What I’m Watching: Mr. Robot

Mr. Robot: Season 2, Episode 3 “eps2.1_k3rnel-pan1c.ksd” (B+)

I appreciate the structure of this episode and the way that it started with a seemingly unimportant flashback explaining the root of the fsociety name and then ending with Dominique’s discovery of their arcade headquarters. It’s much more like “Breaking Bad” than this show has tended to be, since it usually drops major bombshells but not that in that subtle, removed way. I’m more than fascinated by our two new character additions this season. Craig Robinson’s Ray has much more to him that meets the eye, cognizant that he’s having breakfast each morning with a person who’s not there and eager to get to know Eliot by playing chess with him. Grace Gummer’s Dominique is a unique kind of federal agent, and she absolutely has the right personality to fit in on this show. Defiantly popping Adderall pills to get rid of Mr. Robot was a bold move, and picking them up from his vomit on the floor after he hallucinated being abducted was furious and intense. Seeing him smiling, cleaning dishes, and commenting on “Seinfeld” was alluring and disturbing at the same time, and I like that he interpreted it as an error in his code. Seeing a disapproving Mr. Robot silently standing there as Ray moved when they were talking towards the end of the episode was haunting and very effective. Angela being introduced to two bigwigs at Evil Corp demonstrates the type of person she has become, and it will be interesting to see what she does with the knowledge that she’s just gained.