Murderbot Season 1 Episode 8 Review: Foreign Object

Murderbot Season 1 Episode 8, “Foreign Object,” sees SecUnit’s dark history come to light as a shady mining company reaches out to the PresAux crew. This major revelation provides context for SecUnit’s intermittent memory fragments and hints at where it could go if it chose to truly embrace its rogue state. Additionally, “Foreign Object” brings a few plot points back into the overarching narrative — the alien remnants and our resident throuple. 

A Defective Construct 

Art imitates life and vice versa with the opening scene from The Rise & Fall of Sanctuary Moon. It really sets the stage for what’s to come in the episode, delivering fun parallels between the Navigation Unit going rogue and Murderbot’s current predicament. The PresAux crew debates if they’re truly safe around our titular bot, or if it will turn on them at any moment. 

Gurathin discovers that SecUnit slaughtered 57 miners during an expedition, which the latter denies. Ultimately, Gurathin calls it “defective,” a malfunctioning machine that will inevitably kill its human clients. In the Sanctuary Moon sequence, the captain refers to the Navigation Unit in those same terms — it’s a machine. 

Gurathin’s remark seems to hit SecUnit where it hurts. If you recall, this particular sentient construct isn’t one of the newer models. If Mensah hadn’t selected Murderbot to assist them, Port FreeCommerce probably would’ve discarded it.

Being called “defective” is a turning point for it; the straw that broke the camel’s back. By the episode’s end, SecUnit decides to betray its clients. “Foreign Object” cleverly doesn’t clarify whether it truly will betray the PresAux gang or if it’s part of a plan to save them from the GrayCris crew. 

Acting!

Alexander Skarsgård and David Dastmalchian are electric together. Their scenes elevate an already sharp, brilliantly written series.

The tension brewing between Murderbot and Gurathin boils over in episode eight following the latter’s discovery of its dark past. Akshay Khanna is also a bright spot, showcasing his versatility as secondary comedic relief. Some of the episode’s funniest moments include Ratthi and Khanna’s deliveries are pitch-perfect. 

DeWanda Wise is only on screen for a few minutes, but she makes the most of that brief screen time. She absolutely kills (well, for her character, literally) it, walking that tightrope between vulnerability and volatility. And, as usual, Noma Dumezweni is still the beating heart of this series. It’s fascinating watching Mensah’s pivot regarding Murderbot. She was its biggest supporter; now, not so much. 

Murderbot and Its Panicking Clients 

Beyond that, “Foreign Object” navigates the AI versus humanity waters well while acting as a meditation on morality, particularly where murder is concerned. Murderbot believes it’s perfectly acceptable to kill for its human clients.

However, as Pin-Lee puts it, “that’s debatable.” Is murder wrong, even if it’s in defense of your loved ones? Even if they inflict harm on them? Murderbot addresses this with its signature incisive wit and depth of feeling. 

“Foreign Object” is a sharp, darkly humorous outing that offers plenty of narrative movement. While there’s less action than normal, that Sanctuary Moon opening scene helps reshape the dynamic between Murderbot and the PresAux group. Overall, the episode deftly lays the groundwork for the last two episodes of the season. 

Can GrayCris be trusted? What does Murderbot’s plan entail? Is the throuple really over? Only time will tell.

Stray Observations:

• Murderbot’s reaction to getting interrupted while watching its shows is so me. 
• I love the running gag that few people can properly pronounce “Leebeebee.” To be fair, that “bee” on the end is excessive. 
• “Murderbot and Its Selfish, Ungrateful Hippie Clients” — I’d watch the hell out of that show. I also need a legit Sanctuary Moon spin-off/miniseries. 
• The Navigation Unit’s attempts at smiling in the opening scene sent shivers down my spine. It’s simultaneously creepy and funny. 
• Murderbot inadvertently outing Gurathin’s crush on Mensah should be a lesson to us all — don’t link up databases, kids! 

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Murderbot drops new episodes every Friday on Apple TV+.

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