Heavy Emphasis On Sometimes

Murderbot was seriously hurt and betrayed from believing that ART was dead and finding out that ART intentionally put its humans in danger, even if ART had a good reason. I don't think ART or Murderbot's humans are taking Murderbot's emotions seriously.

At the beginning of chapter 9, ART said that Murderbot was ungrateful and sulky for hiding in the bathroom and refusing to speak with it, but let's consider things from Murderbot's point of view.

First, Murderbot was grief-striken and dealing with an emotional breakdown when it thought ART was dead.

Then when ART came back, Murderbot found out that ART had put its humans in danger. This is the ultimate betrayal for Murderbot. Someone who threatens its humans usually doesn't survive Murderbot's wrath.

Third, ART kidnapped Murderbot. As a rogue SecUnit, Murderbot hasn't had any agency its whole life. It was only until after All Systems Red that Murderbot had freedom to go where it wanted. Now, being forced to rescue ART's crew, it's like Murderbot is a SecUnit at the mercy of the company again. Its agency was taken away.

I had to add this iconic image, because it's so true. The Murderbot Diaries are amusing and moving and insightful, and then you reach Network Effect and you need to be prepared to be seriously shaken.

1. canonically female (no variation)

2. canonically the protagonist of her story (if it’s an ensemble cast you have to say you can legitimately see her as The main character)

3. your personal #1 favorite character in that story (ties are acceptable)

Like let's say you begin a new job as a lineman stringing electrical wire; previously, as a civilian, you saw telephone poles everywhere but they were just a part of the background, but now you see them and have access to New information: how old the pole is, when it was last serviced, other technical things i can't make up because i am not a lineman.

1. canonically female (no variation)

2. canonically the protagonist of her story (if it’s an ensemble cast you have to say you can legitimately see her as The main character)

3. your personal #1 favorite character in that story (ties are acceptable)

then someone gets brave and makes a character who is a real bastard and makes all the wrong choices and is maybe even malicious at times and they make this character explicitly queer. and then fans are like "this is what you think of us?? worst representation ever" and the creator gets absolutely lambasted, ESPECIALLY if theyre queer themselves

then everyone else sees this and either thinks its too risky to include a queer character, or wants to make sure they're only doing the good and nice representation with no flaws or mistakes

That being said, I think sometimes people need to see firsthand that this shit does happen. That I’m not getting up on stage and spouting conspiracies about raccoon diabetes and bug smuggling. It does happen, and it happens OFTEN.