Murderbot TV show

[sholio]

I watched the first two episodes of the Murderbot show. With no particular associated feelings about the books, I'm really enjoying it!


Unsurprisingly, angry wet cat man is my favorite, as anticipated. Although the whole cast is very charming and I enjoy them.

I like the contrast of the space hippie Preservation team with the clean, sterile, and regimented Company setting. I enjoy how the show went in on their woven bags and colorful personal items - it just feels very nicely organic to who they are. But I also like that Preservation clearly isn't a utopia full of perfectly well adjusted people. It's clear that Pin-Lee isn't on board with the threesome and is doing it to make her their wife happy (corrected as per comments!); there's the quirky little detail of Bharadawaj's soap-hoarding (and pretending to be much more okay than she really is to get back out in the field), and Mensah clearly hiding her panic attacks from her team and presumably hiding them in general, since they're completely untreated and do make her an obvious liability in the field. None of them are the absolute hot messes that Gurathin and Murderbot are, but they have their own personal stuff going on as well and I like that.

(And equally - as sovay and I were chatting about in email - it's a nice detail that Murderbot doesn't really see any of this; to it, the humans are a monolithic block of "ugh, humans" at this point. It recognizes that Gurathin is a bit different mainly just because he's so wildly different that even Murderbot can't miss it, but as for the rest of them - humans gonna human! It also makes a nice contrast - again h/t to Sovay for pointing this out -- that Murderbot loves this kind of thing in fictional soap operas, where the beats are telegraphed and predictable, but as for the unpredictable human dramas unfolding around it: ugh, humans.)

Also cribbing from emails to Sovay: I love that Gurathin has most of Murderbot's "robotic" personal traits (avoiding eye contact and being touched, socially awkward, dislikes group activities and hugs, possibly sex-averse although that part could just be the social awkwardness surrounding that particular situation kicking in - not to mention the augments and the fact that he's definitely got some kind of traumatic background involving the Company as well) and it's all presented without comment as part of the perfectly normal range of ordinary human variation, and in the form of a character who is clearly loved and valued by his social group who make allowances for his dislike of social activities that the others enjoy. (Well, more or less - they did drag him into the meditation circle, lol.) But anyway, I think having him as a counterpoint to the emotionally open space-hippiness of the others is a really good move - it's not just social, friendly humans vs antisocial, unfriendly Murderbot, it's also Murderbot having to deal with the awkward fact of being confronted by a human who has most of its personality traits and flaws, but is a valued member of the group anyway.

I really love how clear it is in the show that Gurathin is reacting to Murderbot's obvious personhood even when he doesn't want to be. He's absolutely correct that it's dangerous, and he's probably the only person in the group who is either emotionally or culturally primed to recognize that. But it's also really fascinating how he goes into the situation treating it like a robot, expecting it to be a robot, and then he's caught off guard by its personhood every time he turns around. Even the way he chooses to interrogate it, while also testing the limits of its responsiveness to orders, is more the way you'd interact with a recalcitrant human than with a machine. I mean, he could have had it stick a knife into its hand or jump headfirst off the stairs. What he does instead is completely bitchy but also absolutely targeted at its personality and what he knows it would find uncomfortable. If he genuinely wanted to hurt it, he has many more destructive ways of doing that. He's not treating it like a Roomba even though he's very evidently trying to convince himself that it is no more than one.

.... and there's also the fact that everything they do throughout that scene to make the other one uncomfortable is exactly what they would find personally uncomfortable, and it works. Prolonged eye contact? Check! Socially awkward sex voyeurism? Check! (From the comments to this tumblr post: "Autism on autism violence happening in that habsuite." Accurate.)

(Also extremely charmed by the rest of the group's affectionate nicknames for Gurathin. Gura! GUGU.)

So yeah, having a good time! And it's going to be fun to have a weekly show to look forward to for a while.

Comments

[sgatazmy]

I loved the first episode so much! And it’s so exciting that Murderbot books are by an SGA writer.

I’ve only read the first book but I did love it. And the way murderbot in the show is played is just wonderful. So humorous. I love that they solved the fact the character is so quiet by just having it narrate. I’ve been so excited by this show and not at all disappointed.

