MR. ROBOT Official Discussion Thread (New Season starts Oct.6)

Mr. Robot Is Getting More Episodes and a Chat Show

The producers of Mr. Robot finally stopped procrastinating, closed all their programs, and clicked "yes" on the latest system update. And what a surprise: It comes with two more episodes and an after-episode talk show!

THR reports that USA has bumped up the second season of its buzzy drama (which premieres July 13) to 12 installments from ten, each of which will be followed by a new talk show called Hacking Robot. After-shows: doing for gerunds what TLC did for infinitives.
Everybody is doing a chat after show now. AMC was onto a good thing. Now that trend is tired.

I cant wait for the discussions to start on this....

Now if I can just get you guys on the 12 monkeys thread. kats are missing out.
I tried 12 Monkeys that first season. Had to give it up after 2 episodes.
 
Everybody is doing a chat after show now. AMC was onto a good thing. Now that trend is tired.


I tried 12 Monkeys that first season. Had to give it up after 2 episodes.

Naw dude you got to continue. This has turned into one of the best time travel shows that I've ever seen.
This second season has been brilliant.
 
Naw dude you got to continue. This has turned into one of the best time travel shows that I've ever seen.
This second season has been brilliant.
I'm done with time travel. GOT. Flash. Lost. Time travel always becomes this confusing plot device for shows. I can't deal with it anymore. When I saw GRRM do it with Bran, I was like :curse::hithead:
 
12-mr-robot.w529.h352.jpg


Who knew that summer’s greatest escape would be the ongoing misadventures of a young man (Rami Malek as Elliot Alderson) socially debilitated by a dissociative disorder and ingeniously compelled to eliminate global debt after taking cues from hallucinations of his dead father and forming an elite hacker cult? Despite its moody overtones and volatile narrator/protagonist, the arrival of Mr. Robot’s second season this Wednesday is being welcomed by TV fans as if it were opening weekend at the beach. Though admittedly, even those of us who followed its first ten episodes were probably overwhelmed by waves of character detail, social commentary, and encrypted information. Hence, here’s a concise inventory of where we left off, assuming everything we’ve witnessed hasn’t just been a figment of our morphine-addled imaginations.

Ding dong, Elliot’s dad is dead.
Actually that’s not very nice. Pops (Christian Slater) seemed like an honest, salt-of-the-earth hard worker with a healthy mistrust of mass culture. But the show doesn’t confirm that Mr. Robot and the late Ed Alderson are one and the same until season one’s penultimate episode, despite wide assumptions that he was in effect Elliot’s Tyler Durden. We also know that, even after Elliot’s confrontation with his delusions at dad’s grave, the ghost of Edward past will continue to motivate/menace his addled son into season two.

Elliot tries to kiss his sister.
The real reveal — bonus points if you saw it coming — was that Elliot’s fsociety sidekick, Darlene (Carly Chaikin), was his sister. This only becomes necessary to reinforce, of course, when Elliot tries to make out with her in episode seven, which at least illuminates for Darlene that he’s in the midst of a psychotic break. Though as we learn throughout season one, Darlene’s as committed — if not more — to the Evil Corp hack. Not to mention, she’s only scratching the surface of just how distorted big brother’s sense of reality really is.

The hack worked.
Not that Mr. Robot lets us, or Elliot, really relish in it. This wasn’t Fight Club, i.e., there was no climactic moment of buildings imploding to signify dubious success. All we know is that somewhere between giving insistent adversary/acolyte Tyrell Wellick (Martin Wallström) a tour of fsociety’s Coney Island arcade hangout and waking up days later in Wellick’s SUV, Elliot launched the Evil Corp blitz, throwing markets into chaos, causing the unwashed citizenry to rejoice, and righteously pissing off Darlene and his hack pack, whom he excluded from the coup de grâce. Not cool, brah.

