Round Two: Mr. Robot

Mr. Robot: Season 1, Episode 2 “eps.1.1_ones-and-zer0es.mpeg” (B)

This show is still furiously and electrically interesting, but it seems very clear that answers will be in short order and intrigue will be plentiful on this show as it unravels its mysteries even more with each episode. After being offered a job at EvilCorp, Elliot took the righteous path but then realized that he doesn’t have a clue what he’s gotten himself into with Mr. Robot and his merry band of friends. Fsociety’s ransom video threatening to expose everything if their supposed leader was not released threw everything into question, and it has definitely made Elliot uneasy. I like that it’s never quite apparent whether what Elliot is experiencing and seeing is real or simply imagined in his head, with just enough contradictory clues offered to suggest that it could be either. I hadn’t noticed Carly Chaikin, who played mean girl Dalia on “Suburgatory,” as Darlene in the pilot, and I think she’s a brilliant character who makes Elliot throw up his hands in bewilderment, perplexed at how she knew where he lived and then obsessed with talking about her ex-boyfriend and their prospective future. Interrupting the drug dealer’s rant to take over and explain his story through the hack he did was great, and it’s quite a messy web he’s gotten himself into where he can’t get rid of him because then he loses his drug supply. Among the most involving conversations of the hour were Mr. Robot’s “Are you a 1 or 0” prompt and the therapy session in which Elliot got to contact his father, his work, and his drug addiction in one very rattling meeting.