MURDERBOT Recap: (S01E07) Complementary Species
Murderbot Season 1 Episode 7, 'Complementary Species,' finds our humans debating whether they should dump SecUnit in the middle of nowhere or keep it. Will it inevitably kill them or continue to protect them? The episode is also a clever meditation on the price of human life, and whether it's okay to take one if your own life hangs in the balance. 'Complementary Species' is bolstered by solid performances and a nuanced display of character dynamics. Plus, that cliffhanger will hopefully yield fruit in the form of narrative answers in the remaining three episodes.
RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Murderbot episode, 'Command Feed' Murderbot, 'Complementary Species'
We open with a flashback to the PresAux crew on Port FreeCommerce one month earlier. They're all having dinner while playing an honesty game. Everyone's airing their grievances, mending fences and forcing those skeletons out of the closet. Bharadwaj (Tamara Podemski) admits she told Pin-Lee (Sabrina Wu) that she had feelings for them. She apologizes to them for making them uncomfortable, which Pin-Lee accepts.
Then, it's Gurathin's (David Dastmalchian) turn to share a deep, dark truth. Remember, we can talk about this! Gurathin discloses that he used to be a spy for the Corporation Rim. The Corporation Rim induced Gurathin to be addicted to a number of substances. Unfortunately, only they possessed the formulas for them. His job was to acquire sensitive information that the CR could use to destroy their adversaries and further their reach. Mensah (Noma Dumezweni) was his target.
At this point, Gurathin considered ending his life. Then, he met Mensah. He told her everything — being a spy, his addictions. And Mensah forgave him. She supported his desire to leave it all behind. What a beautiful, understated performance from Dastmalchian here. Thankfully, Bharadwaj, Pin-Lee, Arada (Tattiawna Jones) and Ratthi (Akshay Khanna) still love him anyway.
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After this confession, Gurathin and Mensah have an aside. He gives her the cold, hard truth: She's naive. Also, this expedition isn't a good idea. Mensah counters that they'll have a SecUnit with them. However, that makes Gurathin feel worse. He doesn't trust the Corporation Rim, and knows better than anyone what they're capable of. MURDERBOT Season 1 Episode 7, 'Complementary Species.' Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ Pack It Up
In the present, Murderbot (Alexander Skarsgård) orders our crew to finish packing so they can depart in the hopper. Leebeebee's employer is undoubtedly close. Our titular bot can't believe its risk assessment module didn't clock the late Leebeebee as a hostile. Gurathin should probably spend more time in the med bay as he's still pretty injured, but there's no time for that now.
SecUnit barrels into the habitat, its helmet on, and orders the crew to pile into the hopper before they lose their lives. Not by it, of course. Whoever employed Leebeebee has it out for the PresAux gang.
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Later, in the hopper, Ratthi strikes up a conversation with Murderbot to assess its current state. Its inner monologue tells us that the group's 'unwarranted' distrust and fear of it is getting on its nerves. It saved their lives. Why can't they be more grateful? You heard it here first — exploding heads saves lives. Leaving on a Hopper
Ratthi admits, in his amiable, disarming way, that the crew is startled. He not-so-subtly wonders if Murderbot was aiming for Gurathin's head, not Leebeebee's. SecUnit states that if it wanted Gurathin dead, he would be, well, dead. So, there's that.
Arada asks Ratthi if SecUnit showed any remorse for killing Leebeebee. Well, not exactly. Mensah lands the hopper in a new location on the planet. Murderbot decides to check the perimeter, which is its favorite thing to do — and a means of getting away from the humans. Before it goes, it remarks that Gurathin's body temperature is spiking. Bharadwaj adds that he has a fever. He needs medical care.
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After it leaves, the PresAux team engages in a moral debate. Pin-Lee states that, yes, Murderbot defended them. However, what if it turns on them? It seems inevitable at this point. Mensah counters that she's more concerned about the humans trying to kill them. Mensah adds that it spent years in forced labor and subjugation. Of course it wants autonomy. Wouldn't you? MURDERBOT Season 1 Episode 7, 'Complementary Species.' Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ Fine
Outside, SecUnit wonders what might happen if it stays in the woods forever, just binge-watching its favorite shows. It could allow itself to shut down organically. It admits that it's quite confused at the moment. Meanwhile, Gurathin asks Mensah if she has a crush on Murderbot. I mean, it does look exactly like Alexander Skarsgård…
Then, SecUnit reunites with Mensah. She asks it how it's doing. Our sentient construct had hoped it wouldn't have to answer inane questions since it confessed to hacking its governor module. However, it decides to opt for a very human response: 'Fine.'
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The others venture outside. Pin-Lee inquires about Murderbot's security methods. It rattles off a retort about Pin-Lee's mission to litigate the Corporation Rim to hell, proving it listens in on their conversations. Also, SecUnit is extra sassy in this episode, and I love it. We Can Talk About This
Mensah makes an executive decision — they're gonna hash this out now. We can talk about this. The group, sans Gurathin, encircles SecUnit. They join hands. SecUnit refuses to partake. Mensah asks it to lower its helmet. She explains that she wants the team to 'get past the violence.' She believes that SecUnit removing its helmet will convince the group that it's trying to help. This does the trick. We see its face again. MURDERBOT Season 1 Episode 7, 'Complementary Species.' Photo courtesy of Apple TV+
After this, SecUnit orders everyone to board the hopper. Suddenly, a two-headed creature bursts from the ground, launching itself at the hopper. Murderbot trains its weapon on the beast. However, another, different creature emerges from the other side. And just when our crew thinks the monsters will kill each other, they start mating. Arada is fascinated. She remarks that they're 'complementary species.'
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Gotta love it when two alien creatures f*ck on top of a ship. Once the lovers depart, the PresAux team heads back outside. They discover egg sacs on the side of the hopper. Mensah says they can leave them there for now. Please Remain Calm (or Don't)
Suddenly, a top-of-the-line SecUnit launches itself toward our SecUnit. It jammed our bot's threat assessment module. 'Please remain calm,' the enemy says as it kicks Murderbot. The crew attempts to defend themselves and protect Murderbot. Ratthi throws a spear. Arada shoves the hostile, and Pin-Lee kicks it. Murderbot multitasks here, simultaneously attacking the other SecUnit while protecting the humans from it. MURDERBOT Season 1 Episode 7, 'Complementary Species.' Photo courtesy of Apple TV+
Then, the enemy SecUnit fires on the egg sacs, taking some of them out. The two-headed creature returns. It rips the SecUnit's head off before grabbing the remainder of the egg sacs and burrowing back underground. The gang celebrates. Seccy does it again.
RELATED: Read our Murderbot recaps
Next, Gurathin collapses. His fever is rising. The PresAux team decides to return to the habitat to get him proper medical care. (They're also still a month out from the Corporation Rim arriving to take them home.) Murderbot believes this is unwise. The habitat will be crawling with hostiles, especially since it killed Leebeebee.
Mensah makes another executive decision. They're going back to the habitat whether it likes this choice or not. It can join them or stay. They take care of their own (even Sanctuary Moon haters like Gurathin).
Murderbot drops new episodes every Friday on Apple TV+.
TED LASSO Season 4 Is Officially a Go at Apple TV+ Contact:
[email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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