WIRED has been a fan of sci-fi author Martha Wells for a while now, and even came away impressed by the first season of Apple TV+‘s adaptation of her award-winning The Murderbot Diaries series, but readers should know that the TV show takes some divergent paths from the books.
Namely, it turns the characters from interesting and well-developed people to ones with mere personality quirks; flattens the tone of Murderbot’s acerbic commentary; and can’t quite decide if it’s a workplace comedy or a sci-fi thriller.
It’s not a total loss, as newcomer Alexander Skarsgård is charismatic and captivating as the titular SecUnit (a type of security robot) struggling to fit in after hacking its governor module to gain free will.
Meanwhile, Wells’ thoughtful exploration of A.I. and its consequences remains largely intact, but those looking for a more accurate portrayal of the books may find themselves disappointed.
