Mr. Robot is the best show you haven’t watched yet. Probably because it airs on the USA Network, it is categorised as a sci-fi, and its central characters include a young Egyptian and a 90s-era hearthrob. Even if you're not watching it, the critics are and the first season topped end of year lists, snagged a Peabody, won big at the Golden Globes and received six Emmy nominations.
I knew the new season was going to be good. Sam Esmail is a genius and Rami Malek is a gift. I was still physically anxious to see how it would go down. Here were some of my many, many thoughts during the two-part premiere.
“This cinematography is insane.”
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, Sam Esmail is a visionary. In the previous season, when Elliot was having his 10-minute withdrawal dream that made no sense at all, the images alone captivated me. At the start of this premiere, I had no idea what Elliot and Tyrell were doing together or why we were getting this flashback, but it was haunting and beautiful. Others took note too.
“Sam Esmail has got Barack Obama and Joey BADA$$ appearing in the first 10 minutes, damn.”
Guys, Barack Obama said the words “Tyrell Wellick” and “F Society” in the same sentence. Real or not, it was so undeniably cool. More relevant to the season though was the long-awaited introduction of Joey BADA$$ to Mr. Robot. Personally, I haven’t forgiven him for following up his 1999 masterpiece with whatever the hell B4.DA.$$ was, but this was his best performance since the first verse on “Funky Ho’$”. The use of the Lupe Fiasco gem, “Daydreamin’” was also the best musical decision since Alabama Shakes’ “Sound and Colour” in the first season finale.
“The references to Seinfeld and Waiting for Godot are top-notch.”
Leon’s criticisms of Seinfeld were funny and spot-on. It became clever as his understanding evolved from his exasperation at the mundanity to his realisation that its seemingly lack of purpose is deliberate. He tells Elliot, “Not just that it’s pointless, but maybe it just means nothing. You know like Constanza says, “A cold, random universe.”" This almost existential idea of the lack of purpose to the human condition is accentuated when the copy of Waiting for Godot is burned, whilst Elliot purposely sets out to live aimlessly, seeking the mundane, and making pointless his actions from last season. It was a lot. All of it was amazing.
“Why did they get rid of my favourite characters and keep the crappy ones?”
I love the therapist, but she was only in one scene. I hate Darlene and her murky motivations but she seems to have a narrative arc. They kept the most boring hacker and left out the underdeveloped, non-white favourites. They kept Angela, for reasons unbeknownst to me when they could’ve just kept Shayla alive (RIP). Wellick is nowhere to be found but his weird wife has a storyline too. The Dark Army guys who I thought were crucial weren’t there but we had to listen to the Evil Corp execs. Even good and kind Gideon didn't make it out alive. Damn.
“Christian Slater and Rami Malek are gonna give me a heart attack.”
This is a genuine concern because I can’t deal with them. Their chemistry is amazing because they go all the way there and then some in terms of intensifying drama. Their characters are both nuts, although I’m unsure if they count as two different characters or not anymore. Their scenes involving violence, especially the when Mr. Robot kills Elliott and when he slits Gideon's throat. They did Christian Slater dirty when the snubbed him for they Emmy this year but he seems to be gunning for the next one (literally lol). In the meantime, Rami could and should win.
“When did Chris Robinson get so big?”
Chris Robinson has a really good agent. The Office is a classic, This is the End was a runaway hit and now he’s in this work of art. I don’t necessarily like him, but I don’t mind him. His character is almost definitely evil. I do appreciate one less white face on screen. However, I was unable to focus because he has not always been this big and it took me aback. I actually have nothing to say on his performance. Except that I liked that he was went T.I. with his character, seen best with his casual use of the word “loquacious.” We see you.
