Murderbot is a new show on Apple TV+ currently running until its finale on July 11th. Created by brothers Paul & Chris Weitz, the show stars Alexander Skarsgård, Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, Tamara Podemski, and Tattiawna Jones. A self-hacking security construct horrified by human emotion finds itself drawn to its vulnerable clients. Murderbot must hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe.

Add Alexander Skarsgård to anything and I am there. At almost 50 years old, the guy has been working overtime over the last decade to make his impact on the entertainment industry, and I still believe he hasn’t gotten his big break. Sure, he’s been in quite a bit and people are familiar with him, but if he was even bigger in status (which he should be), everyone would be watching this. It’s not just another great Apple TV+ show. It’s another great excuse to subscribe to the stream service.

The show starts off with a great premise with Alexander Skarsgård’s character as Murderbot gaining a humanlike conscious. It immediately has this offbeat, quirky humor that sets the tone for the entirety of the season. From there, it leads right into another phenomenal intro that Apple TV+ continues to deliver.

I typically don’t care much for voiceover narration from the main character. It works best when characters already have a secret to hide like in shows such as Dexter and Your Friends and Neighbors. Since Murderbot has a secret to hide with his crew, it makes sense for us to hear what he’s thinking on the inside. Murderbot has to make it look like he’s doing his job while on the inside, he has to hide his real intent. It’s a great theme throughout the show about one trying to find their real purpose without hiding who he really is. All he wants to do is watch his favorite TV show. He’s just like me.

While Skarsgård is great in the lead role, he leads a great ensemble of supporting characters that feel big and important to the story. These are not just throwaway characters. They all serve a distinct purpose to the story. It also gives Murderbot the opportunity to question who he wants to be with these human emotions and how his crew might look at him if they knew the truth.

I think one of the most interest aspects of this show is how it is produced by brothers Paul & Chris Weitz. Chris Weitz last directed the 2024 thriller Afraid, a film I strongly disliked, and I think a majority of viewers did as well. Even though he is working on this with another person, it’s interesting to see how quick one can rebound from a project like that. This is a show that works best when its unpredictable. It’s commendable to see when people can bounce back to create something that offers something funny, relatable, and thought-provoking.

This is a great show that works best to binge over watching it week-to-week. It would have driven me crazy if I had to watch this on a weekly basis due to how short each episode is at around 30 minutes. With how interesting these characters and the world is, I would have loved to have seen this explored even more.

Finally, without getting into any spoilers, I am a little unclear of the direction this show is going to go in based on where it ends. I personally want to see more. Then again, I want to see more out of most Apple TV+ shows. Based on where this ends, I am unclear if this is the end or if there’s more story to tell. It feels like it ends at a safe spot in case it does get cancelled. While viewers may be more selective with what Apple TV+ has to offer, I’d recommend seeking out as much as you can. Even with their lowest quality, the streaming service still has something to offer. This one is one of the great ones they currently have airing right now.

Overall, Murderbot has a lot to offer between its humor, performances, and themes. The short runtimes does hold the show back from its fullest potential, but it’s still one of the most creative shows on Apple TV+ right now. If you haven’t watched this yet, it’s well worth your time and you still have time before its finale on July 11th!

VERDICT: 4/5 (Great)