If you would like to read my review of the last episode, click here.
Synopsis: Mr. Robot wants answers; the FBI closes in; Angela hits the rewind button. (IMDB)
Writer: Adam Penn
Director: Sam Esmail
Rating: TV-MA
Runtime: 49mins
In what served as a fairly strong follow-up episode to the events of the Stage 2 attacks, the country begins looking for a scapegoat to blame and The Dark Army carries out plans to give them one in order to walk away from all of this completely untouched. The episode begins with the return of Leon, one of my favorite characters from season two, deciding to give some of his unique observations on Frasier and Knightrider to Trenton and Mobley as they are being held hostage by The Dark Army. The show is cryptic towards the beginning as to why they remained alive after the 5/9 attacks as the audience has presumed them dead for the entirety of this season. However, their lives were meant for a much higher purpose because as Mr. Robot, Wellick, Darlene, and Angela realize that now that the attacks are completed The Dark Army will be looking to clean up any and all loose ends that are associated with them in order to remain completely anonymous.
Both Trenton and Mobley aka Frederick and Tanya, are picked to assume the role of scapegoat in this scenario by becoming the very people that the FBI are looking for instead of The Dark Army. What’s eery about this entire plotline is the patience with which it’s handled across the episode. The viewer is shown this in small scenes throughout the episode as you start to think that they will just be killed and framed, but then start to see that there is a much more elaborate plan in mind that involves both of them. When they finally are found by the FBI, you are able to see the full extent of the reach and forethought that The Dark Army has planned all of this out which was daunting. This episode created a great sense of dread for every single member of “Team Elliot“, creating a small chance that none of them make it out of this alive.
However, as the episode began to shift towards Mr. Robot and his realization that he is not so much the agent of change, but more of the pawn in a much larger game, you get the sense that revenge could possibly be on the horizon. Taking the storyline in this direction was a good decision because the thought of Elliot and Mr. Robot teaming up to not only go after The Dark Army but WhiteRose herself is exciting and could easily be the entire basis for season four. This might take some time because even throughout the course of this episode Mr. Robot fails to admit any blame for the attacks going wrong and instead deflects towards Elliot via Krista as being the reason that prevented him from carrying out the plan correctly in the first place. The audience knows this argument to be futile and that it will take some time for Mr. Robot to come to grips with the full weight of what has just happened, but one can dream that the team up between Elliot and Mr. Robot will happen sooner than later and it will be amazing.
Outside of the storylines of Trenton, Mobley, and Mr. Robot, we are shown a very poignant scene between Price and Whiterose as they confront each other after the 71 E Corps Buildings exploded. Price realizes that all of this was orchestrated by WhiteRose as an act of revenge, but the motive still remained unclear. WhiteRose tries to hide behind the excuse of protecting her Congo vote in the UN and the Chinese plant that she was sworn to protect, but Price sees right through this and presses her for the real answer. She neglects to give in but does show her hand that it was a more personal decision than she is accustomed to making which tips Price off that this had nothing to do with business but everything to do with beating an opponent completely. Much like Mr. Robot, one could assume that Price will be tasting revenge sooner than later and it will be only a matter of time until he begins plotting a course of action, however, if we know anything by now it is that an entity such as The Dark Army has already planned for this and will be ready for him.
Any thoughts about this season as a whole are difficult to put down on paper yet, but one thing is for sure that it has surpassed both of the previous two seasons in terms of plot, character development, and pure excitement. This season has been able to push the boundaries far beyond what we thought we knew these characters were capable to the point where some of them are completely unrecognizable. The show has managed to keep even the most dedicated and devoted fan guessing and the result has been an exciting and unpredictable ride that is very rare in this current state of television.
This episode managed to not only ride the wave of tension that has been building across the entire season but also contributed to pushing it even further as the season’s finale is on the horizon. As a fan of Mr. Robot, I can honestly say that I have no clue where this story’s next move is going and not only am I okay with it I have placed my full trust in knowing that my patience and dedication will be rewarded in an unexpected way. With only three episodes left, revenge looks to be a major motivation for some of the characters moving forward and we still have a long way to go for them to experience any form of peace, but one thing is certain in that the journey to that point will be an exciting one.
Score: 8/10
Trying my best to get all thoughts about TV and Film out of my head and onto the interweb.
