Mr. Robot (TV Series) eps2.7_init_5.fve (2016) User Reviews

A tad frustrating, but it has me so excited for the next one.

[TouchTheGarlicProduction · 8/10 · 31 August 2016]

I have loved this season so far, but I will be the first to admit that the story has been fragmented. For reasons that were revealed a couple of episodes ago, Elliot has been separated from the main story, but it's not just that. There also hasn't really been a main story. The connections between all the show's plots have been more or less tangential this season, and so it has lacked the narrative unity of the first one. I've been greatly anticipating the moment that things would start to connect. Well, that finally started to happen this episode. I have wondered about the significance of certain story lines for a while, until this episode showed me why they matter.

I don't pay attention to the recaps with the same razor sharp attention that I watch the show with, so this episode really caught me off guard when the recap transitioned seamlessly into the episode. If someone were to try and edit the recap out of the episode, I'm not sure where they would split it up. The lack of a clear line of division works very well because the first scene is a direct springboard off the last scene of the first season, finally answering all the questions raised by that scene and the big twist from a couple episodes ago. To finally receive answers after a year of wondering was delightful.

Whiterose and DiPierro are quickly growing into my two favourite characters (except for Elliot, obviously). My love for Whiterose stems not from a liking of him/her, but rather my fascination. He/She's so strange, and yet little clues keep popping up that make me feel like I'm starting to understand him/her. He/She had a great scene with Pryce that reminded me a little bit of the Littlefinger/Varys dynamic from Game of Thrones.

The big twist this episode (because every episode this season seems to have a twist) does not necessarily provide answers to the many remaining questions, but rather coalesces them all into one, and promises a catch-all answer very soon. As a result, this episode did not leave me as elated about it as I have been for some of this season's other episodes, but it leaves me more excited for the next one than I have ever been.

Elliot gets out of jail and with that begins prep for Stage 2, if anyone can remember what that is.

[Amari-Sali · 8/10 · 5 September 2016]

Topic 1: Making Moves & Tons of Mistakes (Angela, Dominique, and Darlene)

Angela discovers a nuclear power plant not being properly maintained by E-Corp and decides to go to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. However, after getting spooked out she decides to go home only to find Dominique at her door, and eventually shoving her way into her apartment, to warn her that her day of reckoning is coming and either she can help Dominique or mentally prep to be swooped up by another agent.

Meanwhile, Darlene thinks she may have left a VHS tape at Susan Jacobs, with her face on it. Also, she once again performs an out of character action by opening the door, while not expecting anyone, and alone in Cisco's apartment, while the city goes through a brownout.

{Commentary}

Angela has come so far, yet it may be all over for her. With her attempts to whistle blow on something which seems potentially major, you know her days at E-Corp are numbered. Especially since Deputy Director Phelps seemed to already have been putting the pieces together as to who Angela was. Even with Angela not revealing a thing to her. So whenever that investigation begins, and heads roll, you know Angela is going to be out. Though the question will then become, will her attempt to whistle blow save her from imprisonment? Dominique maybe playing good cop with Angela, but you know if she doesn't cooperate all this friendliness will go away. After all, Dominique's co-workers died because of this case and on top of that she has a reputation to uphold. So can you imagine her letting some blonde girl, sweet as she may seem, mess things up for her?

As for Darlene, I will just continue to question why is the most paranoid person on the show making so many dumb mistakes?

Topic 2: Blood On The Rose (Whiterose & Mr. Price)

White Rose and her alter ego, Minister of State Security Zhang, appear in this episode, and it seems that plant Angela is whistle blowing on, it belongs to Whiterose. In fact, that plant is so important that when Mr. Price's predecessor tried to tamper with it, that man met an unfortunate end. Something which may happen to Mr. Price for with him losing the US government's support for a bailout, now either he gets Chinese money or else the nuclear plant will be taken over by the feds. Something Whiterose doesn't want but with Mr. Price getting rather snooty and confrontational, it seems once the deal is done it may be time to take out another CEO.

