Mr. Robot: eps2.0_unm4sk-pt1.tc
July 11, 2016 2:59 PM - Season 2, Episode 1 - Subscribe
Five/nine has changed the world; Elliot is in seclusion; Angela finds happiness at Evil Corp.; fsociety delivers a malicious payload.
This episode was posted by USA Networks themselves to Twitter as a teaser (and is readily available now from purveyors of unlicensed video). It's part 1 of the two parter. And it is so delicious.
I'm a bit concerned the show is delving way too deep into Eliot's mental instability and not enough on the fun hacker stories. I think it's a good place to start though, to re-center the show. And once we get to all the bits of fsociety mayhem and Darlene's leadership role it felt like we were setting up a good story. Was really excited actually, until INTERMISSION slammed down and we have to wait until Wednesday.
I appreciated that Chekov's popcorn made a re-appearance.
Also impressed with the Obama clips. Most of them seem from stock briefings on cybersecurity, but there's at least one bit where Obama talks explicitly about fsociety and their attack. An impersonator? Voice manipulation? Maybe Barry's a fan?
I was confused about the identity of childhood-Eliot we see, at the doctor. Are we to understand that's the same person as adult Eliot? Because the little kid didn't really look at all like Rami Malek, not even the same ethnicity. But maybe I'm wrong. He looked more like Malek than a l'il Christian Slater, so I don't think there's anything tricksy intended.
There was a QR Code heavily visible in Eliot's journal. The nerds have figured it out of course, it seems to be a URL for Confictura Industries. Which is an authentic-looking Geocities style site "under construction" and bears the marks of USA Network's marketing team. No deeper meaning anyone's found yet, although there will no doubt be more. There's also a second easter egg with another teaser site.
(While I'm here, there was also an "episode 0" broadcast a couple of weeks ago. I only watched a few minutes, stopped when the actors and producers started talking about the show.)
posted by Nelson at 6:59 AM on July 12, 2016 [5 favorites]
I'm a bit concerned the show is delving way too deep into Eliot's mental instability and not enough on the fun hacker stories. I think it's a good place to start though, to re-center the show. And once we get to all the bits of fsociety mayhem and Darlene's leadership role it felt like we were setting up a good story. Was really excited actually, until INTERMISSION slammed down and we have to wait until Wednesday.
I appreciated that Chekov's popcorn made a re-appearance.
Also impressed with the Obama clips. Most of them seem from stock briefings on cybersecurity, but there's at least one bit where Obama talks explicitly about fsociety and their attack. An impersonator? Voice manipulation? Maybe Barry's a fan?
I was confused about the identity of childhood-Eliot we see, at the doctor. Are we to understand that's the same person as adult Eliot? Because the little kid didn't really look at all like Rami Malek, not even the same ethnicity. But maybe I'm wrong. He looked more like Malek than a l'il Christian Slater, so I don't think there's anything tricksy intended.
There was a QR Code heavily visible in Eliot's journal. The nerds have figured it out of course, it seems to be a URL for Confictura Industries. Which is an authentic-looking Geocities style site "under construction" and bears the marks of USA Network's marketing team. No deeper meaning anyone's found yet, although there will no doubt be more. There's also a second easter egg with another teaser site.
(While I'm here, there was also an "episode 0" broadcast a couple of weeks ago. I only watched a few minutes, stopped when the actors and producers started talking about the show.)
posted by Nelson at 6:59 AM on July 12, 2016 [5 favorites]
I'm a bit concerned the show is delving way too deep into Eliot's mental instability and not enough on the fun hacker stories.
You can't complain too much about not enough hacking in an episode that features an extended sequence of the Social Engineer's Toolkit. That's more authentic hacking in one shot than Hollywood's produced in every hacking sequence ever put on screen combined.
(While I'm here, there was also an "episode 0" broadcast a couple of weeks ago. I only watched a few minutes, stopped when the actors and producers started talking about the show.)
You missed appearances by Mudge & Dark Tangent giving their perspectives on it. Always nice to see old friends, if a bit surreal.
posted by scalefree at 7:26 AM on July 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
You can't complain too much about not enough hacking in an episode that features an extended sequence of the Social Engineer's Toolkit. That's more authentic hacking in one shot than Hollywood's produced in every hacking sequence ever put on screen combined.
(While I'm here, there was also an "episode 0" broadcast a couple of weeks ago. I only watched a few minutes, stopped when the actors and producers started talking about the show.)
