Apple TV+‘sMurderbotwas a smash hit for the streamer, but an ambiguous update about the future could risk making one problem with the science fiction series even worse.Murderbotis based onThe Murderbot Diariesby Martha Wells, a series that currently has seven novels and three short stories.Murderbotseason 2has also been confirmed, meaning more of the books will be adapted.
There is, however, a problem. Executive producer David S. Goyer noted thatMurderbotseason 2 will “remix” some of the subsequent books, as it has to find a way to include the series regulars they’ve booked, like David Dastmalchian and most of thecast ofMurderbot. PreservationAux isn’t in the secondMurderbot Diariesbooks, which could be a bad sign for the show.
Murderbot Season 2 Will “Remix” The Books, But It Can’t Bring PresAux & Murderbot Back Together Again
As David S. Goyer mentioned, theMurderbotshow has to find a way to fit PreservationAux into future seasons ofMurderbot. PresAux, however, doesn’t show up again until the fourth book,Exit Strategy. That’s because, as theending ofMurderbotseason 1showed, Murderbot is going out into the galaxy on its own to figure out who it is and what it wants.
Here’s the problem:theMurderbotshow needs to bring PreservationAux back to keep its regular series cast, but the story ofThe Murderbot Diariesneeds Murderbot to be separate from PresAux for a long time. Murderbot’s solo adventures are a core part of the books. Murderbot needs to make its own decisions and get into these misadventures so it can realize, on its own, how much PresAux means to it.
Murderbot’s solo missions are also already a huge part of the show. Its decision to leave was the emotional climax ofMurderbotseason 1, and bringing everyone back together again would completely undermine the SecUnit’s decision. Even just based on the show, forcing Murderbot to reconnect with PresAux prematurely would rob it of that agency and strip the show of its themes of self-determination.
There is a way to “remix” theMurderbotbooks and bring PreservationAux back earlier in the show.Murderbotseason 2 could feature two parallel stories that never intersect: one of Murderbot’s solo adventures, and one of PresAux dealing with the fallout of their expedition and new threats from GrayCris. That would give Murderbot its agency and let PreservationAux stay on the show.
Murderbot Season 2 Runs The Risk Of Making One Complaint Even Worse
This news of “remixing” theMurderbot Diariesbooks instantly made me wary. One of my only complaints withMurderbotseason 1 - and one I believe many book fans shared - is that it wasn’t terribly faithful to its source material. The beginning and ending were almost direct adaptations, but several middle episodes took liberties that weakened the story, in my opinion.
IfMurderbotseason 2 goes about bringing PreservationAux back in the wrong way, it could make the complaints about its book accuracy even worse.Making Gurathin creepierand turning the polyamorous relationships ofAll Systems Redinto a joke was bad, butruining the first steps of Murderbot’s journey for self-discovery would be unforgivable.
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There is a way to adapt both PreservationAux’s story and Murderbot’s simultaneously without having them connect, but I’m not confident theMurderbotshow is going to do it. I have a sinking feeling that the show is going to shoehorn Gurathin and Mensah into Murderbot’s search for answers on RaviHyral, which would completely undermineThe Murderbot Diaries’ messages about accepting love and the changes that come with it.
I wantMurderbotseason 2 to be a success, but I’m worried that it won’t be. Forcing PresAux and Murderbot to reunite prematurely is a bad idea, even setting the books aside. They need time apart so that PresAux can realize that Murderbot isn’t the person they want it to be, and Murderbot can realize that PresAux is worth changing for. IfMurderbotdoesn’t give them that time, it will be a big mistake.
