Murderbot TV adaptation good!
So...
I signed up for Apple TV the other day expressly so I and my weekly media-watching buddies could take a break from our usual Asian fare to see their production of Martha Well's Murderbot. (Heaven knows I don't need yet another streaming service, but...) We binge-watched the first 8 half-hour episodes last night.
I am astonished and delighted (and envious) with how well the show has managed so far to stick to the original story -- they are still in the first volume, All Systems Red. So great to see something that isn't part of the endless stream of media retreads and remakes we are plagued with. Casting is pretty great as well -- one could identify nearly all of the characters in their first appearance, before they even opened their mouths.
And they totally get the humor of the story. Granted the tales are action-heavy, but though the Tor book covers are wonderful pieces of art, nothing about them even hints that any humor will be found beyond them.
Given the dry commentary on corporate shenanigans in the stories, I was meta-amused by the fact that Apple streaming won't play on my Chromecast; happily my son the IT support found the way around (going directly from my laptop.)
It looks like the first season of these half-hour episodes will cover All Systems Red; let's hope it is successful enough to go on to another volume and season.
Recommended.
Ta, L.
I signed up for Apple TV the other day expressly so I and my weekly media-watching buddies could take a break from our usual Asian fare to see their production of Martha Well's Murderbot. (Heaven knows I don't need yet another streaming service, but...) We binge-watched the first 8 half-hour episodes last night.
I am astonished and delighted (and envious) with how well the show has managed so far to stick to the original story -- they are still in the first volume, All Systems Red. So great to see something that isn't part of the endless stream of media retreads and remakes we are plagued with. Casting is pretty great as well -- one could identify nearly all of the characters in their first appearance, before they even opened their mouths.
And they totally get the humor of the story. Granted the tales are action-heavy, but though the Tor book covers are wonderful pieces of art, nothing about them even hints that any humor will be found beyond them.
Given the dry commentary on corporate shenanigans in the stories, I was meta-amused by the fact that Apple streaming won't play on my Chromecast; happily my son the IT support found the way around (going directly from my laptop.)
It looks like the first season of these half-hour episodes will cover All Systems Red; let's hope it is successful enough to go on to another volume and season.
Recommended.
Ta, L.
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Jonathan
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Jul 02, 2025 08:41AM
I’ve been watching bits of it on Youtube; I expect to sign up for Apple TV when the whole season is available. It does look pretty good, although the Preservation crew seem in general somewhat sillier and less competent than in the book. Ratthi and Gurathin are well cast and good, Mensah seems not quite as in the book but good in her way; Pin-Lee is supposed to be intimidating but isn’t, from what I’ve seen so far.
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I've been following Murderbot on Apple TV, which caused a reread of the books. I'm happy with the cast for the most part. Pin-Lee's character needs some work, but the character did evolve after the first book.
In general I hope Wells is pleased.
I’m telling myself that the crew had been goofy all the time, but Murderbot did not notice. Because it did not care :-D
I love the originals and have been enjoying the TV show a lot as well. Hopefully it gets renewed. There are a number of other Apple TV shows that I have tried and like also.
I haven't seen this particular series yet but the limited series format is fantastic for translating books to tv and has become my favorite format. Movies are too short for most novel adaptations. They always have to leave too much out. But limited series can take all the time needed to tell the stories as intended, in easily digestible bites that you can nurse or binge as needed. If the Vorkosigan books ever get adapted I hope it would be limited series format. Probably best animated because otherwise it would be so hard to cast and age-arc the characters. Although CGI aging has certainly come a long way. The Chalion books or Penric books would make a great live action limited series adaptations though.
I mostly like the show, but not so much as an adaptation. I find the tone to be far goofier and much less emotional than in the books, which tend to feature Murderbot using black humour to cover up its emotional issues and trauma. The story is also pointlessly stretched out - a novella really doesn't have the material to support a 10-episode season (why didn't they limit the episodes to 6 or so?). And this is pretty subjective, but Alexander Skarsgard just doesn't fit into my mental image of Murderbot at all.Still, when not considered as an adaptation, it's very enjoyable show - charming and funny, with likeable characters. And I love the silly little clips of Sanctuary Moon - all the actors in them look like they're having the time of their lives hamming it up! :)
Jonathan wrote: "I’ve been watching bits of it on Youtube; I expect to sign up for Apple TV when the whole season is available. It does look pretty good, although the Preservation crew seem in general somewhat sill..."Pin Lee is intimidating when she needs to be.
When I stopped and thought of this adaptation of Murderbot Diaries as really high budget fanfic, I completely got on board with it. Yeah, it is very different in several ways. Yes, it is the same in several ways. Yes, I am enjoying the heck out of both of them.
Yes, I want to punch Gurathin. A lot. That aspect of the character hasn't changed at all.
I just noticed a new Murderbot short story has been released. Has anyone read it yet?
