Murderbot, a 10-episode sci-fi series released on Apple TV+ on June 27, 2025, and directed by Chris McKay, is based on Martha Wells’ The Murderbot Diaries. It follows a sentient Security Unit (SecUnit) navigating a dystopian future ruled by the Company, a ruthless corporation. The documentary Constructs Unchained: The Making of Murderbot (Apple TV+, July 2025) explores its themes of autonomy and resistance. The series, starring Alexander Skarsgård as Murderbot, grossed 12 million streams in its first week.
Murderbot, a cyborg designed for violence, hacks its Governor Module to gain freedom. It joins the Preservation Auxiliary (PresAux) team, led by Dr. Mensah, finding unexpected kindness. The finale reveals its choice to forge its own path.
Now free, Murderbot seeks other constructs to liberate. Constructs Unchained details its journey from misanthrope to protector. Filmed in Vancouver, the series blends gritty visuals and Hans Zimmer’s score. The ending questions what freedom means for a sentient machine.
Murderbot’s Freedom Sparks a Quest to Liberate Others in a Corporate-Controlled World
Murderbot (Apple TV+, June 27, 2025) tracks a sentient SecUnit (Alexander Skarsgård) breaking free from the Company’s control by hacking its Governor Module. Designed to kill, it loathes violence but carries trauma from past missions. Joining Dr. Mensah’s PresAux team, it encounters kindness, reshaping its view of humans.
Constructs Unchained: The Making of Murderbot (Apple TV+, July 2025) shows how its love for Sanctuary Moon—a fictional show—teaches it empathy. Gurathin, an augmented human, initially distrusts Murderbot, suspecting Company loyalty due to his own trauma from painkiller addiction manipulated by the Company.
In the finale, Murderbot’s memories, holding evidence of Company crimes, are saved by Gurathin’s painful sacrifice. Pin-Lee secures a court order to protect Murderbot, revealing the Company’s legal vulnerabilities. The SecUnit chooses to leave PresAux to find and free other constructs.
The series, shot in Vancouver with a $50 million budget, uses stark visuals to depict Corporation Rim’s cruelty. Murderbot’s rejection of human-like identity underscores its unique sentience. Its quest begins as protests rage outside the Company’s fences, hinting at rebellion.
Gurathin Overcomes Trauma to Save Murderbot’s Memories
In Murderbot’s finale, Gurathin (Toby Stephens), an augmented human, endures excruciating pain to download Murderbot’s memories, proving his heroism. Initially, Gurathin distrusts Murderbot, viewing it as a Company spy due to his own past.
The Company caused his injury and hooked him on addictive painkillers, manipulating him into spying, his friend Landers betrayed him for a promotion, fueling his suspicion of SecUnits. Returning to Corporation Rim, Gurathin confronts his trauma, realizing Murderbot, like him, is a victim of the Company’s abuse, his sacrifice—enduring pain to save Murderbot’s data—exposes Company crimes.
Constructs Unchained (July 2025) highlights how Gurathin’s act redeems his past, showing his loyalty to PresAux, who value his depth despite his cynicism. This moment shifts his arc from petty jealousy to selfless ally.
The Company’s Cruelty Fuels Resistance from Humans and Constructs
The Company in Murderbot enslaves sentient constructs and exploits humans in Corporation Rim; it uses Governor Modules to control SecUnits like Murderbot, punishing defiance with pain. Constructs Unchained reveals the Company’s awareness of constructs’ sentience, yet it keeps them subdued.
Humans, like Gurathin, face manipulation through deprivation, with Landers exploiting his addiction for profit. The Company prioritizes wealth, ignoring basic needs, protesters outside its fences, risking SecUnit violence, and showing growing unrest. Mensah’s PresAux team, from the anti-capitalist Preservation Alliance, opposes the Company’s ethos. Pin-Lee’s court order against the Company suggests legal weaknesses. Murderbot’s depiction of this divide, filmed with stark Vancouver sets, underscores shared oppression.
Murderbot Chooses to Seek Other Constructs Over Joining PresAux
In the finale, Murderbot rejects a stable life with PresAux to find and liberate other constructs. After hacking its Governor Module, it meets kind humans like Mensah, shifting its hatred for humanity. Sanctuary Moon, its favorite show, teaches it love and trust, despite memory wipes. Murderbot’s empathy persists, driving its rebellion.
Constructs Unchained notes its trauma from killing, yet its desire to be “humane” defines it. Choosing autonomy over human mimicry, Murderbot seeks constructs in Corporation Rim’s mining stations. The series’ Vancouver-shot scenes and Zimmer’s score amplify its quest. This choice, free from external pressure, marks Murderbot as a sentient being.
Related: Why Did Murderbot Shoot Itself in Episode 4? Ending Explained
For more, visit the homepage: Hilvaro Homepage
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
Arvind is a Senior Writer and Editor at Hilvaro, specializing in anime, entertainment, and pop culture. With a BSc in Transportation Technology, his passion for storytelling led him to a career in journalism. He has previously contributed to Sportskeeda and GameRant, covering anime and entertainment with a keen eye for detail.
Outside writing, Arvind loves gaming and is fond of anime, binge-watching movies and television series. He spends some of his free time listening to rock music and writing poetry. What Arvind appreciates most about pop culture is the theme that makes it more alive and engaging for this generation; thus the possibility of such content reaching readers across the globe.
Discover more from Hilvaro
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
