Editor’s note: The following recap includes spoilers for the thrilling season finale of <em>Murderbot</em>.
After a riveting nine weeks filled with sharp humor and unexpected twists, Murderbot has reached its season finale. Titled “The Perimeter,” this episode, crafted by the talented showrunners Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz, and directed by Paul, marks not just the conclusion of one gripping journey but also the promising start of another, as the series has been officially renewed. The dedicated cast and crew of Murderbot certainly deserve as many seasons as necessary to continue bringing Martha Wells’ beloved series to life on screen. As an admirer of Wells’ uniquely engaging narratives, it’s been a joy to witness how the Apple TV+ adaptation has successfully captured the essence of the original material, sharing its delightful nuances with a broader audience.
In many respects, “The Perimeter” is a subdued yet impactful season finale. The previous episode concluded with intense action, allowing Episode 10 to serve as a bittersweet, hopeful denouement that offers satisfying resolutions for its key characters while presenting an important thematic twist. In this episode, instead of the usual scenario where Murderbot (Alexander Skarsgård) reluctantly safeguards its vulnerable human clients, it is the Preservation Alliance survey team that steps up to protect their defenseless Murderbot. This shift occurs not out of obligation but out of genuine affection for their socially awkward SecUnit, showcasing the depth of their connection.
Murderbot Encounters a Loss of Memories and Identity in the Season Finale
Following its selfless act of sacrificing itself to protect Mensah (Noma Dumezweni) in the prior episode, Murderbot awakens to an agonizing reality. Although its physical wounds have healed, it finds itself once again under the oppressive control of the Company that manufactured it, helplessly restrained on a table in a sterile, clinical room. Two dismissive employees ignore its frantic pleas for information and its distressed calls for assistance, specifically for Mensah. Instead of offering help, these individuals take the opportunity to demean Murderbot, activating a complete memory wipe and installing a controlling governor module. Within mere seconds, Murderbot’s treasured memories are erased, along with its cherished autonomy, which the Company deems a defect.
As this horrifying violation unfolds, all members of the PreservationAux team, aside from Ratthi (Akshay Khanna), are engaged in a heated discussion with their corporate contacts about the fate of Murderbot. The team is determined to secure Murderbot’s freedom, much to the bewilderment of the corporate executives who view it merely as an outdated piece of machinery. Despite Mensah’s persistent efforts, bolstered by the authority of the Alliance, the Company remains unmoved, refusing to disclose Murderbot’s whereabouts. In a moment of desperation, Gurathin (David Dastmalchian) offers to purchase their companion, recognizing that in this corporate system, ownership is the only language comprehensible to the Company. Yet even this attempt at leverage fails, as the executives remain steadfastly unyielding, even in light of their previous dealings with the lethal GrayCris team. The Company possesses ample resources to keep such dubious information under wraps.
Meanwhile, Ratthi stands vigilant in the main lobby of Port FreeCommerce, scanning the transport lanes and bustling crowds for any sign of Murderbot. His heart races with excitement when he finally spots “Seccy” alongside its human escorts, but his joy is short-lived when he realizes that Murderbot does not recognize Ratthi. This unsettling realization is due to the fact that Murderbot has undergone a complete memory reset. When the team reconvenes in their rented quarters, a sense of despair permeates the group, with the exception of Mensah, who refuses to believe that Murderbot’s consciousness has been irretrievably lost with the push of a button.
Gurathin offers a glimmer of hope amidst the gloom: even though Murderbot’s programming cannot reverse a factory reset, there’s no way the Company hasn’t stored its memories on a backup server for potential profit. The bad news is that whatever bits and pieces they might have kept won’t be sufficient to restore Murderbot’s complete, authentic personality. After reaching a consensus to pursue this lead, the brilliant lawyer Pin-Lee (Sabrina Wu) prepares to file an injunction against the Company, while Gurathin devises a daring plan to rescue his once-enemy.
The Human Team Initiates a Daring Rescue Mission in the ‘Murderbot’ Season Finale
Outside the Company’s headquarters, security personnel have established a blockade against a large crowd of dissatisfied employees protesting the inhumane practices of the Company. As the protesters chant, “we’re not slaves,” the officers, driven by a desire for power, command several SecUnits, including Murderbot, to disperse the demonstration through violence. However, Murderbot’s mindless compliance is short-lived. The act of inflicting harm on innocent civilians triggers haunting memories of terrified clients it unwillingly harmed in the past. These vivid, fragmented recollections are not the healing power of camaraderie at play; instead, even a mind-wiped Murderbot instinctively recoils, becoming paralyzed by its past actions. The protesters, initially taken aback, begin to attack the malfunctioning SecUnit, which is now incapable of defending itself.
