Murderbothas become one of Apple TV+’s most prominent shows, but one of its stars thought that it would never be seen at all. Led by Alexander Skarsgård, the show revolves around an android who unexpectedly acquires free will and must reckon with the truth of his existence while protecting a group of scientists.
The show was based onMartha Wells’The Murderbot Diariesseries, and not all the stories have been covered. Season 1 was released on May 16, and it hasalready been renewed for a second season, which should focus on the next three books. Yet, for all of its success, one star never expected to get this far.
In an interview withScreenRant’s Ash Crossan atSan Diego Comic-Con, David Dastmalchian (Gurathin) expressed that henever thought that the show would succeed. Because he found the show"so special" and “so weird”, he thought that audiences would never have the chance to see it at all. Check out his quote below:
But, oh, entertainment stuff! Yes, Dexter, Murderbot is out right now, I’m very proud of that… It’s massive. It’s one of those things that you do, and while you’re making it, it’s like how I felt when I was making Late Night with the Devil, I was like, “This is so special. It’s so unique, and I don’t think there’s ever been something quite like this, and I love it so much that no one’s ever going to see it.”
It’s just that maybe, I don’t know, it’s like fear, future tripping, or whatever. I remember making Murderbot, and just thinking, “This show is so special, and it’s so weird that people it’s not going to get seen.” And then now that it’s built this amazing audience, and the fans really love it, and people who were fans of Martha Wells' book series seem to really approve of what we’ve done makes me feel so grateful.
Martha is a genius, but Chris and Paul Weitz, who’ve adapted it, are geniuses themselves, and Skarsgård carries that show. I get to just be a little part of it. It’s an awesome experience.
What This Means For Dastmalchian & Murderbot
Murderbot Is A Breakout Success
Despite Dastmalchian’s worries,Murderbotrocketed to success relatively quickly, despite Apple TV+’s limited audience when compared with other major streamers. The show has an impressive reputation among critics, having earned a96% Tomatometer scoreon the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes and an82% Popcornmeter score. Critics praised the humor, the performances by each of the major cast members, and the deeply emotional storyline.
ScreenRant’s Ferdosa Abdi calledMurderbota"heartfelt and funny defense of humanity"and referred to Skarsgård’s performance as “effortless”. Abdi also praised the ensemble cast, which proved to be a perfect asset for supporting the show’s thematic aims. Yet, just as Dastmalchian highlighted, the show is extremely odd, and that is what drew attention.
Rather than featuring a violent and monstrous AI, the series portrays Murderbot as a genuine and caring character. It is the level of “weird” that could see a show fail, but it insteadconnected to audiences on a deeper level. Because of that, it earned a renewal, shocking and impressing Dastmalchian and the rest of the cast.
It Is An Incredible & Unique Series
Image via Apple TV+
While some shows can go overboard with bizarre themes and visuals,the right amount of weird can bring audiencesin droves. Even with a somewhat absurd name likeMurderbot, the show maintained a level of humor that was always going to entertain viewers. Apple TV+ took a risk with this series, but it was a brilliant decision.
There is nothing else quite likeMurderboton TV, especially now thatResident Alienhas been cancelled. It’s understandable that the cast would worry that the series would fail to come to light, but it is also deeply relieving that it did. A show this exciting deserves to be seen, and it should maintain its pace for years to come.
Murderbot
Cast
Murderbot, released on May 31, 2025, is set in a high-tech future where a rogue security robot gains free will. To remain undetected, it must join a mission to protect scientists on a perilous planet, while its true desire is to indulge in watching soap operas.
