What I’m Watching: Mr. Robot

Mr. Robot: Season 3, Episode 8 “eps3.7_dont-delete-me.ko” (B+)

This episode felt very different from the bulk of this season, with Elliot parading around in a dreamlike state, interacting only with those tangentially related to his life, with the notable exception of his sister, from whom he’s pulling away more and more. Deleting Trenton and Mobley was a very symbolic act, and it was strange to see him go try to talk to their families to pay his respects. Mobley’s brother didn’t have any interest in discussing the sibling who ruined his life, and I like that Elliot returned to blackmail him into paying for an expensive funeral using the drugs he procured. Trenton’s father was worried about anti-Muslim sentiments, a relatable subject given the real-life events of this world, yet all the more frightening when the military is announcing city-wide curfews put into place in the wake of the devastating attacks. Trenton’s brother following Elliot around led to some very interesting moments, including Elliot’s take on critics’ poor taste and “The Martian,” and the true relevance of “Back to the Future” day and its characters’ abilities to change the past. Opening with Elliot’s father making him mix the candy with the popcorn before collapsing, leading Elliot to go see the movie with his jacket and talk to his absent father, was very powerful an effective in showcasing a different kind of loneliness he experiences in the present. His nostalgic talk through the door with Angela was also a nice return to simpler times. Getting the e-mail titled “Don’t delete me” from Trenton was an awesome ending, and I’m curious to see what reversing the hack can do now.