{Commentary}

With it being shown and said the Dark Army can cause plan accidents, get people like Elliot out of jail, and even perhaps cause massacres, they seem like such an odd entity. If only because it is hard to tell in whose interest they work for? Is it Zhang or Whiterose? Are they simply an arm of the Chinese government when they can't do something directly? Much less, when it came to Whiterose helping with the 5/9 attack, was the belief that weakening E-Corp would benefit China or even Whiterose's personal investments? Also, all things considered, did the 5/9 attack ultimately bite Whiterose in the ass?

Topic 3: The Truth, Stage 2, and A Glitch In The System (Elliot, Mr. Robot, Darlene, and Cisco)

Why was Elliot in jail? Well, because he stole the dog and hacked the computer of his psychologist's ex-boyfriend. Then, to spite Mr. Robot, plead guilty to the crimes. From there, it is hard to know what was true or not. Ray is the prison warden, so who knows if Elliot did actually do any work for him. Leon is the same, just now in an orange jumpsuit, but at the very least it does seem that maybe Mr. Robot and Elliot did eventually makeup.

From there, however, things are a bit screwy. Elliot is experiencing memory loss again, as shown by him forgetting what stage 2 is, and he is also glitching. In one case it deals with how him and Mr. Robot switch, another case deals with him feeling trapped within himself, and the last one is the weirdest. Ollie, the fall guy who Cisco gave the CD, for some reason Joanna calls Elliot by this name. On top of that, Dominique mentions how she met with Ollie and you are left questioning was Elliot masquerading as him in both situations, one, or maybe even neither and Joanna is just trying to find her husband and is name dropping for Elliot's attention?

{Commentary}

For every answer, there is a question, and at this point when it comes to Elliot, I feel it is best to just get the gist of things and then to move on. However, it is hard to ignore that we are left rather unsure what the truth is anymore, especially if it deals with Elliot's time-line. For with him now magically forgetting stage 2 alongside this very weird Ollie situation, one which Dominique and Joanna might be involved in, you have to wonder who is he lying to? Them, us, himself, could Mr. Robot be the one lying? It's all rather hard to tell and with Mr. Robot, as a show, increasingly trying to throw us off, who knows if we may ever see clearly.

Things To Note

Both Mobley and Trenton are MIA. Trenton, in particular, has left so abruptly her family has put a missing person's report on her.

Rewatch, 9.05/10

[dcdude-26988 · 9/10 · 9 July 2023]

Another great episode of this epic season. This was the last episode until my favorite episode of this season. I am excited to see what my mom will think of episode 10. My favorite characters in this episode were Elliot, Mr Robot, and Darlene. My favorite things about this episode were the Protagonist, the Cinematography, and the storyline. I imagine that episode 10 of the second season will be my mom's favorite episode of the season, or maybe possibly in all of the show, because I thought it was better than every episode in season 1 and season 2. I also predict my mom will be shocked by the finale of this season.

Hello Ollie: Good But Not Perfect [7.8/10]

[panagiotis1993 · 8/10 · 22 June 2023]

My Reaction / Review for Mr. Robot Season 2 Episode 9: The 8th episode was good and I gave it a rating of 8.0/10. Wow, so Elliot in now in prison because he hacked that dude and stole his dog? Come on now... It's nice to see that at least he has someone he can talk to, it would be awful if he was absolutely isolated as he is used to. Elliot doesn't seem too happy about being free. Being free is probably more confusing to him. Im happy to see that Elliot is ready to do his thing. I don't get what Angela is trying to do? She wants to hurt E corp while working for E Corp? Something seems to be weird between Elliot and Mr. Robot. While not perfect it's a good episode that makes you excited for the next one. My rating is 7.8/10.

I'm Ollie!

[wandernn1-81-683274 · 6/10 · 11 September 2021]

So at the start of this one we find out why Eliot is in jail in the first place. And we get some PIL on top of it! +1 Star.

Then since we've seen the filler already, we move to Eliot's release. Then he goes to see his mother. I didn't even know his mother was still alive. In a psych ward somewhere.

Blah blah blah and...Dom just pushes past Angela to come into her place and Angela does nothing. Angela is way too non herself in this scene.

This ep....nothing really happens. 6/10.