[sholio]

I love that they solved the fact the character is so quiet by just having it narrate.

Yes, that's a good solution to prevent the character from being totally opaque to the viewer! I think it works really well (and I also like how they bring in some of Murderbot's POV using ambient cameras as well). I'm glad you're having fun too, and I'm looking forward to more!

[mecurtin]

SGA writer & John Sheppard fangirl! Murderbot pretty clearly started out as Robot!John Sheppard--you haven't met Rodney yet, though I don't think it's coincidence that the leader of the Preservation team is named "Mensah".

[blueburndown]

Omg I love this! They totally are John and Rodney.

[sgatazmy]

I never realized it but yes, totally makes sense that would be John. I need to finish the books!

Are you still writing for SGA? I came back to fandom two years ago and I’ve been loving it! I don’t have many sga friends on my DW but I’m so excited when someone here does post.

[muccamukk]

I've really been liking it so far! One of the things I tend to like about Wells' writing is characters like Gurathin who are opposed to the protagonist, but also have a good reason to be, and aren't inherently bad people because they hate the woobie. Though his line about making sure that Murderbot got acid bathed was fucking cold. I'm looking forward to him coming around a little bit.

I think Pin-Lee is non-binary, like their actor. The character was a girl in the books, but they seem to have changed it to match the casting.

[sholio]

Oh, thanks for the heads-up on Pin-Lee! And I'm glad you're having fun. <3

characters like Gurathin who are opposed to the protagonist, but also have a good reason to be, and aren't inherently bad people because they hate the woobie.

And the woobie hates him right back, which can also be a tricky thing to pull off in a way that's fair to both characters! Which is handled really nicely, I agree. And yes, he is definitely being cold to an extent that I wasn't expecting - I am also looking forward to some development there!

[sovay]

And the woobie hates him right back, which can also be a tricky thing to pull off in a way that's fair to both characters! Which is handled really nicely, I agree.

I am deeply enjoying watching them bristle at one another like a pair of mongooses who each think the other is the snake.

[oracne]

I agree about Pin-Lee. Loving the actor in this role!

[mific]

Yes they're getting a lot of the details right, and I also really like that the Preservation Aux Team aren't classically good looking (well except for Ratthi but he's such a puppy) - they're pleasant and ordinary, not groomed and (probably) cosmetically augmented like the Corporation baddies.

[sholio]

Yes, I also really like that. They're very nice to look at, but not in a "Hollywood pretty" kind of way, for the most part.

[violet_pencil]

I mean, he could have had it stick a knife into its hand or jump headfirst off the stairs. What he does instead is completely bitchy but also absolutely targeted at its personality and what he knows it would find uncomfortable. If he genuinely wanted to hurt it, he has many more destructive ways of doing that. He's not treating it like a Roomba even though he's very evidently trying to convince himself that it is no more than one.

Yes! And I think it's significant that they actually show a human doing this in the very first scene (burning Murderbot's hand with the laser) and another human having zero problem with it except in the sense that "that thing is expensive" -- this is on the level of stupid vandalism, not assault. But physically harming Murderbot either doesn't occur to Garathin or is dismissed (consciously or subconsciously) as A Step Too Far.

[sholio]

Oh, that's a really excellent point and I hadn't even thought about that scene in connection with the later one, but you're right! Gurathin does (as pointed out above) talk a good game about being willing to have Murderbot scrapped, but when it comes right down to it, he's *not* the kind of person who would burn it just to make a point (let alone for fun), unlike the humans it's been around before.

[oracne]

I am guessing Gurathin is supposed to have been bullied/treated badly in the past, before coming to Preservation. I think the feelings for Mensah are a bit hero-worshippy.

[sovay]

(From the comments to this tumblr post: "Autism on autism violence happening in that habsuite." Accurate.)

As discussed in e-mail and reproduced here for posterity, I love this choice not just because it makes Gurathin such a good foil for Murderbot or because it's part of the broad-spectrum weirdness of the team that Murderbot cannot yet pick up on, but because it feels like a direct refutation of the tradition of science fiction where recognizably or intentionally neurodiverse traits are displaced onto non-human characters and humans by default come off as a kind of bloc of supposed normality. It breaks up the allegory without losing all the overtones and feels much more realistic to me personally.

