Mr. Robot: eps1.3_da3m0ns.mp4
July 16, 2015 6:22 PM - Season 1, Episode 4 - Subscribe
When Evil Corp decides to make duplicates of their tape backups, fsociety scrambles to put their plan in motion before it's too late, but Elliot's demons come back to haunt him when he begins going through morphine withdrawal.
Yeah numaner, we think it's Keith David as well!
Great visual representation of the banal, slow-motion horror that is withdrawal.
Really nice to see so much focus on hacking the hardware as well as the software in this show. When Elliot said "I see six entrance points right now" and pointed to the employees in his photo, my husband and I shared a knowing look -- the references aren't always 100% accurate on this show, but damn they sure are trying to make it look seamless to the casual tech enthusiast/coding hobbyist.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 9:53 AM on July 17, 2015
Great visual representation of the banal, slow-motion horror that is withdrawal.
Really nice to see so much focus on hacking the hardware as well as the software in this show. When Elliot said "I see six entrance points right now" and pointed to the employees in his photo, my husband and I shared a knowing look -- the references aren't always 100% accurate on this show, but damn they sure are trying to make it look seamless to the casual tech enthusiast/coding hobbyist.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 9:53 AM on July 17, 2015
That was a pretty fantastic dream sequence in this one, and they've also thrown the Tyler Durden scenario into question for me again after seeming to all but confirm it last week. Lots of the fsociety people talk to Christian Slater, even at times when we don't seem to be watching the scene through Elliot's POV, and the show is also spending more time showing things that Elliot just wouldn't be aware of, like the "let's go sell drugs in a nightclub bathroom" friend date between Angela and the neighbor. The fact that they're showing the two fsociety women doing things on their own and talking to a person we know is real (the CD-selling opposition hacker) also seems to confirm that fsociety as a whole isn't a figment of Elliot's imagination.
Did anyone catch what the woman was saying to Elliot at the very end of the dream sequence? I'm pretty sure the last few words were meant to be inaudible, but I didn't get the beginning of the sentence either.
posted by whir at 9:25 AM on July 19, 2015
Did anyone catch what the woman was saying to Elliot at the very end of the dream sequence? I'm pretty sure the last few words were meant to be inaudible, but I didn't get the beginning of the sentence either.
posted by whir at 9:25 AM on July 19, 2015
I think i disagree that any of the fsociety people talk to Slater. All of the interaction at the crackhouse seems to be part of a fever dream, but none of the other characters had dialogue with his character in the arcade, car or hotel room. Still think he's Tyler Durden.
posted by OHenryPacey at 1:40 PM on July 20, 2015
posted by OHenryPacey at 1:40 PM on July 20, 2015
New Theory: Elliott is a hallucination happening inside Darlene's head.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 8:56 PM on July 20, 2015
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 8:56 PM on July 20, 2015
but none of the other characters had dialogue with his character in the arcade
Maybe I'm misremembering, but I'm pretty sure some of the other fsociety members argued with Mr Robot in the arcade in this episode about whether the plan was a good idea, before the fever dream, and they also talk to him in the car.
posted by whir at 9:41 PM on July 20, 2015
Maybe I'm misremembering, but I'm pretty sure some of the other fsociety members argued with Mr Robot in the arcade in this episode about whether the plan was a good idea, before the fever dream, and they also talk to him in the car.
posted by whir at 9:41 PM on July 20, 2015
i just rewatched...he says almost nothing in the arcade when the group is together, and none of it is dialogue give and take with anyone, and he has no lines in the car...when they get to the hotel he doesn't even enter the room before the door gets shut, just the fat dude, the black dude and elliot.
If you're talking about angela in the dream...she says "you're not elliot...you're garbled . so yes, not meant to be understood.
posted by OHenryPacey at 11:13 PM on July 20, 2015
If you're talking about angela in the dream...she says "you're not elliot...you're garbled . so yes, not meant to be understood.
posted by OHenryPacey at 11:13 PM on July 20, 2015
Hmm.
I am beginning to get a very strong LOST vibe about this..... as if the writer(s?) really doesn't know where the narrative is ultimately going to end up.
I really hope I'm wrong.
posted by Faintdreams at 1:45 PM on July 28, 2015 [3 favorites]
I am beginning to get a very strong LOST vibe about this..... as if the writer(s?) really doesn't know where the narrative is ultimately going to end up.
