‘MR. ROBOT’ — eps2.7init5.fve and eps2.8h1dden-pr0cess.axx— RECAP AND ANALYSIS
Each week, Social Underground will go over the newest episode of the hit show Mr. Robot. There will be a recap of what happened, and then some commentary on what happened and where the show might go next. Trying to figure out where this show goes is pretty difficult since there are many plots that interweave. The good thing about that is having a show that’s unpredictable. No one likes knowing the end of a season at the beginning.
Last Week’s Recap: Mr. Robot — eps2.6succ3ss0r.p12 — Recap And Analysis
Episode 8 had a pretty explosive episode. What really made the episode different was that it had neither Mr Robot or Elliot in the episode at all. It all dealt with what was left of fsociety trying to continue the movement with iffy results. Darlene may just be crazier than her brother, Angela is starting to look like that ex-girlfriend who comes apart after a few drinks, and it seems as if fsociety is unraveling because Elliot is in jail. Why Darlene covered this up is a mystery, and why no one in fsociety hasn’t noticed Elliot being MIA for 4 months is also a big question. Tyrell is the one being blamed for it all, but he’s missing, so what the hell? SO MANY QUESTIONS!
SPOILERS BELOW!!!
First off, let’s dive into episode nine titled eps2.7init5.fve (sorry, Labor Day delays a lot):
The knock on Elliot’s door was the police to arrest him for hacking Lenny Shannon, Krista’s ex, and stealing his dog. He pleads guilty and lands in jail the next day with Ray as warden, establishing his illusion. Even though his sentence is for 18 months, he is released 86 days later due to the Dark Army’s influence.
Darlene informs him Mobley and Trenton are missing. Through Cisco, they hack a Dark Army agent’s phone and ask what Stage 2 is. Angela hacks E Corp herself to learn the toxic leak at the plant was never fixed, though grows suspicious and backs out of reporting it; Dom tells her she is running out of options.
Darlene realizes she left an fsociety tape with her face at Susan’s house. Cisco retrieves it and hears someone breathing. Whiterose had arranged the death of the previous E Corp CEO for interfering with the plant. Price is able to calm Zhang (Whiterose) by saying they can keep the plant if China loans E Corp some bailout money as goodwill, threatening Zhang that he will not be as easily dispatched as his predecessor.
Elliot and Mr. Robot notice that they are somehow disconnecting from each other. Reminds me yet again about Fight Club where Tyler disappears, has been all over the country, and he was completely clueless he missed all that time. We’re losing cabin pressure. Darlene listens as Whiterose says Stage 2 is Elliot’s plan, just as someone knocks at her door. Waiting for Elliot outside his apartment is Tyrell Wellick’s SUV, from which Joanna greets him as “Ollie.”
Now we shall tackle episode ten titled eps2.8h1dden-pr0cess.axx.
Phillip Price has Terry Colby pull strings in Congress to allow China to annex The Congo in exchange for the bailout money. Price considers himself the third most powerful person in the world and wants more. He believes this after giving a creepy speech about how he’s anointed by God or something. I’ve seen this actor in other stuff, and he often plays so secretive, power hungry guy. Might as well keep at it.
Cisco found Vincent, one of fsociety’s new recruits heavily wounded. The others were caught by police after a car chase. Darlene thinks it’s too risky to get him help though Cisco lets her see this is wrong and she’s in over her head.
At the hospital Darlene admits everything they did was because Elliot is the special one. The men were seen leaving Susan’s house so the police investigate her disappearance; making Dom realize that one of the fsociety members is nearby. Despite her protests the Dark Army will attack, Cisco’s image is released to the media as a Five/Nine suspect alerting the hospital staff while Darlene and Cisco are out eating. Sh*t is getting real. Now it’s starting to feel like a good season of Dexter where he is so close to getting caught.
Joanna wants Elliot to track the phone, convinced it is Tyrell. Buying new hardware with Joanna’s driver, Elliot hears the breathing on the phone which makes Mr. Robot vanish. He traces the call to nearby but the driver states Tyrell wouldn’t call from that location.
Meeting with Angela on the subway she is defeated, calling her lawyer to admit her part in the FBI hack. She makes Elliot realize there are more gaps in his memory and warns him not to trust Mr. Robot. Elliot kisses her goodbye (studio audience goes oooooo!). A man and woman approach Angela. Dom tracks Darlene and Cisco to the restaurant and while inside, a shooter opens fire on them.
There’s a scene before Dom figures out where they are when she is running across the street. As that happens, an entire block of NYC that would can see in the shot briefly goes dark. They’re really trying to show even more of how this hack didn’t save the world, but ended up screwing over millions of innocent people.
The shooter commits suicide as the the police arrive while a bloodied Dom runs out of the restaurant. Dom seems to attract mass shootings.
So, Mr. Robot continues to be firing on all cylinders this season. Each episode this season feels completely different from last season. Where I’m usually excited to watch, now I get overwhelmed with anxiety knowing that something screwed up could happen in just about every scene. After each episode happens, you sometimes misplace what happens in your head because what would be explosive on another show is just another scene in this one. It’s amazing.
Let’s ask some of the burning questions after this episode:
- Whose place did Elliot track Willick to that had his Joanna’s body guard freaked out?
- Is Dom’s boss a Dark Army plant?
- What was that scene about where Elliot basically told us to look around his apartment?
- Why does Mr. Robot want Elliot to go home so badly?
- Who survived at the shootout?
- Is Darlene dead?
- Why is up with the Dark Army people being so willing to kill themselves so easily?
- Who met with Angela on the subway after Elliot left?
- Seriously, what the hell is wrong with The Wellick’s?
- Why the Congo? I hope this doesn’t go all Quantum of Solace on us.
- Is Mr. Robot now completely rouge and not to be trusted?
- Who the hell is on the other end of the phone that is freaking Mr. Robot out so much the he disappears?
- Did Elliot have another alternate personality before Mr. Robot? Is that who he’s scared of?
- Once again, is Darlene as crazy as Elliot? He speech about being kidnapped as a child was very strange. Strange like “Uh oh, she might start stabbing when I fall asleep” strange.
Once again, a lot of stuff gets answered in these two episodes, but a lot is still a mystery. Only 2 episodes left this season. Until next week!
Follow Jeff Sorensen on TWITTER
Jeff Sorensen is an author, writer and occasional comedian living in Detroit, Michigan. You can look for more of his work on The Huffington Post,UPROXX,BGR and by just looking up his name.
Contact: jeff@socialunderground.com