Featured Image Credit: Apple TV+
Topics: Streaming, Rotten Tomatoes, Film and TV
Ellie Kemp
A new Apple TV+ sci-fi series has viewers obsessed, although they're all making one particular criticism.
The streaming service has produced a number of hit shows since its conception almost six years ago. I mean, just look at the likes of Severance and Ted Lasso!
More recently, a new crime drama which has captured the attention of fans - including Stephen King - has been making headlines.
But now, viewers of a 'clever' new sci-fi drama are complaining over a specific detail.
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The show stars Alexander Skarsgård as a self-aware security android who secretly disables its obedience module to gain autonomy.
Despite its desire to be left alone to binge-watch soap operas, the bot is assigned to protect a team of human researchers on a dangerous space mission.
While navigating threats from alien creatures and rogue security units, the android grapples with its own identity and the complexities of human interaction.
The series is called Murderbot, and is based on the Martha Wells book series, The Murderbot Diaries.
Over on Rotten Tomatoes, the show has earned an impressive 97 percent rating across 66 critic reviews.
Pundits particularly enjoyed Skarsgård's 'superbly dry wit' which they say 'brings a lot of heart to Murderbot, making for a refreshingly jaunty sci-fi saga about finally coming out of one's shell.'
Fans are also appreciating the new series, which has been airing weekly with its first two seasons debuting on May 16.
However, there's one element people can't seem to get behind; the length of each episode.
Taking to Reddit, one one disappointed viewer vented: "Man I expected one hour episodes and instead we got 20 minute episodes with an episode releasing once a week..."
"It sucks because the two episodes so far were really good. Just wish they were longer. Feels like you get a taste of Murderbot and the episode is over before it even began..."
"These feel way too short," a second fan agreed. "It feels like less than a single chapter in some cases. I want more Murderbot!"
"Basically unwatchable," a third declared. "20 minutes is just nothing for a sci-fi like this. I started watching the new episode, sit down, and... it's over."
"It should've been longer for sure, but it's a pretty neat show," another resolved.
Ultimately, in my opinion, it's as though streaming platforms can't win; they release seasons all at once and people complain about spoilers, or they drop weekly episodes and people still aren't happy.
So far, half of Murderbot has dropped on Apple TV. The next instalment, episode six, is scheduled to premiere on Friday June 13.
New episodes are released every Friday, with the season set to conclude on July 11.