7 Times Murderbot Was the Most Relatable Sci-Fi Hero Ever

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Apple TV+’s recent science fiction sensation, “Murderbot“, has proven to be a significant triumph for the streaming platform. The show maintains an impressive 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, largely due to its endearing ensemble of characters. The titular character, portrayed by Alexander Skarsgård, is a socially awkward construct (a SecUnit) who prefers spending all day watching TV. Despite being compelled to perform its duties, which often involve rescuing humans in peril, the series captures the universal frustration felt when having to pause a series mid-episode. Murderbot may be an unwilling sci-fi hero, but it’s this relatability that makes it so endearing.

Murderbot originates from “The Murderbot Diaries,” a series of novels authored by Martha Wells. Though the TV adaptation has undergone several alterations, it largely maintains the essence of the story. Notably, Murderbot’s character remains relatively unchanged – still a rogue security unit grappling with social anxiety, an insatiable craving for daytime television, and some of the least desirable bosses imaginable. Essentially, Murderbot has established itself as one of the most identifiable sci-fi protagonists to date, and we can’t help but be drawn to it. Yes, we suspect that Murderbot would find this description quite distasteful.

Spoiler alert for Murderbot!

1) Knowing the Company’s Equipment Is Garbage

Many people may not engage in self-deprecating humor, but a significant number do. This type of humor involves making light of one’s own shortcomings, often in a way that softens the blow. It’s somewhat similar to using dark humor as a means of dealing with difficult situations when you reflect on it. Therefore, when Murderbot self-deprecates like this, it feels very relatable.

Setting aside my own humor, it’s no surprise that Murderbot recognizes the shoddy nature of everything produced by the Company. Although it provides ample material for jesting in the “Murderbot” series, it also serves as a persistent annoyance. It’s challenging to distinguish between malfunctions or compromises in equipment, given the subpar tools provided to the PresAux group. I think we can all agree on one thing: there’s nothing more irritating than dealing with faulty technology!

2) Successfully Distracting Gurathin

Fans of “The Murderbot Diaries” anticipated issues between Murderbot and Gurathin in the Apple TV+ series, and their expectations were certainly met – if not exceeded. In fact, the show portrayed Gurathin as a more troublesome character than initially expected, even hinting at him becoming a possible adversary. The eighth episode, titled “Foreign Object,” underscored this development significantly as Gurathin breached Murderbot’s scant privacy boundaries.

Undeniably, encountering Gurathin’s antagonistic behavior makes it even more gratifying when Murderbot manages to retaliate in its own way. One of my favorite instances occurs during Episode 2, “Eye Contact.” Gurathin, testing the boundaries and engaging in questionable ethical practices (though he may not see them that way), starts by commanding SecUnit to sit down and continues by pushing it to make direct eye contact. In a classic case of malicious compliance, Murderbot complies with Gurathin’s demands, allowing him to witness an extremely awkward situation involving three coworkers who had been engaged in activities for the past hour. It was an uncomfortable moment, but one with a karmic twist.

3) Desperate Times Call for Desperate Singing

In times of great need, people often resort to extreme solutions, but maybe we should rethink the saying. During Episode 4, “Escape Velocity Protocol,” things began to spiral out of control for Murderbot. Caught off guard and deactivated by another Security Unit, it’s evident that this enigmatic unit is after something more than just shutting down Murderbot permanently.

In times of distress, I’m not immune to making less than ideal choices. Sometimes these actions yield positive results, other times they don’t. Just now, in an unusual moment, I found myself humming the tune of my beloved show, “The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon.” I must admit, singing it while resting upside down on a table did seem to bewilder me, likely because I was quite perplexed about the situation unfolding.

4) Conflicting Thoughts and Emotions About Coworkers

Every installment of the series Murderbot concludes with a suspenseful moment, which has been quite frustrating for everyone involved. However, the apparent humor in Episode 5, titled “Rogue War Tracker Infinite,” managed to ease our tension. This episode continues immediately after SecUnit fires a shot into its own chest, as it reviews the footage to identify any missed details.

