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Editor’s note: The following recap contains spoilers for Murderbot Episode 6.

Describing the current situation in Murderbot as intense would be an understatement. Just last week, shortly after Murderbot (Alexander Skarsgård) and the Preservation Alliance survey crew engaged in a critical yet tense discussion regarding the implications of the former’s free will for their mission, they faced a near-fatal crisis culminating in a dramatic cliffhanger. In Episode 6, titled “Command Feed,” penned by showrunners Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz and directed by Aurora Guerrero, the immediate threat to Murderbot and Mensah (Noma Dumezweni) is swiftly resolved. However, the episode significantly heightens the overall tension of the series through a pivotal, violent turning point that jeopardizes Murderbot‘s developing bonds with its new-found companions.

The Strained Dynamics of Murderbot and Mensah in Episode 6

John Cho and DeWanda Wise sit in a field in Murderbot's Sanctuary Moon series

Image via Apple TV+

After narrowly escaping a dangerous encounter with an exploding beacon, Murderbot and Mensah find themselves grounded and unable to proceed until they can repair their damaged hopper. This predicament echoes a scene from The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon, particularly Episode 356, where the unrealistic romance between Captain Hossein (John Cho) and Nav Bot 337 Alt 66 (DeWanda Wise) shifts from mere tension into a melodramatic fantasy. The last thing Murderbot desires is for its current reality to mirror that narrative; like many, it indulges in absurd media as a distraction when real-world events become overwhelmingly stressful.

However, the gravity of the situation weighs heavily on Murderbot, especially since the lives of Mensah‘s vulnerable friends are at stake. Compounding their challenges, Murderbot and Mensah find themselves improvising repairs without a clear plan. Initially, the hopper came with a repair manual, but in an effort to create space for the nineteenth season of Sanctuary Moon, Murderbot deleted its redundant copy stored in its data banks. Now faced with a completely offline hopper, Murderbot is regretting that decision, and Mensah is understandably upset upon learning this information. This moment marks a significant shift in their relationship dynamic, highlighting Mensah‘s frustration with the quirky SecUnit she has tried to understand and accommodate.

Leebeebee’s Deceptive Nature Unveiled in ‘Murderbot’ Episode 6

Gurathin and Bharadwaj contemplating Leebeebee in Murderbot

Image via Apple TV+

As the remaining scientists wrap up their tasks at the habitat, newcomer Leebeebee (Anna Konkle) appears intent on charming everyone in proximity. This week, her awkward advances are directed towards Bharadwaj (Tamara Podemski), especially after Gurathin (David Dastmalchian) rejected her last episode. Meanwhile, a horrified Murderbot does not reciprocate her boundary-crossing, and dehumanizing advances. Despite being taken aback by this unexpected kiss on her injured hand, Bharadwaj is interrupted by Gurathin‘s unanswered calls to Mensah and Murderbot, derailing Leebeebee’s questions about the creature that caused Bharadwaj‘s scar.

With little else to do but wait and fret, a subsequent conversation among the trio starkly contrasts the societal structures of the Corporation Rim and the Preservation Alliance. Bharadwaj and Gurathin struggle to comprehend why the Corporation Rim mandates prospective parents to secure a license before having children. While acknowledging that babies can be resource-consuming black holes (their words, not mine), the Alliance operates differently by pooling community resources to support families, particularly through science-gathering missions like the current one. After some back-and-forth banter, in which Leebeebee seeks the team’s survey results but is met with Gurathin‘s steadfast refusal to share, her impatience culminates in a stunning revelation of her true intentions when she brandishes a gun and demands access to their HubSystem.

The Deepening Bond Between Murderbot and Mensah in Episode 6

Murderbot sits next to a worried Mensah in Murderbot Episode 6

Image via Apple TV+

Meanwhile, Mensah and Murderbot find themselves making no headway with the hopper repairs. In stark contrast to Leebeebee‘s manipulative tendencies, this duo experiences a moment of authentic, non-transactional kindness when Mensah suffers a panic attack. Eager to assist yet uncertain of how to alleviate her emotional distress, Murderbot resorts to the only comfort it knows — Sanctuary Moon. It projects a chosen episode onto one of the hopper’s screens, reassuring a skeptical Mensah that this “soothing” episode features “synchronized breathing.” Following along with the guided routine indeed calms her frayed nerves. As Murderbot recites the episode’s calming mantra from memory, Mensah is both shocked and warmed by the unexpected tenderness of this unusual SecUnit. The heartfelt moment concludes with Murderbot, still “leaking” from the grievous stab wound sustained during the hopper’s crash, collapsing face-first onto the floor.

