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Murderbot | Apple TV+ (Alexander Skarsgard, David Dastmalchian, premieres May 16)

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In a high-tech future, a rogue security robot secretly gains free will. To stay hidden, it reluctantly joins a new mission protecting scientists on a dangerous planet…even though it just wants to binge soap operas.
 
Just seen the trailer, the premise is intriguing and the trailer sold me.

I will definitely watch this.
 
I love the books, but I'm curious how a set of stories that are so internal are going to translate into television.
 
Interesting. I'm not sold on Skarsgard as Murderbot, though. Murderbot is genderless, so I wish they'd cast a non-binary actor. I'm not sure what I think of his performance; I didn't think he delivered "That was private!" with anywhere near the intensity it warrants.


I love the books, but I'm curious how a set of stories that are so internal are going to translate into television.

I could see some of that in the trailer. They're basically telling the story from a different point of view, showing events that were just described at second hand or inferred in the books. Certainly a different experience, but that's unavoidable.

A big part of what's being added is that we'll actually get to see Sanctuary Moon, and reportedly they've shot a lot of material for the show-within-the-show.
 
This looks like a lot of fun. I read the first novella a few months ago, and this looks like it does a pretty good job of at least getting the major points.
I do agree with @Christopher that it's annoying they seem to be more or less turning Murderbot into a guy, when it's genderless in the books.
 
There are some social elements in common with The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, but this is not a book that promotes libertarianism.

Sanctuary Moon is a program within the main narrative that is referenced a lot. The main narrative takes place in a world that is closer to the society in the Alien series. On the surface, the stories are action adventure stories perfectly suited to movies or television. Underneath, they are a really interesting and nuanced take on contemporary society and what it means to be human in the modern world.

Now, the norm on non-binary genders and multi-partner relationships is going to raise a few eyebrows on screen and draw more attention to the books--but it is very much an integral aspect to the stories and I hope that it hasn't been tossed aside in hopes to appeal to a mass audience.
 
The main narrative takes place in a world that is closer to the society in the Alien series.

Well, there are some parts of its galaxy that are like Alien and other parts that are more like Star Trek. Most of the stories take place in corporate-ruled space that's pretty dystopian, and the SecUnits like Murderbot are products of that society, but the human protagonists are from a more democratic and ethical society with more concern for sentient rights, though it's hard for Murderbot to trust in their good intentions, since Murderbot has a low opinion of humans in general, and is also more or less autistic and hates social interaction, except as something to watch other people do on streaming media. So yeah, it's a satire of corporate dystopias, but with more optimistic underpinnings than such satires typically have.


Now, the norm on non-binary genders and multi-partner relationships is going to raise a few eyebrows on screen and draw more attention to the books--but it is very much an integral aspect to the stories and I hope that it hasn't been tossed aside in hopes to appeal to a mass audience.

Apple TV+ shows tend to have pretty diverse casts and often include LGBTQ characters prominently, so that's encouraging, despite the casting of the title role.
 
I would love to discuss the Murderbot books with spoilers, but never really thought there would be enough people for a dedicated thread.
 
IGN posted the first three minutes of the show.... and censored all the swearing.

No reason to watch it when the show is already coming out this week.
 
I'm going to subscribe for a month once this series has finished its season. I'll drop Paramount and pick Apple up for a month or two. Does apple release any of its series on Blu Ray?
 
I think it depends on who produced it? See: The Complete Series on Blu-ray is coming out in two months. For All Mankind has all four seasons on Blu-ray in the UK but only one season in the USA and Canada. Ted Lasso came out last year. But there's no Foundation or Silo or The Morning Show or Servant or Shrinking.
 
Watched the first two episodes and i love the supersarcasm and deep contempt Murderbot has for humans.

The storyline is also developing nicely and i'll be definitely watching this further on.
 
I think it depends on who produced it? See: The Complete Series on Blu-ray is coming out in two months. For All Mankind has all four seasons on Blu-ray in the UK but only one season in the USA and Canada. Ted Lasso came out last year. But there's no Foundation or Silo or The Morning Show or Servant or Shrinking.

Only the first two seasons of FAMK in the UK. They advertised up to at least 3, but then seemed to pull it
 
The first two episodes of Murderbot are here for the three of you who have Apple TV subscriptions.
Hey, there's actually 4 of us! I have it too!

I watched the first 2 episodes and found it pretty good. The episodes are pretty short, clocking in (on avg.) about 30 minutes long. The VFX is respectable and the acting decent enough. I think I'm going to stick with it (never even heard of the source material). 7.5/10
 
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