What I’m Watching: Mr. Robot

Mr. Robot: Season 4, Episode 3 “403 Forbidden” (B)

I guess the big reveal from the end of last week’s episode about there being a third personality living inside Elliot will be revisited at some point in the future, with Whiterose’s mysterious identity instead being explored. Flashing back to a love story set in 1982 with an old-fashioned USA Network commercial felt like a real trip, with a sweet romance cut short by societal pressure and a suicide. Whiterose has some interesting plans which don’t seem to be supported by her top lieutenant, and that makes Elliot even more vulnerable. Running into Krista on the street was unexpected, and his eagerness to let her know that he was making progress and talking to Mr. Robot didn’t matter much because of how scared of him she was. She wasn’t the only familiar face we saw in this hour, and she’s likely to be drawn back in to something of which she wants no part. Darlene refusing to be bossed around by Elliot and identifying that it was him rather than Mr. Robot threatening her shows how strained their relationship has become as they’re working more closely together than ever. It was mesmerizing to see Mr. Robot step in and start flirting with Olivia when Elliot’s approach failed, and then to see how Elliot was actually connecting with her even while he was just using her. I feel like we never see Tyrell anymore, and when we do, it’s a harbinger of bad things to come, for him more than anyone.