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Appleseed: Ex Machina
Movie

Appleseed: Ex Machina

2007 • Unknown

Woke Score
2
out of 10

Plot

As members of ESWAT, the elite forces serving Olympus, Deunan and Briaereos are deployed anywhere trouble strikes. Olympus finds itself under a stealth attack - cyborg terrorism, deadly nanotech zealots, and rioting citizens are just some of the threats that Deunan must contend with as she fights to save Olympus!

Overall Series Review

Appleseed: Ex Machina is a high-octane sci-fi thriller set in the utopian city of Olympus, where elite E-SWAT agents Deunan Knute and her cyborg partner Briareos fight against a conspiracy to eliminate human conflict by erasing individuality. The core narrative directly opposes mass ideological conformity and champions individual freedom and the complex, emotional reality of being human. The movie centers its personal drama on the committed relationship between Deunan and Briareos, which is tested by the introduction of a clone of Briareos's former human body. The story focuses on action and philosophical questions of free will versus control, featuring a competent female lead whose primary personal ambition is maintaining her loyal partnership, not political ideology or deconstructing societal norms. The movie’s themes are a classic cyberpunk critique of totalitarianism and technological hubris.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics1/10

The central conflict pits the heroes against a villainous plot to forcibly erase individual differences for the sake of global unity, a concept antithetical to the celebration of immutable characteristics. Character merit is universal; Deunan and Briareos are elite soldiers and their worth is based on their skill and commitment. The focus is on the value of human individuality over manufactured, emotionless perfection.

Oikophobia2/10

The film does not frame its home culture, Olympus, or its ancestors as fundamentally corrupt or racist. Instead, it is a new, post-war technocratic utopia, and the heroes are fighting to save it from a rogue internal force seeking absolute, totalitarian control. The critique is aimed at utopian social engineering and global surveillance, which is a philosophical critique of control, not Western self-hatred.

Feminism4/10

Deunan Knute is an ultra-independent, expert combat soldier, which fits the 'Girl Boss' archetype of a highly capable, autonomous female lead. This raises the score. However, her core motivation is maintaining her long-term, loyal, and romantic relationship with her male partner, Briareos, who struggles with a temporary feeling of emasculation due to his cyborg body compared to his handsome human clone. This focus on a traditional, complementary bond prevents a higher score.

LGBTQ+1/10

The core relationship drama revolves entirely around the male-female pair bond of Deunan and Briareos and the challenge posed by a male clone. There is no presence or discussion of alternative sexualities, gender ideology, or the deconstruction of the nuclear family. Sexuality is private and confined to the main romantic partnership.

Anti-Theism1/10

The conflict is based on technocratic/philosophical grounds, specifically the hubris of a scientist trying to become a god by forcing collective consciousness upon humanity, a classic sci-fi trope. The film does not feature a critique of traditional religion, nor are faith or Christian characters depicted as villains or bigots. The narrative champions an objective moral truth—the value of the free, individual human spirit.