Apple TV’s Hit Sci-Fi Show That’s ‘Westworld Meets Resident Alien’ Deserves Its Streaming Success

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Apple TV+ has quickly become a go-to streaming service for science fiction fans, and its original shows like Severance, Foundation, and For All Mankind are among the best available. One series in particular stands out: it successfully blends thought-provoking social themes, similar to Westworld, with the charming humor of Resident Alien, and its popularity is well-deserved.

You won’t find Westworld or Resident Alien on Apple TV+, but the streaming service offers its own excellent sci-fi options. One standout is Murderbot, starring Alexander Skarsgård as a security robot tasked with protecting researchers on a distant planet. Murderbot and its employer, PreservationAux, encounter dangerous alien creatures and uncover a large conspiracy linked to ancient alien artifacts.

I’m so glad Murderbot is doing so well on Apple TV! I heard the first season was a huge hit in 2025 – one of their most popular new shows. And the best part? They’re already making a second season! Because it’s based on the Murderbot Diaries books by Martha Wells, I’m really hopeful this show has a long run. Honestly, it totally deserves all the success it’s getting. It reminds me of the best parts of shows like Westworld and Resident Alien, and it does those things really well.

Murderbot Has The Same Robot-Centric Story Of Westworld

A standout quality of Westworld was its exploration of the philosophical and ethical questions surrounding artificial intelligence. The show, at its core, is about robots becoming aware and thoughtfully examines how humans treat those they create and control. From the initial mistreatment of the robotic ‘Hosts’ to their later struggle for independence, Westworld addressed these complex themes in a way that has cemented its place as a truly memorable series.

Both Murderbot and Westworld explore the complex idea of artificial intelligence becoming self-aware, but Murderbot does so with a lighter tone. The main character, Murderbot, is a sad figure because it’s owned by a mysterious company and must conceal its intelligence to survive. The story follows Murderbot’s journey of self-discovery and figuring out what to do with its newfound freedom.

If you enjoyed the thought-provoking themes of robots and artificial intelligence in Westworld, you should definitely check out Murderbot. The first season explores similar ideas, and the show promises to get even better as it continues. As the series adapts more of the original books, Murderbot will go on a journey where it meets other self-aware machines, fights for its freedom, and experiences storylines that will remind you of Westworld.

Murderbot Also Has The Wholesome & Funny Feel Of Resident Alien

While Murderbot and Westworld both explore artificial intelligence, Murderbot is much more lighthearted and funny. In fact, its humor is similar to that of Resident Alien. Both stories cleverly take classic sci-fi themes – robots gaining consciousness and alien invasions – and turn them into surprisingly sweet and funny adventures.

Both shows primarily focus on their main characters, Murderbot and Harry Vanderspiegel, and their struggles with fitting in. In Resident Alien, Harry pretends to be human in a small town to hide his alien identity. Meanwhile, in Murderbot, Murderbot tries to conceal its independence from human control, and later, works hard to find acceptance with PreservationAux.

Both Resident Alien and Murderbot are incredibly funny shows. Resident Alien finds humor in Harry’s struggles to navigate life as a doctor and parent, while Murderbot is hilarious due to its social awkwardness and secret love for a cheesy sci-fi show called The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon. Although they share a similar core idea, both shows execute it brilliantly, making them stand out as some of the best sci-fi comedies available.

Despite being funny shows, both Resident Alien and Murderbot are surprisingly heartwarming. Both Harry and Murderbot initially struggle to connect with humans, but they eventually form deep friendships and even find love with the people they once considered targets. They become remarkably human throughout their journeys. Resident Alien gets you to root for an alien, and Murderbot will make you fall for a robot.

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2026-05-21 04:44