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After an indeterminate amount of time, Murderbot regains consciousness, lying on its back with its head supported by several folded blankets. Nearby, Mensah is diligently working, having fixed the leak by directing the hopper’s lubrication supply into Murderbot‘s arm port. Inspired by this act, Murderbot proposes replacing the hopper’s burnt-out control coil with a section of its own neural wiring. Although these wires are crafted from cloned organic tissue, they are specifically designed for high-speed data processing. Despite her reluctance due to being squeamish and a vegetarian, Mensah proceeds to carefully cut through two layers of Murderbot‘s flesh, exposing a spine of interconnected metallic bolts to extract a strand of nerve tissue. A dry joke from Murderbot prompts a half-giddy laugh from Mensah, and as a result, the hopper’s systems spring back to life.

Murderbot’s Protective Instincts Clash with Trust Issues in Episode 6

Meanwhile, Ratthi (Akshay Khanna), Arada (Tattiawna Jones), and Pin-Lee (Sabrina Wu), unaware of the peril unfolding below, indulge in a somewhat awkward shoulder massage session until Bharadwaj calls them down. Once the entire group gathers, they find themselves at the mercy of Leebeebee, who holds all the power at gunpoint. Despite the threat, Gurathin remains undaunted, refusing to surrender the survey data they’ve collected. In response, Leebeebee shoots Gurathin in the thigh, vowing to kill his colleagues one by one. Both Bharadwaj‘s offers of assistance and her pleas for Leebeebee‘s decency fall on deaf ears; her motivation stems from financial desperation, seeking credits in exchange for loyalty to the third-party enemy their group has been combating from the shadows. Prioritizing his friends over proprietary data, Gurathin ultimately surrenders their findings, leading Leebeebee to relish her triumph, mockingly revealing how easily she manipulated their trusting hearts. She even presumes responsibility for Mensah and Murderbot‘s demise, believing the beacon explosion resolved that issue for her.

Just when the situation seems most dire, the Mensah and Murderbot duo makes a dramatic entrance. Leebeebee presses the gun against a sobbing Gurathin‘s temple, but Murderbot swiftly intervenes, firing a shot that decapitates her instantly. Blood and brain matter splatter onto Gurathin and Bharadwaj, sending Ratthi into a state of vomit and causing Pin-Lee to burst into frantic laughter. Even Mensah finds herself momentarily stunned, staring at Murderbot with a mixture of shock and contemplation before she attempts to rally her traumatized team. While Murderbot had anticipated a grateful response for saving their lives, it finds its expectations shattered, leading to feelings of confusion and resentment. The visceral violence has tarnished the team’s growing affection for Murderbot as well as their belief in its humanity. Reflecting on the chaos, Murderbot acknowledges, “And that,” it muses, “felt good.”

New episodes of Murderbot premiere every Friday on Apple TV+.

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Murderbot

In Episode 6 of Murderbot, a critical and violent turning point threatens the android’s developing relationships with its newfound family.

Release Date
May 15, 2025

Network
Apple TV+

Directors
Aurora Guerrero, Roseanne Liang

Pros & Cons

  • Both Alexander Skarsgård and Noma Dumezweni deliver their most vulnerable performances in the series thus far.
  • While Murderbot‘s autonomy complicates its relationship with Mensah, its inherent empathy ultimately draws them closer.
  • The shocking demise of Leebeebee injects a traumatic twist into Murderbot‘s relationship with the team.
  • Although Leebeebee serves a narrative purpose, her brief screentime feels hastily executed.

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Sarah Parker is a research analyst and content contributor with a strong interest in business strategy, organizational behavior, and social development. With a background in sociology and public policy, she focuses on exploring the intersection between research and real-world application. Sarah regularly contributes articles that bridge academic insights and practical relevance, aiming to foster critical thinking and innovation across sectors.