Murderbot Season 1 Episode 10 Review: The Perimeter

Murderbot Season 1 Episode 10, “The Perimeter,” sees our heroes fight tooth and nail to save SecUnit while taking the Company to task. It’s a quieter, introspective finale, more focused on character dynamics and building on the intrigue of the Company than wall-to-wall action. After a season of big action moments unfurling in each episode, “The Perimeter” earns this new narrative approach. 

SecUnit’s Life Hangs in the Balance

Our titular bot doesn’t start the outing in a great place. It precariously lingers between life and death after sacrificing itself to save the PresAux team. Then, the engineers of Port FreeCommerce essentially give it a hard factory reset, erasing its memories and installing a new governor module. Everything is back to square one. 

Of course, given the fast-paced nature of this series and its short episodes, Murderbot doesn’t stay in this state for long. Surprisingly, Gurathin is the one to truly restore SecUnit’s data.

While Murderbot and Mensah’s sweet friendship is the beating heart of this series, Gurathin and Murderbot’s dynamic is admittedly more fascinating. Initially, they’re quite antagonistic, starting from a place of animosity. However, over the course of the show, Gurathin and SecUnit learn to trust each other, and the latter’s sacrifice cements Gura’s love for it. Story-wise, this shift in their relationship is incredibly well-earned. 

You Need to Check the Perimeter

Alexander Skarsgård and David Dastmalchian are a match made in heaven. Their final scene in “The Perimeter” is layered and nuanced. Few words are exchanged, yet so much is said in their expressions. Skarsgård communicates a lot with his eyes. Dastmalchian exhibits a newfound warmth in Gurathin, and he draws you in with that warmth. 

Gurathin’s realization that SecUnit is leaving, and how that’ll break Mensah’s heart, is played out beautifully onscreen by Dastmalchian. There’s this push-and-pull within Gura, particularly as far as Seccy’s right to have autonomy over itself is concerned. He did propose they purchase SecUnit from the Company, and while this is a tactic to save it, something tells me he still feels conflicted about it. 

Who Am I?

“The Perimeter” throws SecUnit’s identity into question. After the PresAux team frees it from the Company, Mensah declares she’s its new guardian. It’ll accompany the crew to Preservation Alliance, where it can pursue new opportunities. While a big chunk of the season is devoted to Seccy’s internal struggle with its innate humanity and its desire to dismiss humanity, the season finale takes away its main function: to serve.

SecUnit’s identity is inextricably linked with its main function. If it can’t be of service, then who — or what — is it? There’s this need to associate one’s self-worth with productivity. You’re only worthy of existing if you can be productive to others. The episode deftly explores this deeply resonant, profoundly relatable theme. 

In the end, though, SecUnit decides that it doesn’t want anyone telling it what it wants or making decisions for it, even if it’s from its favorite human. We’ll undoubtedly see Murderbot explore this new chapter in its life in Season 2 (and hopefully reunite with its favorite human, Mensah). 

“The Perimeter” is less action-packed and less humorous, and is certainly a change of pace from the rest of the season. However, it’s also more heartwarming. It’s a testament to the strength of humanity, and a meditation on finding our identities, respective of each other. While we’re strong together, as a race, we’re truly at our best when we can be ourselves. 

The groundwork is laid for Season 2 — Murderbot is now at a mining facility. Mensah and the others will continue investigating the GrayCris incident and the Company’s culpability. Not to mention, there’s still the alien remnants to contend with. 

Bring it on. Murderbot Season 1 is proof positive that we need more stories in this darkly hilarious world. 

Stray Observations:

• The image of the towering Alexander Skarsgård crying like a baby is so funny to me. 
• Mensah is Madam President. Respect her. What a badass.
• Seccy’s encyclopedic knowledge of Sanctuary Moon and its awareness of how many episodes are missing from its database is so me. 
• Mensah crying in that final scene tore my heart in two. Oof. 
• I will perpetually be weirded out by the Ken doll mound on the SecUnits. 
• I, too, get awkward when people shower me with compliments. Even worse if it’s in the form of a toast.
• If I’ve learned anything from this series, it’s to become ungovernable. 
• Skarsgård has that thousand-yard stare down pat. 

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Murderbot is now streaming on Apple TV+.

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