Forget everything you know about sci-fi protagonists. Murderbot isn't here to save humanity—or even pretend to like us. It's here to stream daytime dramas and cringe at our feelings. And honestly? It might be the most brutally honest hero we've gotten in years.
Apple TV+ just dropped a fresh “Inside Look” promo for Murderbot, the new sci-fi comedy series based on Martha Wells' award-winning books. In just two minutes, it torches decades of stoic, self-sacrificing robot clichés.
“This thing's rogue. It's powerful. It would rather be watching TV,” the promo proudly announces, throwing a grenade into the tired trope-pile of emotionless droids tragically seeking humanity (cough Data from Star Trek, cough). Instead of yearning to be “more human,” Murderbot wants to be less involved. Like a Netflix user trapped in a Zoom call.
Alexander Skarsgård's dry, detached performance as the titular Murderbot adds the perfect seasoning. No melodramatic speeches. No forced redemption arcs. Just deadpan disdain for humanity's weakness—and a barely concealed obsession with fictional soap operas.
Science fiction has always had a thing for robots wrestling with identity. From Blade Runner‘s replicants (1982) to Ex Machina‘s Ava (2015), the genre replays the “what makes us human?” question like a scratched record.
But Murderbot? It rewrites the track list entirely.
Rather than begging for acceptance or leading a robotic uprising (Westworld, anyone?), Murderbot's prime directive is radical disengagement. Hide free will. Avoid drama. Watch TV.
It's a perfect reflection of our times—where burnout culture has turned “disengagement” into a survival strategy. A 2023 Pew Research study found that nearly 70% of Gen Z respondents prioritize “alone time” over socializing. In that light, Murderbot isn't malfunctioning—it's thriving.
This isn't the first time sci-fi has given us a robot who'd rather be somewhere else. Think Marvin the Paranoid Android from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy—a deeply depressed bot trapped in cosmic absurdity. But where Marvin wallowed, Murderbot finds liberation. Its apathy isn't tragic; it's aspirational.
And the team behind Murderbot knows exactly what they're doing. Directed by Toa Fraser and the Weitz brothers (Chris and Paul), with executive producers like Blade reboot's David S. Goyer, this series isn't an accident. It's a calculated takedown of old-school optimism in sci-fi—replaced with something funnier, sadder, and honestly, way more relatable.
You'll either love this or hate it. If you've ever screamed internally during a work meeting while mentally binge-watching The Real Housewives of Mars, Murderbot is your spirit animal.
Would you risk your emotional circuits to hang with Murderbot—or would you rather be watching soap operas too?
Comment below. Let's be dysfunctional together.