After a momentary astonishment at finding oneself alive, this situation triggers a mix of feelings, from exasperation at the team disregarding instructions (once more), to relief and even grudging admiration (Bharadwaj does indeed know her stuff). It’s a scenario we can all relate to. Not exactly this specific predicament, but we’ve all experienced our emotions and viewpoints shifting wildly, especially when dealing with large groups of people (and colleagues). They’re an integral part of life, yet they can make us yearn for solitude or endless hours of television without their presence.

5) The Anxiety Is Real

Initially, SecUnit might seem cold and fittingly named Murderbot. But upon closer examination, its actions reveal care and concern. For instance, despite its annoyance, it remains with the PresAux team. This unspoken bond is more evident in the books because we see things from Murderbot’s point of view. However, Episode 6, “Command Feed,” effectively portrayed these emotions to viewers.

The story unfolds as Mensah experiences another bout of panic, though Murderbot doesn’t explicitly label it as such. With no clear plan in mind, and recognizing the impending chaos with Mensah, SecUnit decides to play an episode of Sanctuary Moon, hoping it would help calm her down. This scenario hints at a few points. Firstly, Murderbot has previously dealt with anxiety and panic attacks (a fact already known to readers). Secondly, it suggests that Murderbot has devised strategies to manage these feelings. It’s fascinating that Murderbot seems to have discovered the benefits of re-watching favorite shows for anxiety relief without any external guidance.

6) Intervening Humans Causing More Harm Than Good

Is there anything more draining or annoying than someone who claims to be helping, yet ends up making things even more complicated? Generally, these situations aren’t life-threatening or critical, as our everyday lives may be hectic but don’t necessitate the intervention of superheroes. This leads us to Episode 7, “Complementary Species,” an amusing and chaotic episode. Initially, it appears terrifying with the arrival of two enormous aliens, but viewers can easily recall why this is so.

Unfortunately, when the aliens departed, it opened up the ideal moment for the hostile SecUnit to attack. This turn of events proved particularly vexing for Murderbot, as each member of the PresAux team did their utmost to aid during the battle. Regrettably, their best efforts were utterly ineffective, and may have even worsened the situation. Bharadwaj struck Murderbot on the head (which was unscathed), Arada attempted to subdue the enemy but failed, and Pin-Lee took an action that led to chaos. The outcome was a disorganized mess. Somehow, Murderbot managed to keep them all alive throughout the chaos, although it might have been due to one of the aliens reappearing.

As a movie critic, let me express my admiration for the way Murderbot skillfully foils Ratthi’s schemes, knowing full well that Ratthi poses the greatest danger to himself. Despite his bravado, it’s clear from previous encounters that he’s not as formidable in combat as he might think.

7) Plotting a Grand Scheme With the Help of Media

It’s no secret that many of us are deeply invested in our preferred pop culture universes, often allowing these passions to subtly impact our choices – for instance, when selecting home decor or desktop themes. At times, we even incorporate dialogue from our favorite scenes and moments into our daily lives. Murderbot has been quoting “Sanctuary Moon” since the first episode, but let’s consider how this connection can sometimes extend beyond casual references.

Towards the close of Episode 8, it’s no surprise that Murderbot felt the need for a brief respite. In its agitation, it attempted to immerse itself in its favorite entertainment as a diversion, but to no avail. However, the content did spark an idea, and it found itself back on Sanctuary Moon. This time, Murderbot intends to manipulate human psychology for its benefit. Given its extensive exposure to media, it understands the typical behaviors associated with a Rogue SecUnit. Readers of The Murderbot Diaries, however, are well aware that this won’t be the last clever scheme concocted by Murderbot thanks to its media obsession.

Murderbot is available to stream on Apple TV+.

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2025-07-07 21:13