WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Outside the Wire, now streaming on Netflix.
Netflix's Outside the Wire isn't the most high-concept of sci-fi movies, even though it does try to get a bit existential in short spurts regarding the concept of war and a free world. It focuses on Leo (Anthony Mackie), a bot, training Harp (Damson Idris), a drone pilot, so the latter can understand how battle works on the ground rather than from up above.
However, as Leo starts weaving political statements into his directive, the movie gets a bit muddy and as a result, there are a few plot holes that ensue.
Leo's Sinister Reprogramming
Leo's not actually trying to protect launch codes from a Russian warlord, Koval; he wants them for himself to bomb America. Leo thinks his home is the engine behind world wars so he tricks Harp into freeing him from human authority by having Harp condone shady deals with refugees and other dissidents in Ukraine. This creates a path for Leo to follow, which he couldn't do by himself due to his programming.
But there's a flaw in this, because for Leo to have connected with these people to scheme, he already broke protocol. His plan, in and of itself, contradicts his programming. He was already crossing lines before Harp arrived, so this is a plot twist is just for shock value, but this paradox of command holds no credence.
No One Kills Harp
When Harp realizes what Leo's doing, Leo holds him at gunpoint and chucks him out of the car. He speeds off to the nuclear facility with the codes, but he should have killed Harp. Leo liked Harp, which is probably the reason he didn't want to kill him. But he should have realized that, since Harp is a patriot, he would contact their superiors to hunt Leo down, which is exactly what happens. To make it worse, Leo later beats Harp down at the facility before he plugs the codes in, yet leaves him barely conscious rather than shoot him dead.
Also, just before Harp goes back to base to warn his boss, Leo's allies, a resistance led by Sofiya, finds and interrogates him. She's glad to do so, as she hates America for devastating other countries in the name of democracy. Yet her rebels let Harp go back to his team when they should have killed him so he doesn't try to stop Leo. It seems like a concerted effort by everyone to keep Harp alive.
Drones vs. Leo's Car
Harp calls his old drone partner, Bale, from base to track Leo's car down. Bale's reluctant, as Harp is seen as a trouble-maker who disobeys orders, but she eventually agrees. The problem is, Harp's new boss, Eckhart, already has a drone squad in the area, which he used against Koval's men mere hours before. They're closer than Harp's squad and could be easier activated, yet Eckhart never mentions them again. This whole scenario is contrived to add unnecessary drama.
In addition, it makes no sense that Bale would track the car and not blow it up. This would have at least slowed Leo down or bought time for a bigger team to get there. Lastly, the fact that Leo sticks with one car for this sedition mission is another plot hole as it's literally a target on his back, especially as Harp knows the vehicle and there are drones and cameras all over.
Leo's Plan to Bomb the USA
Leo's plan is pretty convoluted and makes no sense because he's doing what Koval was going to do — bomb America. Instead, he exposed himself, his rebel cell and also, let America know their bots had flaws and were thinking for themselves.
Had he let Koval do his thing, the robot plants, machine factories and tech companies would be dead. Again, the movie has him working for and then double-crossing Koval, all to produce a twist and tout up Leo as the freedom fighter who wants to punish America as opposed to an outsider. All they had to do was keep working together, as they had the same goals.
The Resistance Goes Free
When Harp stops Leo's mission by getting his team to bomb the facility and stop the nukes from being launched, he calls Eckhart who tells him he deserves to head home and be with his love, Olivia, for a bit. But Harp never asks him about the consequences for Sofiya, who's complicit in Leo's actions. There's simply no reprimand for these enemies of America. The dissidents get to roam free, even after coming so close to helping kill all his loved ones back home.
Outside the Wire, directed by Mikael Håfström and starring Anthony Mackie, Damson Idris, Emily Beecham, Enzo Cilenti, Michael Kelly and Kristina Tonteri-Young and Pilou Asbæk is now streaming on Netflix.