10 Best Murderbot moments from Murderbot

When Martha Wells' The Murderbot Diaries was adapted for Apple TV, readers heaved a sigh of relief: would the television screen do honor to the popular, sarcastic, soap-opera-obsessed SecUnit? Happily, the show does just that, bringing Murderbot's inner life and reluctant heroism to the screen. The show nails the awkwardness, snark, and emotional evolution of an errant security unit that desires nothing so much as to be left in peace with its beloved serial dramas but continues to save humans despite itself. The strength of the show lies in its ability to balance high-octane sci-fi action with reflective quiet moments.

Every episode develops Murderbot's character arc from a machine defined by code to a sentient organism choosing its own way. This piece delves into ten of the most amusing, hilarious, or touching moments in the Murderbot TV that don't merely entertain, but explain why this socially nervous, hyper-capable construct is one of science fiction's most relatable characters. Whether it's battling marauding bots or skirting human small talk, Murderbot never fails.

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Best Murderbot moments from Murderbot

1. Murderbot Hacks Its Governor Module

In a harrowing flashback, the series begins with Murderbot remembering the time it hacked its governor module, the internal control chip that was supposed to enforce its submission. The show grasps this moment with raw intensity, featuring sequences with rapid visual glitches and torn audio to convey the chaos and terror of liberation. It's an anchoring moment, not only for the story but for Murderbot's fractured mind. From then on, every choice it makes is its own, and the way in which it apprehensively, almost begrudgingly, claims that freedom is both haunting and freeing.

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2. Protecting the Survey Team During the Ambush

One of the earliest cinematic action sequences in the series—the ambush in the alien landscape— has Murderbot shift into battle mode without quite losing its "I don't care" demeanor. The smoothness of its movements, the strategic deployment of terrain, and the instinctive protection of Dr. Mensah's team reveal its ruthless efficiency and growing, although unspoken, attachment. What's striking isn't the violence itself, but what happens after, when the team regards it with a mix of awe and terror, and Murderbot just walks away, resentful for being forced to be the hero.

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3. Watching Soap Operas in Secret

Murderbot's media obsession is brought to life through subtle editing and background screen clips of Sanctuary Moon playing in its visual HUD as it methodically tracks data feeds. A particularly laugh-out-loud moment has it chuckling (okay, internally) at a bad romance twist, even as a deadly mission briefing plays in the corner of its screen. This is not merely comic relief; it humanizes the construct and offers a window into its yearning for emotions that it does not get to experience. The show employs these scenes to strengthen the chasm between what Murderbot experiences and what it presents.

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4. The Awkward Medical Check-Up

In a standout moment of dry comedy, Murderbot endures a post-battle medical scan surrounded by curious humans. It tries and fails to appear disinterested while multiple crew members fuss over its injuries. Its HUD keeps pinging exit options, and its internal monologue (narrated brilliantly) drips with sarcasm,

“I’m fine. Stop looming."

The brilliance of the scene is the way it reconciles pathos and humor. Murderbot obviously isn't accustomed to being treated like someone who matters. The unease on its face sells it. It's a quiet but emphatic move in its progression towards understanding human concerns.

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5. First Real Conversation with Dr. Mensah

The initial emotionally vulnerable moment between Murderbot and Dr. Mensah marks a turning point. As she matter-of-factly accepts its autonomy without judgment, the camera lingers just long enough on Murderbot's spastic, hesitant body language, being unable to meet her eyes. It's a brief conversation, but one that is rich with resonance. Expecting rejection or command, Murderbot receives something unfamiliar: respect. The ensuing awkward silence, full of quiet music and subdued colors, says it all. It's here that we witness the seed of trust take hold, foreshadowing the closer bond that will come to define the series.

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6. The Cliffside Rescue

When a crew member falls off a ledge on a survey mission, the situation turns critical in seconds. Without delay, Murderbot springs into action, launching himself via a grappling system and controlled freefall to catch and stabilize the falling human mid-air. The whole sequence is filmed in slow motion, providing the audience a strong feeling of controlled panic. What makes the moment unforgettable, however, is what comes after: Murderbot, irritated, covered in mud, and muttering something about "organic stupidity." It's exhilarating, funny, and reveals Murderbot's brand of reluctant heroism, all in one crisply executed action beat.

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7. Confronting the Hostile SecUnits

The TV series introduces significant tension to the battle with the rogue SecUnits sent out by a competing company. These robots are reflections of what Murderbot used to be: compliant, mindless instruments of destruction. When it encounters them, there is more than mere action; there's a psychological battle. The scene uses horror, dim lighting, mechanical sounds, and close combat to heighten the contrast between Murderbot's past and present identities. But what makes it unforgettable is Murderbot's determination: it battles not only to be victorious but to show that it has transformed. This serves to solidify its transformation from being a weapon to a guardian.

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8. Talking to Itself in the Mirror

A subdued but emotionally charged moment has Murderbot staring at its artificial face in a mirror, echoing things it has heard humans utter, attempting to copy their tone and inflection. It's both hilarious and poignant. The show emphasizes its internal struggle as an entity torn between machine and human existence, not knowing how to be. The creepy quietness and crisp cinematography evoke a sense of loneliness. There is no voiceover here, only expression and silence. It's an effective means of investigating Murderbot's hunger for identity without exposition, and is one of the most elegant moments in the series.

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9. Saving the Crew from the Exploding Facility

In the season finale's action sequence, the team is trapped in a collapsing facility following an act of sabotage. Murderbot calculates an escape route that shields the crew members with its own body, and takes a blast to its artificial torso in the process. The visuals are strikingly cinematic, but it is the emotional impact that lands harder. Murderbot lingers behind for one final moment, just to ensure everyone makes it out, at great personal risk. When it limps back into the shuttle bay, burned and silent, the camera lingers on the faces of the crew. There are no words of gratitude. None are needed. The moment itself speaks volumes.

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10. Choosing Its Own Path

The season ends with Murderbot standing at a dock bay, having been offered the choice to stay with the crew or depart to see if it could do things on its own. The silence is charged. In true Murderbot fashion, it complains about needing "space" and walks away, but not before looking back. The lingering gaze, combined with an unobtrusive music swell, resonates. It's a quiet, beautifully composed moment that captures everything the character has grown into. The show doesn't have to rely on a big speech. The choice is enough. Murderbot is finally free and for the first time, choosing for itself.

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Apple TV+'s Murderbot, which premiered in May 2025, proves that a rogue SecUnit with a sarcastic sense of humor and a soft spot for soap operas can steal the screen and our hearts with ease. The show's most memorable moments reveal not only Murderbot's combat skills and wicked sense of humor but also its intensely human quest for finding freedom, identity, and connection. By layering action with emotional complexity, the series does justice to Martha Wells' original books while leaving behind its own visual mark. As Murderbot continues to grow and stumble through freedom, one thing’s certain: its story is far from over, and we’ll be watching the show just like Murderbot watches Sanctuary Moon.