If there’s one thing that does well, it's science fiction. Foundation, For All Mankind, and Silo have all been smash hits for the tech giant, and now we can add another to the list: . Premiering May 16 and starring as a rogue security robot that secretly gains free will, the series has debuted with an impressive 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, signifying that the new sci-fi action comedy ticks all the right boxes.

Based on the series of novels by Martha Wells dubbed The Murderbot Diaries, Carly Lane from Collider says that "when held up against book-to-screen adaptations, Murderbot will arguably go down as one of the strongest so far this year." Critic Kate Sánchez echoed those sentiments in her review, adding that Apple has once again managed to deliver high quality science fiction:

While it's too early to tell if Murderbot will last beyond its 10-episode first season, there are seven books in total so far in Wells' series, so there's definitely lots of source material to draw from should it get renewed. Craig Mathieson from Australia's The Age noted that the show reminded him of the classic 1987 action flick Robocop, albeit with a fun twist:

"Guided by the dry, not-quite-human tone of its protagonist, this sly and sometimes subversive series feels like a mix of Robocop and an old adventure serial, complete with cliffhangers and 25-minute episodes."

While many would take the concept of a rogue robot with free will into Terminator-like territory, Murderbot – created by Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz – sets itself apart from the rest by having its partly biological security cyborg want nothing more than to binge-watch futuristic soap operas rather than complete important missions. It's a hilarious concept that allows for a lot of social commentary, as Sam Barsanti from IGN Movies notes in his review:

"The funny irony is that the things that make Murderbot a nice watch would probably make Murderbot dislike its own TV show. It's about people, and a robot, caring about and deciding to value each other even when it’s inconvenient."

MovieWeb's own Greg Archer also called Murderbot a series "that feels fresh and exciting" in his review, while Kristen Baldwin from Entertainment Weekly noted that "viewers will likely have to wait for a season 2 to see Murderbot reach its killer potential." Meanwhile, Lacy Baugher from Paste Magazine says that fans unfamiliar with Skarsgård's comedic chops will be pleasantly surprised:

"Those who only know him from HBO's True Blood or the Viking film The Northman may be surprised to discover how genuinely funny Skarsgård is, with a real gift for deadpan line delivery and comedic timing."

Look for the first two episodes of Murderbot to hit Apple TV+ on May 16. The remaining eight episodes will air every Friday until its conclusion on July 11. In addition to Skarsgård, the series also stars David Dastmalchian, Noma Dumezweni, Sabrina Wu, and Tattiawna Jones.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes