Murderbot - First episode

A cyborg with an introverted personality and a gruesome secret. Is Murderbot sufficiently filled with the tension and (black) humor of Martha Wells' books? Let me confess something. Yes, I have read all of Martha Wells' Murderbot Diaries books. More than once. You can definitely call me a fan. However, that doesn't blind me to any potential mistakes.

The trailer immediately shows that the first book in the series is being followed closely. A great relief for the fans, but also good news for the rest of the viewers.

The first book (All Systems Red) was released eight years ago. A year later, Martha was allowed to receive both the prestigious Nebula Award for Best Novella and the Hugo Award. That's like winning an Oscar and immediately having a Golden Globe pressed into your hands. The acclaimed writers of Dune and Ender's Game, among others, preceded her. Martha is now also in that special list.

My fears about the film adaptation of one of my favorite book series are crystal clear. Has the director managed to capture the atmosphere and humor of the books? I read in advance that Martha Wells herself was closely involved in this production. That gives the viewer hope.

Okay, we're off to a good start. What struck me about this first part were the very good production values. Everything looks spick and span: image, sound, light, sets, and the visual splendor of alien worlds.

We can't let a deadly, armed, autonomous super robot run loose, right?

I didn't have to be afraid. The attempts of the introverted SecUnit (security robot) to hide the fact that he has secretly hacked his control module are both humorous and understandable. If it is discovered by the wrong people, he will go into the recycling bin. We can't let a deadly, armed, autonomous super robot run loose, can we?

However, Murderbot (his self-chosen name) is not life-threatening. At least, as long as you don't try to kill his clients. Then he takes his job very seriously, also out of self-interest. Furthermore, he mainly wants to be left alone so that he can watch his space soaps.

The crew that he is contracted to protect is a group of scientists from very different backgrounds. For those who find that important: various members of the LGBTQI+ community are present, but respectfully and subtly represented. Each member of the crew has his or her own character and characteristics. That makes them interesting and credible at the same time.



This first part is mainly about trust. For both parties, that is an exciting challenge. In addition, Murderbot has another secret that he would rather keep hidden. We will not get the answer to that in this first part. That it will have far-reaching and exciting consequences is certain, as long as the series remains true to the books...

This first part is mainly about trust. For both parties this is an exciting challenge.

Do I have anything to complain about? Well, maybe. I would have liked the characters to have been developed a bit more. That does not happen in the books either, but one can hope, right?

This is recommended for science fiction fans and people who want to know what a human robot thinks about us. Murderbot is also quite sweet, once you get to know him a bit better. The first episode of Murderbot gets a 7.5 from me, with the expectation that this number will increase.