I really hope I'm wrong.
posted by Faintdreams at 1:45 PM on July 28, 2015 [3 favorites]
whir: Lots of the fsociety people talk to Christian Slater, even at times when we don't seem to be watching the scene through Elliot's POV
Really? This episode cemented the C.Slate = Imaginary theory for me. Remember in the beginning, Eliot saw him as the head of fsociety, but Eliot quickly took that role and everyone talks about Eliot's plans and plot. I'm not sure who planned on blowing up the power plant, if C.Slate was imaginary then - perhaps Eliot was talking out loud, and everyone was on board with that first thought, but then Eliot didn't like the idea of killing innocent people. In this episode, it was one of fsociety members who said " there's casualties in every revolution."
Then again, Eliot modifies everyone's speech - he hears everyone saying "Evil Corp" instead of "E Corp," so it's not too much of a stretch for him to hear people saying things they aren't saying.
whir: Maybe I'm misremembering, but I'm pretty sure some of the other fsociety members argued with Mr Robot in the arcade in this episode about whether the plan was a good idea, before the fever dream, and they also talk to him in the car.
I'll look back on this episode later, but I thought that C.Slate was between Eliot and other people, so it was hard to tell if they were talking to Eliot or C.Slate.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:42 AM on July 29, 2015 [3 favorites]
Really? This episode cemented the C.Slate = Imaginary theory for me. Remember in the beginning, Eliot saw him as the head of fsociety, but Eliot quickly took that role and everyone talks about Eliot's plans and plot. I'm not sure who planned on blowing up the power plant, if C.Slate was imaginary then - perhaps Eliot was talking out loud, and everyone was on board with that first thought, but then Eliot didn't like the idea of killing innocent people. In this episode, it was one of fsociety members who said " there's casualties in every revolution."
Then again, Eliot modifies everyone's speech - he hears everyone saying "Evil Corp" instead of "E Corp," so it's not too much of a stretch for him to hear people saying things they aren't saying.
whir: Maybe I'm misremembering, but I'm pretty sure some of the other fsociety members argued with Mr Robot in the arcade in this episode about whether the plan was a good idea, before the fever dream, and they also talk to him in the car.
I'll look back on this episode later, but I thought that C.Slate was between Eliot and other people, so it was hard to tell if they were talking to Eliot or C.Slate.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:42 AM on July 29, 2015 [3 favorites]
I'm catching up on the show now, and I think this is the one where it hooked me. I'd enjoyed it more or less before, but this was a damn good episode of TV. The fake out with Elliot getting shot definitely got me.
And that was definitely Keith David.
posted by sparkletone at 1:34 AM on August 10, 2015
And that was definitely Keith David.
posted by sparkletone at 1:34 AM on August 10, 2015
I'm late to the show too but hot damn is it good. Also thanks to Fanfare for tipping off the entirely-obvious-in-retrospect thing about Christian Slater's character not being a real physical presence. It was sort of bugging me in previous episodes but I didn't see it clearly, then reading the previous episode's Fanfare discussion I was like "oh yeah, duh". This episode carefully dances around the question but Slater's character is less and less connected to anyone else, he's clearly in Eliot's head. The scene at the shooting gallery was a bit confusing because the dealer clearly is talking to Eliot + Slater. But then, that was all a dream, so it doesn't count. I'm still kind of hoping it's something more than the obvious Fight Club twist, maybe Slater is an Internet ghost in the machine or something, something sentient.
Rami Malek playing Eliot is one amazing looking guy. I think he's sort of hot, he pushes similar buttons for me as Michael Ealy did in Sleeper Cell and Almost Human. Only he's not conventionally attractive, and the freaky eyes make him look really strange. Him shirtless was weird too, his musculature is odd. But a compelling looking man. And with acting chops. I agree with criticism in previous fanfare weeks that he's spending too much time being Mr Mopey. But when he gets to act some other emotion, it's really interesting. He's a compelling actor.
OTOH I have a very hard time keeping the women side characters separate. Particularly dog walker neighbor girl vs. crazy hacker girl. I wish they'd given them a bit more back story independent of Eliot. Beginning to think no one exists outside of Eliot's head except maybe the Swedish Sodomite.