[cathexys]

That's a really great insight! On top of all the wonderful details sholio pointed out. Because the team is really wonderfully messy and complicated, and Murderbot so does not want any of it.

I've very much enjoyed the first two eps and have high hopes this will appeal to folks who love the novels and those who are coming in with no background.

And while I was initially a bit sad about the 30 min episodes, I really came around to it. It's punchy and quirky and perfect in its focus--not unlike the books!

I now feel I don't have to make a post. Just point here :)

[sholio]

I'm so glad you're having fun! I was a little taken aback by the short episodes as well, but you're right that it makes them punchy and focused. I'm looking forward to the next one!

[sovay]

That's a really great insight! On top of all the wonderful details sholio pointed out. Because the team is really wonderfully messy and complicated, and Murderbot so does not want any of it.

Thank you! I really like that it's a messiness that makes so much less of a line of personhood than in so many other similar stories. Regret inform investment in narrative and social flailing may be about as human as it gets.

I've very much enjoyed the first two eps and have high hopes this will appeal to folks who love the novels and those who are coming in with no background.

I fall in between those categories—I bounced off the first book and never pursued the rest of the series—but I am so far loving the show. The half-hour format seems to fit the translation from novellas.

[sholio]

I am glad you reposted it, because it is a really excellent point, and you're right that it adds a very appreciated underlayer of normalcy to the human/non-human interactions in the show! I'm really happy they did it.

[sovay]

I am glad you reposted it, because it is a really excellent point, and you're right that it adds a very appreciated underlayer of normalcy to the human/non-human interactions in the show! I'm really happy they did it.

Thank you! On top of my predictable character imprinting, it seems to have caused me to trust the show, which when assumptions of normal human behavior are on the table I often don't.

[oracne]

I am guessing Gurathin is supposed to have been bullied/treated badly in the past, before coming to Preservation. I think the feelings for Mensah are a bit hero-worshippy.

[helen_keeble]

I adored it too! I’ve only read the first Murderbot story, which I listened to in audio with a male narrator. So I was already primed for the main character to appear male-presenting to others, and I think Skarsgard is perfect in the role. He’s having to do a _lot_ of nuance with very little facial expression/tone variation - I was particularly impressed by his delivery of the “reassuring the trauma victim” lines where Murderbot is quoting Sanctuary Moon.

Gura (GUGU) is a delight and I need his entire bitchy backstory asap.

During the scene where Bharadawaj and Mensah are taking the hopper to investigate the anomaly, I was suddenly struck by the realisation that I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen a drama (sf or otherwise) where two middle aged women were shown doing a professional job without a man present. Huh.

(It is delightful to have such a range of age and body types presented without comment on a show)

[sholio]

During the scene where Bharadawaj and Mensah are taking the hopper to investigate the anomaly, I was suddenly struck by the realisation that I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen a drama (sf or otherwise) where two middle aged women were shown doing a professional job without a man present. Huh.

That is such a good point! And I also really appreciate that they both look like regular middle-aged women, more or less - I mean, they're attractive, sure (it is a TV show, after all), but they're not Hollywood-gorgeous or heavily made up or wearing cascades of perfectly sprayed hair. I just really like it!

And I agree with your comment about a range of ages and body types as well; that's really great to see, and it's often especially rare in sci-fi.

(GUGU)

[oracne]

THIS!

[lunabee34]

I'm so looking forward to watching this.

[sholio]

I hope you have fun when you do!

[grav_ity]

I enjoyed it so much!

[sholio]

It was so much fun! I'm delighted others are enjoying it too! :D

[devilc]

I love the books like pie and am very happy with the adaptation so far.

To me, the reason that Gurathin and MB get on each other's nerves is that they are so very alike. MB is cheezed off that it was found out, and the cherry on top is that it wasn't somebody like Ratthi, but Gurathin whose skillset and personality overlaps with MBs in several ways.

I am really hoping that the TV show will do a slow build on the relationship between MB and Gurathin like what happened in the books, and in particular I hope for one LOLarious line from Network Effect.

