Severance may be Apple TV+‘s breakout hit, but it isn’t the only sci-fi series worth watching. In fact, by now, Apple TV+ has developed a reputation for being a hub for some of the most seminal sci-fi series of the last decade. This is likely one of the reasons that Murderbot is reaching its intended audience. Murderbot presents itself as one of those hypermasculine action thrillers in the trailer, with lots of bass drops and voiceovers of Murderbot’s most edgy lines. Hell, its title alone would suggest something stereotypically Marvel-esque, like Deadpool. However, while the show features action and a sarcastic edge, the reality is a much more wholesome picture, similar to Steven Universe.
Murderbot takes place in a futuristic society wherein security androids accompany teams on galactic missions. These “sec units” are so highly advanced that they are sentient and partially organic. While this combination of sentient AI and lethal capabilities could be dangerous, they are ultimately designed to assist humans. However, Murderbot, played by Alexander Skarsgård, has just secretly hacked its programming. This rogue bot could easily go on a killing spree, but when it is placed on a mission with a team of non-threatening scientists, it decides to play along… at least for now. However, while on the mission, MurderBot begins to uncover a potential conspiracy involving its creators.
‘Murderbot’s Fourth Wall Breaks? Deadpool. Everything Else? Shockingly High-Minded.
Yes, Murderbot’s misanthropic and sassy internal monologues feel reminiscent of Deadpool, but the comparisons stop there. In fact, were it not for the occasional swearing, the show might even be well-suited for a family audience. There are themes of teamwork and freedom. It reflects some of the evils in our own world, but in a digestible and comedic format. And the humor in the show doesn’t come from a crass place — a lot of it lies in the fact that the crew of scientists come from a planet where community and cooperation are so prioritized, that consensus is required to reach most decisions. Now, these tolerant individuals have been thrust into a set of circumstances where they are constantly at odds with each other about how to handle things, and even more at odds with the enemy.
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Comparing Murderbot to Steven Universe might feel like a stretch, but it was also a series that balanced deeper topics with lighthearted humor. It also featured a lovable ensemble of humans and technologically powered, sentient beings. The parallels between characters get even more specific than this, too. Murderbot‘s Dr. Mensah feels a lot like Steven Universe‘s Garnet, for instance. Both are calm, endlessly compassionate, but equally fierce leaders. Both require a lot of self-care (for Murderbot, it’s Mensah’s mental health; for Steven Universe, it’s Garnet’s relationship) to remain the reliable, steady presence that they are. The titular Murderbot is going through an arc much like Peridot did during Steven Universe, as a robot (or alien) learning about human behavior, not from a distance, like they used to, but up close.
Peridot was also a character whom many audience members headcannoned as autistic, and so is Murderbot. Neither one is human, but in the world of sci-fi fandom, finding representation in the inhuman is pretty par for the course. Murderbot, for his part, practically spells it out for you, one of his most famous lines being, “I hate eye contact.” In fact, both series appeal broadly to the neurodiverse and LGBTQ+ communities as a whole, which is why Murderbot‘s marketing may have missed the mark.
‘Murderbot’ Is Also Based on a Book Series With a Cult Following
Murderbot‘s source material is a beloved book series, The Murderbot Diaries, by Martha Wells, the first novella of which is titled All Systems Red. Wells, whose work helped her come to terms with her own neurodiversity, has garnered a cult following among autistic readers, with numerous subreddits devoted to her books long before the show was released. As one reader put it:
“Our discomfort — fueled by our poor reception and our struggles to communicate effectively with neurotypicals — leads to misunderstandings and a subsequent desire to isolate ourselves the way Murderbot isolates from its crew.”
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Whether intentional or not, Wells mimicked dynamics that neurodiverse individuals often experience, with characteristics that resonate deeply. And, it would seem showrunners Chris and Paul Weitz understood the assignment for the Murderbot show.
For example, when Murderbot isolates itself, it recharges (metaphorically and literally) by consuming hours of an in-universe Star Trek. Of this habit, Chris Weitz told Vanity Fair, “For all of us, there are these comforting ways of shutting down the chatter in our head that don’t have to be incredibly high-minded.” But, in case you want the best of both worlds, new episodes of Murderbot air Fridays on Apple TV+.
