Murderbot Episodes 1 & 2 Ending Explained: Trust Issues, Dead Survey Teams, and a Shady Corporation

Apple TV+’s Murderbot makes one thing loud and clear right from the jump: this is not your average sci-fi story. Beneath the action-packed surface and Alexander Skarsgård’s deadpan delivery as the titular Murderbot, there’s layered world-building and emotional tension brewing.

By the end of episode two, things are getting a lot darker than the show’s snarky tone might suggest. If you're still puzzled over the final moments, here's what they really mean.

Who or what is Murderbot?

Murderbot is a SecUnit—a corporate-owned security bot designed to protect humans without ever disobeying orders. But this one secretly hacked its governor module and now operates with free will, all while pretending to still follow the rules. Most of its downtime is spent binge-watching soap operas and dodging emotional attachments, especially with the friendly scientists of PreservationAux.

A Mission that Starts to Matter

When Murderbot joins Dr. Mensah and her team on a remote planet, it senses something is off—corporate maps omit dangerous local wildlife, and there's a strange unease in the air. Despite its reluctance, Murderbot risks its life to save Bharadwaj from a giant alien centipede and comforts Arada by quoting TV dialogue—its first clumsy attempt at empathy. These moments hint at Murderbot’s internal conflict and growing attachment to the humans it claims to tolerate.

What’s with the Dead Team?

Mensah’s team tries to contact another survey group, DeltFall, but gets no response. When they arrive at their location, they find everyone dead, including the DeltFall SecUnit. Murderbot’s worst fear is confirmed: the incident mirrors fragmented memories it's been having of a similar massacre, but it’s unclear whether those were its own actions or the work of other corrupted bots.

This discovery also suggests that the Corporation may be covering up something much bigger—like alien tech or deliberate sabotage.

What is the Corporation Hiding in Murderbot?

Absolutely. The maps were wrong, the crater drone was destroyed, and the gravity anomaly Mensah found points to alien artifacts. In the books, this all ties back to GrayCris, a shady company known for murdering survey teams to keep alien discoveries secret. The show hints this could be the same mystery unfolding here.

Gurathin vs. Murderbot: A Tense Stand-Off

Gurathin, the team's most skeptical member, doesn’t trust Murderbot. After a tense interrogation, he learns Murderbot’s memories were wiped—possibly by the Corporation. Murderbot claims it's programmed for emotional support, but Gurathin isn't buying it. Their confrontation exposes Murderbot’s trauma and guilt over its past, and sets up a major question: can it be trusted?

By the end of episode two, Murderbot is no longer just a snarky rogue bot—it’s a character grappling with identity, guilt, and reluctant connection. Meanwhile, a conspiracy involving corporate sabotage and alien tech is starting to surface, making it clear that this mission is much more than it seemed.

And with one survey team already dead, Murderbot may be the only thing standing between Mensah’s crew and the same fate.

Where can you Stream Murderbot?

Murderbot is now streaming on Apple TV+, with new episodes airing weekly on Fridays. The third episode, “Risk Assessement” will premiere on May 23, 2025.