Murderbot Season 1 Episode 7 Review: Complementary Species

Murderbot Season 1 Episode 7, “Complementary Species,” sees the PresAux gang relocate as an unseen threat closes in on them.

Meanwhile, our titular bot feels unappreciated after it saved everyone’s lives by exploding a hostile’s head. The outing weaves together multiple themes quite seamlessly, from the value of human life to bodily autonomy, while presenting a character shift for Murderbot. 

Seccy Is Fine

Alexander Skarsgård is perfect in this role. Not many could do what he’s doing as SecUnit. It’s an understated performance — so much brews beneath the surface. Here, Murderbot struggles with the group’s collective reaction to its slaughtering of Leebeebee. 

Instead of trying to appeal to the humans’ sensibilities, it’s now pulling away, often responding with a cutting remark. Its sass knows no bounds. Sure, the crew is now aware that Murderbot hacked its governor module, but this distancing is quite the pivot for it. This gradual shift is cleverly executed in “Complementary Species.” 

It’s also more brutally honest than ever before, and there’s something freeing about watching a character be more comfortable in their — well, in this case, “it” — skin. Yet, this honesty, along with the occasional verbal threats, doesn’t so much keep the PresAux team on edge as Murderbot’s refusal to remove its helmet.

That human element represents a fine line between “murderous sentient construct” and “amiable team member.” 

Whether it likes it or not, Murderbot’s withdrawal is innately human. Try as it might to extricate itself from its human clients, it’s more like them than it’s willing to admit. It’s even mastered the art of loaded human language: nobody who says “Fine” is ever truly, you know, fine. Murderbot even admits it’s confused, and “Complementary Species” deftly showcases this. 

What’s a Life?

Leebeebee’s murder doesn’t sit well with the PresAux crew. Sure, she was probably going to kill them regardless, but the Preservation Alliance is staunchly anti-violent. The question of the price of human life is the undercurrent that propels this episodic narrative. Is it morally sound to take one if you’re defending yourself?

What about if this person is actively trying to kill you? Murderbot’s actions bewilder the humans — they understand that it saved their lives, but it was at the expense of someone else’s life. Of course, we know SecUnit secretly relished the act of exploding Leebeebee’s head. And even though there’s a very high possibility that Murderbot won’t turn on its clients, those narrative stakes are still present. 

These fraught character dynamics are the beating heart of “Complementary Species.” By the episode’s end, even Mensah, who’s been an unwavering Murderbot supporter since day one, is willing to leave it behind to save Gurathin. It’s a change in the tides of their relationship. I love that these bonds can experience ebbs and flows at the drop of a hat. 

Bolstered by strong performances, “Complementary Species” provides equal parts character and story development. While the series is getting a bit formulaic with its execution — building up to a few minutes of high-octane action before a jaw-dropping cliffhanger — it’s still damn entertaining and funny as all get-out. 

Stray Observations: 

• “I should’ve downloaded more shows.” Murderbot is me. I am it. This is how I feel when I’m sitting on a long flight. 
• You’ll never meet a bigger fan of Arada and Pin-Lee than Ratthi. He’s their fanboy and their boy toy. 
• Gurathin awkwardly trying to participate in the “We Can Talk About This” scene at the beginning of the episode is pretty dang cute. 
• Is there anything more beautiful than two alien creatures boning on top of a hopper? Life finds a way. 
• Hey, at least Murderbot concealed Leebeebee’s headless corpse. How considerate of it to clean up after itself after making a bloody mess. 

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Murderbot drops new episodes every Friday on Apple TV+.

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