The trailer for the series Apple TV+ sci-fi drama is about an android security guard who struggles with issues about emotions and free will while working on dangerous missions. The show is based on the bestselling sci-fiction novel series The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. The TV adaptation features Alexander Skarsgård, Jennifer Sendaula, David Dastmalchian, Tattiawna Jones, and Sabrina Wu. Murderbot was created by Paul and Chris Weitz, who also serve as writers on the series.

Now, Apple TV+ has revealed the first trailer for Murderbot.

The trailer opens with the main robot character introducing himself as a "security unit." Even though he was built to protect humans, Murderbot thinks that "humans are idiots." He has hacked his programming to disobey them, but his stealthy operation is threatened as he is put on a new mission. He has to fight space creatures and more, which goes well until one of the humans discovers that Murderbot is "already rogue."

What This Means For Murderbot

Murderbot Will Play With Dramatic Irony As A Comedy Device

The leading character clearly cannot keep up his masquerade as a pure robot for that many episodes, as the trailer already reveals how he is discovered. The main conflict, it seems, will arise from how the humans reconcile with their robot servant's sentience, and how the robot then re-defines the meaning in his life. It seems inevitable that there might be an attempt to reprogram Murderbot, restoring him to his previous settings, but that aspect of the drama has yet to be revealed.

This look at Murderbot also provides a glimpse at how the Apple TV+ show will deal with humor. There is an inherent comedy based on the difference between what Murderbot perceives and what the characters think he knows. This dissonance may not be a plot point for the duration of the series, but it will certainly cause some initially comedic moments as humans wonder if he can hear. On the other hand, viewers are very aware that the robot understands everything they are saying.

Our Take On The Murderbot Trailer

Murderbot Tackles A Hot-Button Issue

Probably due to the developments in the tool itself, AI and robot-centered topics have become increasingly popular in the media in recent years. Murderbot seems like one of the more interesting entries into this subgenre, as it blends comedy and drama without adhering too strictly to either. M3GAN, for example, goes pretty full comedy, whereas the indie film After Yang takes a fairly strictly dramatic approach. It will be interesting to see something like Murderbot blend genres and get the opportunity to address AI in a show structure.

Murderbot will premiere on Apple TV+ on May 16.

Source: Apple TV+