Angela is one of them (?).
More the Jenny to his Forrest Gump than Marla to his Tyler/Fight Clubnarrator, Angela was Elliot’s childhood neighbor and bestie. Moreover, both their dads — though hers is still alive — were screwed by Evil Corp, and while they’ve turned inward as adults in very different ways, there’s a dependency between them that rivals siblings. But as Elliot’s turning the economy on its head, Angela’s persuaded by former Evil Corp CTO Terry Colby (Bruce Altman) into accepting a job with the corporate monolith, and further seduced into compliance by the silvery tongue of Evil Corp CEO Phillip Price (Michael Cristofer). Angela’s status — trusted friend and possible inside woman or enemy we know? — remains as uncertain as Tyrell’s whereabouts. Speaking of which …

Tyrell has gone AWOL.
You know Tyrell — the bi-national, ex–Evil Corp big shot with a steely Swedish wife and maniacal obsession/envy complex toward Elliot that manifests his latent homicidal tendencies when he kills his boss’s wife on a rooftop? Yeah, that guy. He’s ostensibly the Patrick Bateman ego to Elliot’sAmerican Pyscho id. And for all we know, this expectant father might be dead. Or been kidnapped. Or arrested. Or on the lam. (Reasonable, asseason two trailers indicate he’s been pegged as the 5/9 hack’s architect.) Or even killed by Elliot, bound to an eternity as the outright devil on his shoulder opposite Mr. Robot’s antagonistic angel. That last scenario doesn’t seem super-likely, but whatever his predicament, you can bet Mrs. Wellick won’t take his disappearance lying down.

Sharon Knowles isn’t the only casualty.
A lot went on during those last couple hours, but let’s not overlook the one loss that might weight heaviest on Elliot’s conscience moving forward. Shayla (Frankie Shaw) was something of a doomed soul, but that doesn’t get Elliot off the hook for his hand in her death. He meant well in attempting to free her from imprisoned nemesis/drug peddler Vera (Elliot Villar), who sends a couple of his thugs to hold her hostage until Elliot uses his wits and busts him out of the slammer. Alas, the plan went horribly awry, with Vera getting his wish but delivering Shayla back to Elliot in the trunk of a car, throat slashed. She may not appear in the flesh this season as a dissociative delusion, but as Elliot continues to reconcile fact from fog, Shayla’s tragic end will no doubt begin to torment him.

The bloom is off the whiterose.
Was there a better peripheral figure last season than transgender Chinese hacker whiterose, expertly cast as — and personified by — B.D. Wong? Or a more inscrutable one? For those who still haven’t watched beyond the season one finale’s closing credits, it was made plain that whiterose is pulling double duty under disparate guises, depending on her audience — in this case, Phillip Price. It seems she’s maneuvered her way under fsociety’s surface as a means of keeping tabs on — and staying one step ahead of — Evil Corp, all while maintaining a façade of multinational-conglomerate alliance in clandestine gatherings like whatever the hell was happening at Price’s estate. (Emphasis on the “seems.”) We’d say time will tell, but we all know whiterose has little patience for that.

Elliot’s in deep doo-doo.
There’s plenty conspiring against Elliot and his code-cracking posse. Price is bearing down on Angela; whiterose knows the score and more; Elliot’s own insanity is tearing him in two; his crew’s faith is rattled; and, hell, even the trailer gives us a flash of our troubled rebel getting the blindfold and basement-dungeon treatment from well-dressed ne’er-do-wells (Tyrell?). Elliot’s already seen through the mask in his own reflection, and he’s walking a fine line of becoming transparent to everyone else.
 
Joey Bada$$ Talks 'Mr. Robot' Role, Missing Out on Obama Biopic
Brooklyn MC on playing Leon in Season Two, how acting led him to rapping


720x405-joey-badass-on-mr-robot.jpg


When we left Sam Esmail's Golden Globe-winning dystopian thriller Mr. Robot last August, brilliant-yet-schizophrenic computer programmer Elliot Alderson and the hacktivist group fsociety had engineered a meltdown of the global financial system. At the beginning of Season Two, which debuts tonight, Elliot has retreated to a computer-free exile in Brooklyn, a shift that sets the stage for a compelling addition to the cast.

During his recovery, Elliot befriends a character named Leon, who gabs to the mostly catatonic protagonist about Seinfeld during prison-like meals at a local diner. Hip-hop-savvy viewers will note that Leon is played by none other than Joey Bada$$, a 21-year-old Brooklyn native better known as one of the brightest stars in New York's recent rap renaissance.

