Elliot learns the difference between a leader and a lone wolf on a Mr.
Robot that capably sets up season 3s finale
ThisMr.
Robotreview contains spoilers
Mr.
Robot Season 3 Episode 9
Right afterMr.
Yes, something more amazing than Tyrell Wellicks English-speaking accent adjustment in the following three years.
Elliot wakes up to find himself standing in front of his mirror and Mr.
Robot having carved They own the FBI into it.
Robot do last night?
And heres the amazing part:Mr. Robotimmediately shows us.
Throughout almost three full years of this show, weve grown accustomed to questions like what did Mr.
Robot do last night?
going unanswered for an extended period of time.
Season 3, however, has proven more willing than mostMr.
Robotseasons to put its cards on the table.
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Stage 3 might be the clearest, most helpfully expository hour yet.
Of course, Mr.
Robot and Elliots stories this week arent completely simple A to B storytelling.
There are some timeline shenanigans afoot.
This timeline fuckery works well but in a different way from Mobely and Trentons demise two weeks ago.
Robothas been about the strange relationship between its two leads both of course being Elliot Alderson.
Last weeks flashback to Elliots fathers death and the emergence of the Mr.
Robot persona worked wonders for the shows establishment of this relationship.
No, I do not not.
But its pretty funny.
Philip is there to tell Tyrell that he has been granted the role of CTO at E Corp.
But he also wants to tell him in person that it will be a in name only position.
Just one last indignity Whiterose has thrown Price and Tyrells way.
Price graciously allows Elliot/Mr.
Robot to stay for his meeting with Tyrell and in the process, Elliot has a question for Price.
You knew the whole time, didnt you?
They dont happen from lone wolves like you, Price responds.
They happen because men like me allow them to happen.
You just happened to stumble into one of them.
The powerful men pulling the strings trope should be an overused and tired one at this point.
Perhaps it would be in a different political climate butMr.
Stage 3 finds a perfect way to make the betrayal of being a puppet on a string personal.
Once again its Price who provides the fire quotes.
Youre still thinking like a lone wolf, Price tells Elliot before he leaves.
What should I be thinking like?
I am a leader.
Then where are your followers?
A great question indeed.
It hammers home what a solitary, selfish endeavor this has been for Elliot and Mr. Elliot is at war with himself and so far its the rest of humankind that has paid the price.
The satisfying thing about Stage 3 is that just as Mr.
Motivated, vengeful Elliot is a protagonist that it is just flat out nice to spend time with.
Leon takes Elliot to his agreed meeting with the Dark Army, as set up with Irving earlier.
Whiterose isnt there but it doesnt matter.
Elliot gets what he wants.
He feeds Whiteroses assistant* some easily seen-through b.s.
about Stage 3 involving the elimination of E Coin.
*I cant recall if Whiteroses assistant (whose English really has improved) has a name.
IMDB says Grant so….hey, Grant!
Stage 3 works well emotionally and thematically but one of its biggest missteps is logical.
Elliot has a plan for hacking the FBI.
But Darlene insists upon going her own way since she has access to an agent she semi-trusts.
Trust me, she says.
Plan A for Darlene is to meet Dom at a bar and remotely copy her key code.
And there is undoubtedly some level of fan service/humankind service going on from Sam Esmail here.
Still, the encounter gives Grace Gummer another emotional spectrum of Dom to work with.
Gummer really has been excellent in this role.
Stage 3 is the second necessary episode ofMr.
Robotin as many weeks.
Some characters like Darlene and Angela are underserved butMr.
Robot, itself, remains in a good place right now.
Short of a Doc and Marty intervention, Elliot Alderson has one more hour to save the world.
Robot on his side, a happy ending seems more plausible than ever before.
So lets prepare ourselves for the bleakest episode in television history.
Rating:
4 out of 5
