Murderbot review: Alexander Skarsgard elevates show with deadpan delivery

India Today

17-05-2025

At a mining station far, far away in a hyper-capitalistic society, we are introduced to a cyborg security unit that has hacked its Governor Module and, for lack of a better description, gone rogue. It names itself Murderbot after rejecting alternatives like Freedom Unit or Rogue Bot, as SecUnit 238776431 simply 'doesn't have the right ring to it.'Thus begins Apple TV's sci-fi action comedy based on Martha Wells' Hugo Award-winning series, 'The Murderbot Diaries'. The first two episodes debuted on May 16, with the remaining instalments releasing every Friday from May 23 onwards.advertisementImagine a replicant from 'Blade Runner' equipped with bone-dry wit and an evolving personality. That's Murderbot, portrayed by Alexander Skarsgard — a sentient being which, now that it's no longer governed by the Governor Module, would rather watch entertainment programmes in the Company's time than embark on a killing spree or flee to a remote galaxy.Unlike Isaac Asimov's Laws of Robotics, the governor module — a built-in obedience device — concerns itself less with ethics and more with liability control, forcing SecUnits to follow orders and only kill when authorised by the Company. Murderbot's decision to hack this module early on, enabling it to skip tedious meetings and choose not to murder humans purely out of personal disinterest, creates the show's premise.Part machine, part organic human material, Murderbot conceals its autonomous status rather than announcing its freedom, pretending to remain under control to avoid being dumped in an acid bath by Corporation Rim, its owner. 'Stupid f**king humans' becomes its constant inner refrain when it's assigned to protect 'a bunch of hippie scientists from some tiny non-aligned planet out in the middle of nowhere.'advertisementThis eclectic crew from the Preservation Alliance, led by Dr Ayda Mensah (Noma Dumezweni of 'The Little Mermaid' and Hugh Grant-starrer 'The Undoing'), includes geologist Bharadwaj (Tamara Podemski), Arada (Tattiawna Jones) and her wife Pin-Lee (Sabrina Wu), Ratthi (Akshay Khanna) and the augmented human Gurathin (David Dastmalchian). Most treat Murderbot with basic decency, some even attempt conversation as if it were one of them, unexpectedly changing everything for the SecUnit.Gurathin stands apart, being the first to suspect something is 'wrong' with their security companion. Called Gura by teammates, he represents the suspicion Murderbot perpetually fears.Watch the trailer of Murderbot here: At its core, 'Murderbot' follows an android who detests humans, abhors small talk, and would prefer binge-watching favourite programmes to social interaction. It eavesdrops constantly, is slightly paranoid, and it believes its favourite soap opera scenarios would work in reality; Murderbot embodies social awkwardness in mechanical form.The show's brilliance emerges from its impassive first-person perspective, giving viewers direct access to Murderbot's inner monologue. Constantly balancing fear of exposure against protective instincts toward the crew, Murderbot navigates tense situations with quiet absurdity.It works when instead of seeing a robot, the viewer sees someone who is awkward, reluctant, profoundly introverted and is merely trying to survive each day.advertisementSkarsgard's performance is the backbone. He voices Murderbot with such dry precision that every moment of discomfort resonates. His stumbling through human social customs feels oddly relatable, while his internal commentary — equally cynical and honest — provides perfect comedic timing. Dumezweni delivers excellence as Dr Mensah, treating everyone, including Murderbot, as family. Dastmalchian's portrayal of the suspicious Gurathin also demands attention.However, viewers' enjoyment may depend on their expectations. 'Murderbot' isn't a snazzy sci-fi series: it's muted, slightly off-centre and somewhat goofy. Despite being designed to kill, Murderbot simply wishes to be left alone, though circumstances never permit this luxury. Significant screen time goes to 'The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon' — essentially a soap opera version of 'Star Trek' featuring John Cho and Clark Gregg as apparent counterparts to Kirk and Spock.Beyond AI, aliens and androids, 'Murderbot' explores identity, loneliness, and existing between programmed purpose and potential evolution. This thoughtful dimension, wrapped in dan humour and genuine character development, makes it worth watching.3.5 out of 5 stars. The review is based on the first two episodes.