The MC's 2015 album, B4.Da.$$, peaked at Number Two on the Billboard 200 album chart, capping a startling rise that found him leading a wave of rappers dubbed "Beast Coast" and recording acclaimed mixtapes such as 2012's 1999. We talked with the artist about landing a plum role in one of the hottest TV shows of the summer, how a high school play about John Cusack prepped him for the experience and why you won't see him in the forthcoming Barack Obama biopic.

How did you get involved with Mr. Robot?
There was a casting call. I auditioned for the role of Leon. I got three callbacks, and I was finally casted. That's pretty much how it happened. My character is basically speaking to the main character in this diner, so it wasn't hard at all. It's simple, actually. I just went in the audition and I had my lines memorized, like, literally, five minutes before I walked into the room, because I had no time to rehearse because of my business schedule. And yeah, I just went in there and Sam [Esmail] was right there when I auditioned. I had him laughing from the very moment that I started doing my lines. I was pretty confident after that.

When did you meet Rami Malek?
First time I met him was on the first day that we shot. That was in March. The first day I shot, I had scenes with him and Christian Slater. For me, it was like, they set the bar high. It was a little bit of pressure on me because I'm like, "Wow, I'm right in between these two amazing actors. I've got to be great in their presence." But they gave me a lot of confidence and pointers. They made me feel comfortable so I could do what I had to do.

Have you done any acting prior to Mr. Robot?
Yeah, briefly in high school. I got accepted into my high school theater, so I was in a couple of plays and productions. And that's pretty much it for my acting history. I went to Edward R. Murrow. Basquiat also went there, and Adam Yauch, and then also Joey Bada$$ attended that school. [Laughs]

Which high school plays were you in?
I was in this one play that was written by one of the upperclassmen. At the time I was a freshman. It was called John Cusack Is Not a Famous Actor. It was a pretty cool play, actually. I was also in one of the upperclassmen's rendition of Alice in Wonderland.




John Cusack is Not a Famous Actor is a weird title.
Yeah, it was super funny. That play was super funny, man. It was weird and random, actually, but it was dope. It really wasn't about anything, to be completely honest. It was, like, John Cusack living through his life with, like, a lot of weird, random shit happening to him. It made no sense, but it was hilarious. There's no way for me to actually explain it to you.

Is acting something you have wanted to pursue? You're obviously well known as a rapper.
Yeah. I pretty much auditioned to get into Edward R. Murrow. Acting was what I was set to do. Every school that I applied for, I had to audition to get inside because I wanted to be part of the acting programs in those schools. By the time I was 14, 15, I was really committed to becoming an actor. It was just that when I got to Edward R. Murrow, I met all the guys from my [Pro Era] crew, and we were all so interested in music. So I realized in high school that music is my calling.

I decided that, if music works out, acting will be relatively more easy. I could just use music as a leverage to get into acting. 'Cause, especially coming out of New York City, there's so many people trying to get into acting, just like there's so many people trying to get into music. It's almost like the same amount of people in the pool of it, you know. So if one is taking off already, I just decided I'd rather use that one to leverage to get to the other one. But they're both things that I'm really passionate about. Of course, music being my number one, but I've always been passionate about acting.

Have you auditioned for any shows or movies before Mr. Robot?
Yep. I actually was casted for this film titled Barry, which is about the early life of Barack Obama. But I couldn't do it because I had to do Coachella. The week that they wanted to shoot was the week that I had to play Coachella. So I missed out on the Obama movie for Coachella. That's one hell of a story to tell. You're the first person I've ever told that to in a public space.

Were you slated to play Barack Obama?
Naw, I was supposed to be his best friend. I was the guy who was supposed to show him the projects, and show him how black people was living in America at the time.

Going back to Mr. Robot, were you a fan before you joined the show?
No, I did not know about the show until I auditioned for it.

What are your impressions of it? It's such a unique show. It's very dystopian.
I loved it off the top: The whole conspiracy theories, overthrowing the government, hacking everybody's computers. I loved it. Off top, I was like, "This show is tight!" It's like a new-age show, and I love that about it.

