Eye Contact is the second episode in the first season of the Apple TV+ series, Murderbot. The episode premiered on May 16, 2025.
Synopsis[]
Mensah and Bharadwaj take dangerous risks exploring an unknown area while Gurathin confronts Murderbot.
Plot Summary[]
The Preservation Alliance team decide to investigate a section of their map that has not properly synced. With Murderbot in stasis, Mensah leads the decision-making, aiming to assess the situation independently and determine whether any information is being concealed. Professor Bharadwaj has recovered from her injuries and is well enough to participate in the group’s efforts.
Upon reactivating, Murderbot reacts with frustration at the group's decision to explore. Gurathin remains suspicious of Murderbot’s behavior and prefers to withhold information about the group’s actions. Despite Murderbot’s desire to accompany the expedition due to the potential risk, Gurathin is hesitant to allow it. Within the Preservation Alliance, robots and androids are viewed as individuals and treated accordingly, unlike in the Corporation Rim where robots must obey direct orders.
To test Murderbot's autonomy and emotional awareness, Gurathin instructs it to maintain eye contact—a task Murderbot finds difficult, as standard SecUnits are not intended to develop bonds with clients. Bots designed for emotional support are classified separately as ComfortBots. Murderbot's empathetic behavior toward Dr. Arada conflicts with these expectations, prompting Gurathin’s suspicion. Gurathin is described as highly cautious and protective of his team.
The romantic tensions among Arada, Pin-Lee, and Ratthi evolve into a polyamorous relationship. Meanwhile, Mensah embarks on a solo exploration mission but experiences significant equipment malfunctions while climbing a steep incline. When signs of distress appear, the team deploys surveillance drones. Murderbot detects that Mensah is having another panic episode and contacts her. Mensah, while continuing her climb, responds and asks after his well-being.
During the outing, a sandworm emerges and attempts to attack Mensah but collapses unexpectedly. She returns safely to base. The area she explored is at the edge of a crater filled with sandworm skeletons. A translucent dome-like shield with strong magnetic properties hovers above the crater, demonstrated by one of the lab drones being crushed upon approach.
The team speculates that something may be buried beneath the sand, possibly of alien synthetic origin, which could explain the missing or corrupted map data. They decide to investigate further and reach out to DeltFall Survey, another research group located on the opposite side of the planet.
When the scene shifts to the DeltFall Survey lab, it is shown to be destroyed, with alarms sounding and its SecUnit disabled. The Preservation Alliance plans to investigate the site, this time with Murderbot joining them.
Cast & Characters[]
Main[]
- Alexander Skarsgård as Murderbot
- Noma Dumezweni as Mensah
- Sabrina Wu as Pin-Lee
- Tattiawna Jones as Arada
- Akshay Khanna as Ratthi
- Tamara Podemski as Bharadwaj
- David Dastmalchian as Gurathin
Supporting[]
- Chantria Tram as Rescue Worker
- Alex Cruz as Alderman Friess
Gallery[]