You missed appearances by Mudge & Dark Tangent giving their perspectives on it. Always nice to see old friends, if a bit surreal.
posted by scalefree at 7:26 AM on July 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
I felt like they went a bit overboard with the Obama clips. It was startling when he mentioned fsociety but then he appeared like 5 more times in the next few minutes so my brain was scrambling trying to figure out if it was all dubbed or frankenbited.
You forget what a visceral and uncomfortable show this is until you're back in the thick of it. I felt the first season maybe imitated its influences a bit too much, but I'm really excited its back and I can't wait to see where it goes.
posted by yellowbinder at 7:36 AM on July 12, 2016
You forget what a visceral and uncomfortable show this is until you're back in the thick of it. I felt the first season maybe imitated its influences a bit too much, but I'm really excited its back and I can't wait to see where it goes.
posted by yellowbinder at 7:36 AM on July 12, 2016
The CryptoLocker-type virus screen helpfully included a FAQ and an "update" button (for the clock?). It's so refreshing to see hackers who can be bothered with good technical documentation.
posted by sylvanshine at 9:59 AM on July 12, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by sylvanshine at 9:59 AM on July 12, 2016 [5 favorites]
I'm so excited this is back!
but where is flipper?
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 3:32 AM on July 13, 2016
but where is flipper?
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 3:32 AM on July 13, 2016
That was a great season opener. This show is one of the most fascinating stories on television right now. This along with Preacher and The Night Of are filling in the gaps that Game of Thrones left behind, now that Season 6 is over.
That sequence where the house starts to attack the user. Truly horrifying.
I do hope that Eliot finds his way back to a terminal, as much as I appreciate how much this show examines mental health, this version of Eliot is already growing a bit weary.
posted by Fizz at 7:49 PM on July 13, 2016
That sequence where the house starts to attack the user. Truly horrifying.
I do hope that Eliot finds his way back to a terminal, as much as I appreciate how much this show examines mental health, this version of Eliot is already growing a bit weary.
posted by Fizz at 7:49 PM on July 13, 2016
5_13_23_42_69_666: but where is flipper?
He mentions the dog in the second episode/part:
Ray: You a dog person?
Elliot: Used to have one.
Ray: Oh, yeah? What happened to it?
Elliot: Don't have her anymore.
Nelson: (While I'm here, there was also an "episode 0" broadcast a couple of weeks ago. I only watched a few minutes, stopped when the actors and producers started talking about the show.)
scalefree: You missed appearances by Mudge & Dark Tangent giving their perspectives on it. Always nice to see old friends, if a bit surreal.
And for anyone concerned that this show will be all "mental" Elliot, Rami Malek said "Gotten to know my stunt double more this season, so that might say something." (transcript, without credit to who is speaking).
Also, if anyone caught the "leaked" first episode/half, it looks like that was pretty close, if not exactly what was aired last night.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:04 AM on July 14, 2016
He mentions the dog in the second episode/part:
Ray: You a dog person?
Elliot: Used to have one.
Ray: Oh, yeah? What happened to it?
Elliot: Don't have her anymore.
Nelson: (While I'm here, there was also an "episode 0" broadcast a couple of weeks ago. I only watched a few minutes, stopped when the actors and producers started talking about the show.)
scalefree: You missed appearances by Mudge & Dark Tangent giving their perspectives on it. Always nice to see old friends, if a bit surreal.
And for anyone concerned that this show will be all "mental" Elliot, Rami Malek said "Gotten to know my stunt double more this season, so that might say something." (transcript, without credit to who is speaking).
Also, if anyone caught the "leaked" first episode/half, it looks like that was pretty close, if not exactly what was aired last night.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:04 AM on July 14, 2016
I caught both parts last night. I'm so excited this is back. The whole thing is nuts. I'm super curious what Craig is up to.
posted by numaner at 7:15 AM on July 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by numaner at 7:15 AM on July 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm finally catching up on the first few eps tonight. So great and fun and mindbending. My biggest immediate reaction, and yes, I realize this is shallow and childish: aside from every other thing to love, I will now always officially remember it warmly as the show that brought "fuck" to basic cable. It's about time.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:03 PM on August 7, 2016
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:03 PM on August 7, 2016
Now that we know elliot is an unreliable narrator, I suspect that the framing of his daily routine means he is actually in jail right now and is hallucinating living with his mother to cope....
posted by Faintdreams at 1:28 AM on December 11, 2017
posted by Faintdreams at 1:28 AM on December 11, 2017
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posted by filthy light thief at 9:43 PM on July 11, 2016