[sholio]

To me, the reason that Gurathin and MB get on each other's nerves is that they are so very alike. MB is cheezed off that it was found out, and the cherry on top is that it wasn't somebody like Ratthi, but Gurathin whose skillset and personality overlaps with MBs in several ways.

Yes, this is my read on it as well - showverse, anyway, I don't remember the books well enough to say! (But the writer is apparently involved with the show and pleased with the adaptation, so presumably the show interpretation is also what's intended in the books.) One of the Tumblr posts I saw described it as two adopted cats angrily reacting to the other cat's adoption, and I feel like that's so true. XD

I was so excited for this show!

[tippergreen]

I admit to being addicted to Murderbot. I've read the whole series - novellas and novels - through twice. I cannot get over how much I love a reluctant hero, especially one with this much sass (and there is so much sass in the books).

The differences from the book to TV are also really interesting, and I find myself wondering why they did (a) or (b) or (c) and so on. Take Pin-Lee. She's this kick-ass lawyer in the books, which isn't so obvious in the show, but that kick-assery is most of her character in the books. Here, they've fleshed her out, made her much more flawed, and toned down the lawyer side. Do I like it? I don't know yet, but I know why. Truthfully, she's more important later in Murderbot's story but not so important in the first novella. That's not great from a story-telling point of view on a TV ensemble show. Also, they cut a couple of characters. For example, Arada's wife was the pilot - Overse, who has a bigger role later on as well, mainly in the novels. But I can totally imagine the room with Wells and the show's writers, looking at how they can condense and connect and build. Take out a couple of characters here and there, beef up Pin-Lee and, ooh, let's add some Ratthi on the side, since he could use some beefing up as well...It's like new cooks taking a recipe and mixing it up to create a similar, but not the same, but still tantalizing dish.

My only curiosity now, is, if we get the second, third and fourth seasons, will it be the journey from the books, or will the TV show be concerned about losing this core cast? Because Murderbot goes out on its own, and meets ART (the greatest EVER) and then another crew, while seeking out answers to the questions about the memories it's recovered, and that leads to getting back to Preservation and to this original crew (especially Mensa. Mensa is his favorite human by far in the books, but perhaps this too will change? So much fun to speculate!)

Re: I was so excited for this show!

[sholio]

It's like new cooks taking a recipe and mixing it up to create a similar, but not the same, but still tantalizing dish.

Yes! I feel like that's the sign of a good adaptation - inevitably you have to condense and cut things, or change aspects of the original to work with the strengths of the new medium. The challenge is making it work as a good example of the kind of media it's been adapted into *and* keep the essence of the original, and it sounds like this is doing a really good job of that.

I'm really looking forward to more!

Re: I was so excited for this show!

[oracne]

I have also been wondering about that - possibly they could run a second plotline with PresAux while SecUnit is off going to Milu and all that.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Yes! Gurathin is not my favorite human in the books, but I have a special place in my heart for him, and he might be my fave in the show. "Autism on autism violence"—my reading too!

My greatest disappointment is that it's a half-hour show! I thought it was going to be an hour-long weekly show!!

[sholio]

My greatest disappointment is that it's a half-hour show! I thought it was going to be an hour-long weekly show!!

Same! I was very surprised when it ended as early as it did.

I'm having a good time, and looking forward to next week!

[chomiji]

I'm trying to get Husband to watch the with me. If he doesn't come around soon, I'll have to watch it by myself (not my preference).

[sholio]

I hope you'll get him to come around! I tried showing mine the trailer, but he thought it didn't look like his thing, so I'm watching on my own.

[silverflight8]

Am on holiday but friends and I have a watch party on the 30th and so excited. I'll be baaaack

[sholio]

Wheee! :D I hope you have fun when you do!

[oracne]

"Gugu" cracked me up. Ratthi is such a sweetheart.

[leesa_perrie]

I wasn't sure at first, it is well done but I was struggling a little to start with (not sure why), but by the end of the second episode I was getting into it much more!! It is very well made and true to the books! Murderbot is by far my fav character, but yeah, Gurathin is pulling me in too, as is Ratthi!!