Meanwhile, in the residential suites, Gurathin seeks out a former associate who had previously supplied him with illicit substances. This man, despite their mutual animosity, uses his security clearance to covertly smuggle Gurathin into one of the Company’s server rooms. After several unsuccessful attempts to retrieve the remnants of Murderbot’s memories, Gurathin shifts his strategy. He searches for The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon and successfully traces the results back to their original source. Connecting his augmentations to the storage database, Gurathin downloads every single memory, enduring the discomfort of processing an overwhelming amount of data that even an augmented human brain struggles to contain.
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As the rest of the team leaps into action, Mensah takes center stage during a press conference, revealing shocking truths about GrayCris and the Company’s involvement in the DeltFall massacre. She absolves the hacked SecUnits from guilt while commending the essential protection their own Security Unit provided. Armed with a court-issued injunction, Pin-Lee and Ratthi finally locate Murderbot within the Company’s disassembly rooms, and just in time — it is perilously close to being destroyed in an acid bath, the very fate it has fought to escape since disabling its governor module. Despite being stripped of its autonomy, fear is evident in Murderbot’s eyes, like a forgotten word on the tip of its tongue. However, within the confines of PresAux’s quarters, that silent, motionless restraint proves resistant to the team’s efforts to spark any remnants of its personality.
Murderbot Embarks on Its Next Adventure in the Season Finale
Upon Gurathin’s return from his treacherous mission, he is physically intact but immediately succumbs to nausea in the kitchen sink. After reassuring Mensah that he hasn’t relapsed, he directly connects his augmentations to Murderbot’s system. Memories — the awkward moments, the risks taken, the compassion shared — surge through in a torrent. After the transfer, Murderbot breaks the anticipatory silence, humorously stating in its iconic, sarcastic tone: “I am missing Episodes 420 to 568 of Sanctuary Moon.” The group bursts into cheers, laughter, and tears, bringing Murderbot up to speed. They have secured its contract and intend to bring it home with them. With the Alliance recognizing constructs as sentient beings, the possibilities for Murderbot’s free will are boundless. The day passes in a whirlwind of mundane meetings, followed by an exciting private dinner celebrating Murderbot’s newfound future. To paraphrase How the Grinch Stole Christmas: SecUnit’s heart grew three sizes that day.
Yet, the reality remains that Murderbot isn’t human. Without the structure of being a contracted killer, its identity and purpose become uncertain. Even as it embraces PreservationAux’s mottos and dons the comfortable attire Arada (Tattiawna Jones) provided, it struggles to transition from one owner to another, no matter how well-meaning its new clients may be. As night descends, Murderbot watches over the peacefully slumbering humans with a mix of gratitude and conflict. When it moves towards the door, Gurathin interrupts with a light-hearted comment about checking the perimeter. With a smile, he reassures Murderbot that while adapting to the Alliance’s lifestyle may take time, being surrounded by the best people in the galaxy will ease the transition. Gurathin’s compassion remains steadfast, even as he grasps that Murderbot intends to leave. These two have always shared a unique bond, and while Gurathin experiences a profound sense of loss, he understands Murderbot’s needs. With a small smile in response, Murderbot steps outside and closes the door, lingering long enough to hear Gurathin, silently grieving on the other side, whisper a heartfelt “Thank you.”
As dawn breaks and the sky turns a soft pink, Murderbot joins the throngs of humans going about their daily routines. For the very first time, it moves through the world unnoticed and undisturbed. Yet, just to be safe, it offers to share its extensive media library with the navigation bot of a departing transport ship in exchange for a lift. “I don’t know what I want,” its inner voice confesses. “But I know I don’t want anyone dictating what I should want or making decisions on my behalf, even if they are my favorite human.” The scene shifts to Mensah, that cherished human, who awakens just in time to notice Murderbot’s absence and watch a ship departing from the docking bay. She nods in a proud-parent manner, smiling through her tears. For Murderbot, nursing a private smile and having survived to binge-watch another day after a life marred by conformity, abuse, and fear — it has long been overdue for an adventure of its own choosing.
You can stream all episodes of Murderbot now on Apple TV+.
