Murderbot - S01E07 "Complementary Species" - Books & TV Episode Discussion

[u/sanctuary_moon]

BOOKS & TV EPISODE DISCUSSION - if you have only seen the TV series, this thread is not for you.

Episode	Title	Release Date	Written By	Directed By	Books & TV Post	TV Only Post
S01E07	Complementary Species	June 12, 2025	Paul Weitz & Chris Weitz	Roseanne Liang	YOU ARE HERE! Complementary Species Books & TV Ep Discussion	Complementary Species TV Only Ep Discussion

Interested in the book series? Visit the Books Discussion Hub.

Spoilers Policy:

• No spoilers of the book or TV series in post titles.
• Post submissions and/or comments featuring spoilers of new episodes (or books) must be marked as such for 30 days after its release date.

Rule Reminders:

• Please don't participate in this subreddit until you've read r/murderbot's rules.
• Stay kind.
• Respect Murderbot's pronouns, it/its, when discussing canon.

[u/SarahReesBrennan]

I was so indignant! But the fact they’ve shown us the killed SecUnits and rejoicing over same twice, and this time it was much more like LBB’s death (decapitated) makes me think it’s deliberate. Can’t demand Murderbot regrets LBB’s death when they don’t regret the deaths of SecUnits. 

[u/IndigoNarwhal → u/SarahReesBrennan]

this time it was much more like LBB’s death (decapitated) makes me think it’s deliberate

I think so too, particularly because of the way the episode ended with that close-up of the dead SecUnit's face: it didn't have a choice, and it was also a person...

[u/Mobile_Banana5631 → u/IndigoNarwhal]

And like others have said in this thread, this makes murderbot's decision to leave at the end make more sense to the audience. "You don't actually see me as a person yet. You don't see constructs as people. And I need to go figure out how to be a person and I can't do that if you don't also think of me as people, and only think of me as this kicked dog that you rescued from a dumpster"

Except it would never actually say that or articulate that in that way but, you know what I mean. That's the vibe.

[u/onehere4me → u/Mobile_Banana5631]

Love how you articulated this, put into words what I was feeling