The Weitz brothers’ small-screen adaptation of the first book in Martha Wells’ Murderbot Diaries series premiered on Apple TV+ in May 2025. Starring Alexander Skarsgård as the lead alongside Noma Dumezweni and David Dastmalchian, the series delivers a refreshing AI space action thriller that resonated with the sci-fi fandom. Apart from the characters’ performances and its unique story, Murderbot sets itself apart with its philosophical ideas about a sentient AI.
Murderbot hypothetically advances what might happen when artificial intelligence attains sentience. It follows a rogue security robot that secretly hacks itself to free will. Murderbot (Skarsgård) wants to be left alone to binge on soap operas, but often finds itself caring more than it should in the company of a scientific team on a dangerous planet. The series received the green light for Season 2 in July 2025. Here’s what to expect from the upcoming installment.
How Season 1’s Finale Sets The Premise For Murderbot Season 2
@appletv It’s rogue. It’s powerful. It would rather be watching TV. Murderbot — Streaming May 16 on Apple TV+ #Murderbot #AlexanderSkarsgard #AppleTV #AppleTVPlus
♬ Murderbot – Apple TV
Murderbot Season 1’s ending hints that the second entry will be based on Artificial Condition, the second book in Wells’ series. After the penultimate episode saw the SecUnit sacrifice itself to protect its human company from the GrayCris team, the finale reveals that Murderbot lost its memory and now runs on a new governor module. Now endeared to the security robot, the PresAux team helps Murderbot regain its memory and offer it the freedom it had always wanted.
Surprisingly, Murderbot passes up the offer to live freely at the PresAux home planet, opting to check the perimeter. It disguises itself as an augmented human and boards a bot-driven transport ship heading to a distant mining facility. This ending unfolds into the events of Artificial Condition, which revolves around Murderbot’s quest to learn more about its vague memories of the massacre that made it christen itself Murderbot.
Murderbot Will Team Up With Another Sentient Bot In Season 2
@literary_somewhere #murderbot mentality || i’m loving the comedic tone of the adaptation btw #murderbotedit #mentality #funnymemes #bookadaptation #appletv #appletvplus #alexanderskarsgard
♬ original sound – literary_somewhere
If Murderbot Season 2 stays faithful to the second book in the Murderbot Diaries series, viewers will follow the security robot on a journey to a mining facility. The SecUnit will commit itself to uncovering the truth about an ugly past involving the murder of its clients. In its quest for answers, Murderbot will encounter ART, a research transport vessel with which it will form an unsettling alliance.
While Murderbot struggles to get along with the super-smart research transport, the duo eventually finds a middle ground to work together amid their constant bickering. ART assists Murderbot in his mission, helping him to disguise his appearance to evade capture. The research transport vessel also investigates the data about the incident that haunts the SecUnit. By and large, ART’s resourceful assistance leads to a massive revelation about what transpired. Murderbot gains closure about the massacre, but continues to question his place in the world.
The SecUnit Will Also Bond With Another Group Of Humans
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♬ Murderbot – Apple TV
Murderbot Season 1 ended with the security robot acknowledging the scientific team from PresAux as its favorite humans. A similar scenario will unfold in Murderbot Season 2 if the creative team doesn’t stray from the source material expected to inspire it. Murderbot embarks on a new mission with a group of technologists in Artificial Condition. This time, he takes on the responsibility of protecting the group as they set out to recover their stolen data from a former employer.
Initially reluctant to help the group, Murderbot settles for a deal that earns him passage to the mining facility to investigate its dark past. With Murderbot on their side, the group goes up against Tlacey, a cunning enemy who would stop at nothing to get what she wants. The antagonist lures one of the technologists to a trap, compelling the SecUnit to embark on a dangerous rescue mission. This leaves Muderbot reflecting on what must be done to ensure the safety of its favorite humans, who are in the habit of endangering their lives.
Apart from ART, Murderbot might also encounter a sexbot named ComfortUnit. While protecting the technologists, the SecUnit happens upon the sexbot working for Tlacey. Through its interactions with Murderbot, the protagonist and viewers learns that Murderbot isn’t the only robot seeking freedom. In all, Murderbot Season 2 will probe deeper into the nature of sentience to highlight the importance of corporate responsibility in shaping the use of artificial intelligence. Check out the question that sparks new thrills for Twisted Metal Season 3.