Love this show.
posted by Nelson at 10:07 PM on August 12, 2015
Rami Malek playing Eliot is one amazing looking guy. I think he's sort of hot, he pushes similar buttons for me as Michael Ealy did in Sleeper Cell and Almost Human. Only he's not conventionally attractive, and the freaky eyes make him look really strange. Him shirtless was weird too, his musculature is odd. But a compelling looking man. And with acting chops. I agree with criticism in previous fanfare weeks that he's spending too much time being Mr Mopey. But when he gets to act some other emotion, it's really interesting. He's a compelling actor.
OTOH I have a very hard time keeping the women side characters separate. Particularly dog walker neighbor girl vs. crazy hacker girl. I wish they'd given them a bit more back story independent of Eliot. Beginning to think no one exists outside of Eliot's head except maybe the Swedish Sodomite.
Love this show.
posted by Nelson at 10:07 PM on August 12, 2015
Rami Malek playing Eliot is one amazing looking guy.
I'm discovering this late, on episode six, and I'm catching up on the threads. Too bad I missed out on this discussion, but before I forget, I'm surprised no one has mentioned how much he looks like Michael Shannon.
posted by Room 641-A at 12:21 AM on September 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'm discovering this late, on episode six, and I'm catching up on the threads. Too bad I missed out on this discussion, but before I forget, I'm surprised no one has mentioned how much he looks like Michael Shannon.
posted by Room 641-A at 12:21 AM on September 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'm surprised no one has mentioned how much he looks like Michael Shannon.
That's definitely occurred to me too. I think of such people as "Skeets" (after Skeet Ulrich's resemblance to Johnny Depp). Christian Slater is himself the Skeet of Jack Nicholson, or at his career sort of started out that way. I tend to think of them as watered-down, off brand versions though, which isn't really how I think of Malek at all.
posted by whir at 12:28 PM on September 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
That's definitely occurred to me too. I think of such people as "Skeets" (after Skeet Ulrich's resemblance to Johnny Depp). Christian Slater is himself the Skeet of Jack Nicholson, or at his career sort of started out that way. I tend to think of them as watered-down, off brand versions though, which isn't really how I think of Malek at all.
posted by whir at 12:28 PM on September 7, 2015 [3 favorites]
I'm getting into the show late too.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned how much he looks like Michael Shannon.
That's definitely occurred to me too. I think of such people as "Skeets" (after Skeet Ulrich's resemblance to Johnny Depp). Christian Slater is himself the Skeet of Jack Nicholson, or at his career sort of started out that way. I tend to think of them as watered-down, off brand versions though, which isn't really how I think of Malek at all.
The first time we see Christian Slater in the series, I remarked that he's turning into not Jack Nicholson, but Harvey Keitel.
posted by MsVader at 7:07 AM on September 30, 2015 [3 favorites]
I'm surprised no one has mentioned how much he looks like Michael Shannon.
That's definitely occurred to me too. I think of such people as "Skeets" (after Skeet Ulrich's resemblance to Johnny Depp). Christian Slater is himself the Skeet of Jack Nicholson, or at his career sort of started out that way. I tend to think of them as watered-down, off brand versions though, which isn't really how I think of Malek at all.
The first time we see Christian Slater in the series, I remarked that he's turning into not Jack Nicholson, but Harvey Keitel.
posted by MsVader at 7:07 AM on September 30, 2015 [3 favorites]
Loving this series (just catching up on series one!)
I think it’s pretty obvious at this point that the writers are going all in on the Fight Club route.
posted by pharm at 2:31 AM on August 2, 2016
I think it’s pretty obvious at this point that the writers are going all in on the Fight Club route.
posted by pharm at 2:31 AM on August 2, 2016
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was that Keith David doing the voice of Qwerty? I'd like to think so.
Also, we still can't confirm Mr. Robot is not a hallucination because that trip to the drug den was a dream right? So that guy talking to him is part of the dream?
Man I need to inject this entire show straight into my veins like now
Also, feels like every week they take an aspect of software programming and make it a theme, like last week was bugs and this week is daemons, and the way he narrates them into the story totally makes me reflect on them in my real life work with a new perspective, and it's totally trippy.
posted by numaner at 8:49 AM on July 17, 2015 [7 favorites]