Based on Martha Wells' (class of '86) award winning Murderbot Diaries series of novellas, Murderbot will premiere on AppleTV+ May 16th. Really have high hopes!

Trailer below:

https://tv.apple.com/us/show/murderbot/umc.cmc.5owrzntj9v1gpg31wshflud03

Here's the YouTube version. Definitely looks fun...

Murderbot
Season 1 (10 Episodes)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30444310/
May 16, 2025
Apple TV+

I typically only read that series while waiting for other books to release, but it's really fun. This cast definitely has some familiar names and faces. I think it'll be fun.

Did not know she was an Aggie. I loved the first five books, but the last two were very average. Did not like Murderbots personality as it evolved.

I'll check this out though.

YouBet said:

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Did not know she was an Aggie. I loved the first five books, but the last two were very average. Did not like Murderbots personality as it evolved.

I'll check this out though.

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TIL she was an Aggie as well.

i couldn't get into the books, but the trailer looks entertaining. might give them another chance if the show is any good

I somehow missed that Skarrsgard was playing Murderbot. That's interesting considering the evolution of Murderbot was to a sarcastic, *****y female.

Now I'm curious how they are going to handle this.

I really enjoyed the books and am looking forward to this show!

I've watched the first three episodes. I'm fine with seeing where it goes, but it's not blowing me away just yet.

I'm guessing it will start picking up with this next episode.

i watched the first episode and it was "meh." Does it get better? I really like the concept and want to like it, but had no desire to keep watching after the first episode.

It looks like it might be getting better with episode 4, but so far it's been fairly meh. Thankfully the episodes are only half an hour so not as much time invested so far.

I'm really digging this show.

It takes a really good show for me to watch back to back episodes, and I did it with this show.

Edit: I just learned it was based on books by an Aggie.

YouBet said:

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I somehow missed that Skarrsgard was playing Murderbot. That's interesting considering the evolution of Murderbot was to a sarcastic, *****y female.

Now I'm curious how they are going to handle this.

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What the hell? Is this a joke?

I really like the books; been through them probably 5 times. I like the series so far, but the PresAux team coming off like a bunch of clowns is a letdown. Space hippie scientists just don't cut it for me. The hope is that with the next episode the action picks up. No doubt, we'll watch all of them, but it's not as good as I hoped for.

YouBet said:

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I somehow missed that Skarrsgard was playing Murderbot. That's interesting considering the evolution of Murderbot was to a sarcastic, *****y female.

Now I'm curious how they are going to handle this.

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I've read/listened to all of the books (I think) when does that happen?

TX AG 88 said:

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YouBet said:

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I somehow missed that Skarrsgard was playing Murderbot. That's interesting considering the evolution of Murderbot was to a sarcastic, *****y female.

Now I'm curious how they are going to handle this.

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What the hell? Is this a joke?

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No. Was pretty clear to me with the last two books as Murderbot's personality evolved.

I loved the first five books. Thought the last two were just ok. MB became kind of annoying in final two books because of this.

I'm enjoying this series. I would hate to ruin it by reading a book about it.

Hmmmmm.

Rudyjax said:

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I'm enjoying this series. I would hate to ruin it by reading a book about it.

Hmmmmm.

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Funny. Books are great and assumed the show would ruin the book

StinkyPinky said:

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Rudyjax said:

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I'm enjoying this series. I would hate to ruin it by reading a book about it.

Hmmmmm.

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Funny. Books are great and assumed the show would ruin the book

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I've found I really don't like movies/tv shows based on books that I love.

lurker76 said:

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I really like the books; been through them probably 5 times. I like the series so far, but the PresAux team coming off like a bunch of clowns is a letdown. Space hippie scientists just don't cut it for me. The hope is that with the next episode the action picks up. No doubt, we'll watch all of them, but it's not as good as I hoped for.

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I have the same gripe. Apart from Mensah, the scientists were much less whiny and more competent in the first book. I guess the show wants to really lean into the "humans are annoying and stupid" theme.

Had high hopes for this show but its turning out to be a bit of a bore. Even if I make it to the end of the season I can't see this being renewed given the rash of cancellations I have seen from better shows.

I find it absolutely hilarious.

Not sure we're watcing the same show.

Of course something I like will get cancelled.

I have to say I never picked up on Murderbot being female. That is a debate that Redditt seems to love, with most of them siding on the female side, which is no surprise considering the majority of the Reddittors.

It is an asexual, androgenous machine with organic material. To be intimidating it is taller, bigger and has a masculine form. Now as to the psyche of it I agree with the sarcasm, and can see the "witchy" part, but there are plenty of men that are that way. I just look at it as a type of PTSD from all the years of being controlled by the company, then worry over being discovered to have hacked its governer module.

lurker76 said:

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I have to say I never picked up on Murderbot being female. That is a debate that Redditt seems to love, with most of them siding on the female side, which is no surprise considering the majority of the Reddittors.

It is an asexual, androgenous machine with organic material. To be intimidating it is taller, bigger and has a masculine form. Now as to the psyche of it I agree with the sarcasm, and can see the "witchy" part, but there are plenty of men that are that way. I just look at it as a type of PTSD from all the years of being controlled by the company, then worry over being discovered to have hacked its governer module.

