With science fiction becoming more and more popular, studios are actively searching for great books to turn into TV shows and movies. While many sci-fi novels seem perfect for the screen, the Apple TV show ‘Silo’ surprised everyone by successfully adapting a story that was previously thought to be unadaptable. The show was a hit, and a second season is already planned.
Sci-fi stories such as 3 Body Problem and The Expanse were naturally suited for television adaptations, just like the novel Project Hail Mary was perfect for a movie. It’s not always this simple, though – many books are difficult to adapt for the screen, especially as ongoing series.
As a huge movie fan, it always frustrates me when a show drags on and feels padded just to fill episodes. And with book adaptations, there’s always stuff that gets left out – it’s just part of the process, unfortunately. But sometimes, those cuts really hurt the story, and we end up with something that doesn’t live up to the original. Honestly, films like the Ender’s Game and Mortal Engines adaptations prove that not every book translates well to the big screen – and it’s disappointing when a beloved story doesn’t get the treatment it deserves.
Sometimes, even the most unlikely projects turn out brilliantly. A recent example is Apple TV’s adaptation of Martha Wells’ The Murderbot Diaries, a series many thought impossible to adapt. The resulting show, Murderbot, exceeded all expectations and is now a must-watch for any sci-fi enthusiast, earning a perfect 10/10 score.
Murderbot Should Never Have Succeeded As A TV Show
When the first Murderbot Diaries novella, All Systems Red, was published in 2017, many believed it couldn’t be made into a TV show or movie, and that idea continued with each subsequent release. So, it was a big surprise when Apple TV+ announced they would be adapting the story.
One of the biggest hurdles in adapting this story is its unique format. The book relies heavily on Murderbot’s internal thoughts – about half the content is its monologue. Removing that internal voice would leave very little story, especially considering The Murderbot Diaries is mostly made up of shorter novellas, with only two full-length novels to build upon.
One of the biggest challenges would be capturing the right feel. The books blend science fiction, humor, and suspense in a way that’s hard to imitate. Martha Wells doesn’t fit neatly into any one genre, and her writing style is quite unique. Even if the team does a good job, audiences might not be familiar with this particular combination.
As a huge movie fan, I think what’s really interesting about the SecUnit character is that, even though it’s a cyborg, it feels… different in a way that goes beyond just being a machine. It displays characteristics that some might describe as neurodivergent, and honestly, that might not resonate with everyone. It processes emotions uniquely, tends to take things literally, gets really focused on its interests, and doesn’t always grasp social cues. It’s a complex portrayal, and while I find it compelling, I can see how it wouldn’t be universally appealing.
Everyone thought Murderbot had no chance of becoming a successful TV show, but surprisingly, it thrived. And it succeeded because of the very things that should have caused it to fail.
I’m totally hooked on this show! What really gets me is hearing what’s going on inside the main character’s head – it’s hilarious and suspenseful all at once. And the episodes are just the right length, around 20-30 minutes, so it’s an easy watch. A lot of us connected with the main character, Murderbot, not because he’s relatable in a typical way, but because of how different he is. And honestly, the visual effects are stunning – they just really polish everything off and make the whole experience amazing.
Murderbot Captures The Sarcasm & Wit Of The Books
The humorous tone of the novellas shouldn’t be a problem. The main challenge was finding a way to include the funny voiceover without it sounding cliché. Fortunately, the Murderbot TV series captures the unique voice of Murderbot from the original books.
As a big fan of the Murderbot Diaries books, I was really pleased with how the show captured the character’s personality. Murderbot’s lack of emotion and generally aloof attitude felt totally true to the source material. It’s not exactly fond of humans, even though it finds their quirks interesting, so the show nailed its sarcastic and biting sense of humor. Honestly, the dry wit is spot-on – it feels like Murderbot jumped right off the page!
You Can Binge-Watch Murderbot In Just 4.5 Hours
Want to check out the TV show that surprised everyone? Great! You can find it on Apple TV, which also has a bunch of other excellent sci-fi series to enjoy. Plus, each episode of Murderbot is only about 23 minutes long.
The show is quick to watch – you can easily finish it in a day. It’s only four and a half hours long, so you could watch it during a slow workday or relax and enjoy it over a weekend.
If you like to watch shows in shorter bursts, Murderbot is a great option. While there’s an overall storyline, each episode is self-contained enough that you won’t need to re-watch previous ones to stay caught up.
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2026-04-16 06:19