. Start watching on Apple TV+ from May 16, 2025.

A very self-aware android

Murdetbot is the story about a very self-aware Android made to protect humans and live a “life” of servitude. However, this particular Android is a self-hacking security construct that has managed to set itself free.

Of course, it can’t let the supposed human overlords know this. Also, as an already older (outdated even) model, there’s a need to stay under the radar to continue existing.

Murderbot is absolutely horrified by human emotion, but still can’t help but feel for the vulnerable clients it’s assigned to. Despite having actual free will, humans cannot know this. In order to seem constantly detached, Murderbot watches downloaded TV while on standby.

In fact, our sarcastic android can’t really be bothered to do much else unless directly ordered. Murderbot just wants to watch a deliciously campy futuristic soap opera. With dialogue taken from this series, it interacts with humans to find its place in the universe.

The absolutely wonderful casting of Murderbot

In this comedic sci-fi thriller, we’re getting blessed with the most wonderful cast. Obviously, Alexander Skarsgård (Infinity Pool, The Stand, True Blood) as the title character of Murderbot is all-important. And, of course, he delivers perfectly.

From his extreme sarcasm and downright fear of humans desiring eye contact all the time, to his earnest wish to keep them safe. Humans are not all good, but the bunch he’s currently assigned to protect are all good-hearted.

They’re also personal messes, but he can work with that.

Alongside the huge Swede that is Alexander Skarsgård, we have a stellar cast in all the key roles. Truly, this series manages to create fully fleshed-out characters in record time. Not least thanks to the constant inner commentary of Murderbot himself.

Or is it “Itself”?!

Anyway, the Murderbot ensemble cast includes Noma Dumezweni (The Watcher), David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil), Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna (Chloe), Tattiawna Jones (Station Eleven), and Tamara Podemski (Outer Range).

Also in wonderful cameo-like roles, we get the pleasure of actors like John Cho (Cowboy Bebop) and Clark Gregg (G20, Zero Day). Plenty to look forward to and so many wonderful Easter Egg-like pop culture references. I love it!

Watch Murderbot on Apple TV+ now

The new Apple TV+ series is based on the book “All Systems Red” by author Martha Wells. And yes, it has gone straight to my “I want to read” list because this universe works wonderfully for me.

Creators of the series adaptation are Academy Award nominees Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz. They are writers and directors on Murderbot, which they also produce – as does star Alexander Skarsgård.

Chris Weitz and/or Paul Weitz previously worked on projects like The Vampire’s Assistant (2009), Operation Finale (2018), and The Creator (2023). To name just a few of the titles that either of them has been involved with over the past decades.

Also directing some of the 10 episodes of season 1 are Toa Fraser (Sweet Tooth) and Aurora Guerrero (The Other Black Girl).

If you tend to enjoy genre hybrids and want something fun and action-fueled set in a delicious sci-fi universe, then Murderbot is perfect for you. I really hope we’ll get Murderbot season 2, so be sure to check it out and show your love for it if you enjoy it.

Murderbot season 1 premieres globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, May 16, 2025.

Details

Directors: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz, Toa Fraser, Aurora Guerrero
Writers: Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz
Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, Tattiawna Jones, Tamara Podemski