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Agreed on all of this. IMO, its personality shifted more towards the female psyche the more it evolved as the books progressed. By the final two books, its internal dialogue simply became overly snarky and annoying in that young female know it all attitude kind of way. I have zero issues with the story evolving this way and it makes logical sense that the machine would continue to change and become more opinionated over time; I just found it personally annoying in the latter two books. That's all.

YouBet said:

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lurker76 said:

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I have to say I never picked up on Murderbot being female. That is a debate that Redditt seems to love, with most of them siding on the female side, which is no surprise considering the majority of the Reddittors.

It is an asexual, androgenous machine with organic material. To be intimidating it is taller, bigger and has a masculine form. Now as to the psyche of it I agree with the sarcasm, and can see the "witchy" part, but there are plenty of men that are that way. I just look at it as a type of PTSD from all the years of being controlled by the company, then worry over being discovered to have hacked its governer module.

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Agreed on all of this. IMO, its personality shifted more towards the female psyche the more it evolved as the books progressed. By the final two books, its internal dialogue simply became overly snarky and annoying in that young female know it all attitude kind of way. I have zero issues with the story evolving this way and it makes logical sense that the machine would continue to change and become more opinionated over time; I just found it personally annoying in the latter two books. That's all.

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Not a knock on this theory, I but I wonder how this differs from reading to the book to listening to the books. I have only listened to the audiobooks and never got the vibe the Murderbot was female. Just that it was becoming a teenager so to speak.

But if memory serves most of Murderbot's human role models are female so it makes sense it would emulate them.

Here is a link to the audiobook narrator talking about the part:

Dekker_Lentz said:

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YouBet said:

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lurker76 said:

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I have to say I never picked up on Murderbot being female. That is a debate that Redditt seems to love, with most of them siding on the female side, which is no surprise considering the majority of the Reddittors.

It is an asexual, androgenous machine with organic material. To be intimidating it is taller, bigger and has a masculine form. Now as to the psyche of it I agree with the sarcasm, and can see the "witchy" part, but there are plenty of men that are that way. I just look at it as a type of PTSD from all the years of being controlled by the company, then worry over being discovered to have hacked its governer module.

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Agreed on all of this. IMO, its personality shifted more towards the female psyche the more it evolved as the books progressed. By the final two books, its internal dialogue simply became overly snarky and annoying in that young female know it all attitude kind of way. I have zero issues with the story evolving this way and it makes logical sense that the machine would continue to change and become more opinionated over time; I just found it personally annoying in the latter two books. That's all.

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Not a knock on this theory, I but I wonder how this differs from reading to the book to listening to the books. I have only listened to the audiobooks and never got the vibe the Murderbot was female. Just that it was becoming a teenager so to speak.

But if memory serves most of Murderbot's human role models are female so it makes sense it would emulate them.

Here is a link to the audiobook narrator talking about the part:

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Good question. I read it and did not do audiobook.

Furthermore, the author is female so you had a character evolving within an immediate culture that was basically a matriarchy written by a female author so that will naturally lend itself to how MBs personality would evolve.

That's why I was originally surprised to see the casting for this. All that to say I don't really care and not trying to make this a thing. It's her book and she can write what she wants.

Oh I didn't think you were trying to make it a thing. I was just curious if you read or listened. I think it is interesting theory either way.

Scalzi has a two book series Lock in and Head on where the main character's gender isn't mentioned and the story works either way. But the audiobooks have a version with a male narrator and a version with a female narrator. I listened to the male narrator and wondered how my view of the character would have changed had I listened to the female narrator.

Dekker_Lentz said:

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Oh I didn't think you were trying to make it a thing. I was just curious if you read or listened. I think it is interesting theory either way.

Scalzi has a two book series Lock in and Head on where the main character's gender isn't mentioned and the story works either way. But the audiobooks have a version with a male narrator and a version with a female narrator. I listened to the male narrator and wondered how my view of the character would have changed had I listened to the female narrator.

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If this sort of theme interests you, I would recommend The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin.

Latest episode had some interesting changes from the book. The show is clearly trying to give the humans more to do. I also like the integration of Sanctuary Moon into the story. Looking up!

We haven't watched episode 4 yet, so I haven't read most of this post on Reddit, but the op hits pretty close to my feelings on the show as far as the portrayal of the PresAux team. There are spoilers in it, so be aware. Most, if not all, use spoiler blocks.

Reddit Murderbot thread

These episodes are too short. Granted, All Systems Red is a novella and moves along at a quick pace. But just when things get exciting, it's over.

And why the new character with weird robot fetishes? WTH?

I saw some speculation on Reddit about her that makes sense.
The theory is that she works for GreyCris, the company that is behind the sabotage on the planet. She is the one that pretended to be from PresAux and infiltrated the DeltFall facility with the killer Sec Unit

Weekly releases for 15-20 minute episodes seems really dumb and annoying.

Madmarttigan said:

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Weekly releases for 15-20 minute episodes seems really dumb and annoying.

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They're a bit longer (22-29 minutes each with credits instead of commercial breaks 2-3 times an episode). But agreed it's not terribly filling.

Oh, I will be shocked if that's not exactly what they're doing. TV shows need the villain to appear early in the story.

Love the books and the show is improving as it goes I think. Never knew the author was an Aggie and never considered that Murderbot may be female.