But you didn't actually watch it until you became part of the show.
Yeah, I didn't know about it until the audition, and then I did all my research. Coincidentally, they just won the Golden Globe [for Best Television Series – Drama] two days prior to the audition, so that gave me more energy to be into it as well. I was like, "Oh, shit, they beat Game of Thrones?" All of my friends watch Game of Thrones, so this show must be something, you know? That really got me excited.

What are some of the methods you used to prepare for the role of Leon?
I just rehearsed my lines over and over. I had to watch a lot of Seinfeld because my character is really in love with that show. What else? I watched the whole first season to know what was going on and where we was at. That's pretty much it.

Obviously no one's seen the second season yet. Can you talk about the relationship Leon has with Elliot in the show?
Leon becomes a new friend of Elliot's. He really likes Elliot, and he really thinks he should look out for Elliot. That's all I can tell you without getting in trouble.

On the show, Elliot doesn't talk to anybody – except for the imaginary Mr. Robot. How is Leon able to get through to him?
Leon is just different. Elliot pretty much doesn't talk, but Leon is really talkative. So I guess that's where the relationship works. Elliot can sit there and just listen to this guy just babble off about a whole bunch of random stuff, including Seinfeld. So they build a dope relationship over Leon talking and Elliot listening.

Turning to your music career, you just released a new single, "Devastated." It's starkly different from the other music you've released.
During the making of this song, I wanted to give people something different from the rest of my catalog, and something more uptempo. My main objective was to give people a feel-good, uplifting song, 'cause a lot of music in my catalog is really introspective or meditative, critical-thinking type of vibes, or really aggressive type of vibes. So I wanted to switch it up and give my fans something new, like something they can listen to and feel good about. Something that you could play for the whole world – you know, kids, grandmoms, everyone. Something that everyone could relate to.

I thought it was interesting how you were scheduled to perform at this year's Hot 97 Summer Jam, and they put you on the second stage [before the second stage performances were canceled due to weather]. Yet your 2015 album B4.Da.$$ debuted at Number Two on the Billboard 200 chart. It seemed like you should have been on the main stage.
Yeah, right? That's what's up. But it is what it is, man. You've just got to keep proving yourself in this world, and me, I'm not one to back down. So I'm gonna do what I got to do to get to where I'm going. I'm a soldier, man. I'd rather be on a stage then no stage at all, you feel me? Sometimes you've just gotta just bite the bullet.

What are your thoughts about how urban radio doesn't support you even though you're having so much success on the album charts?
It's a lot of politics in this game, man. To be honest, I really hate politics. But as I grow older and wiser, and I gain more experience from this industry and this music game, I realize the ins and outs of it, and what you've got to do to be there and be this and be that. It all comes with growing up and seeing it for what it is. At the same time, I'm independent. So if I could crack the radio system, I win.

You call yourself independent. Do you consider yourself an underground rapper?
No, I don't. It's funny, because I don't consider myself a mainstream rapper, either. They need to make a new term for me. I'm like a major-indie. Yeah, that's what I am. I'm not underground, I'm not major label, I'm just major-indie.

It seems like you, Chance the Rapper and a few others are pioneering this new category.
Dude, these major-indies are here, man. That's what it is. We're "mindies."

Going back to Mr. Robot, are you a good guy or a bad guy?
I'm a good guy, man. I'm one of the good guys, for sure. But who knows, man? Stay tuned for the plot twists.



Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/feat...ng-out-on-obama-biopic-20160713#ixzz4EIfkmGcl
Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook
 
there's an interesting theory goin on on reddit after this episode that
elliot is still deluding himself and is actually in prison/psych ward
 
and wipe your gotdamn mouth-
she's too crazy for me. it wouldn't work. i know its probably a lot of people's wet dream to be able to slap a woman in the face as hard as you can...it does absolutely nothing for me.
you do need to learn how to speak to people. you not gonna just call me a dipshit and im going to give you the ball. im not moving. if you touch me you getting slept.
people never leave high school. that's all office politics is. you call it office politics but its just really high school.
she came with pride like i got you in trouble. she's miserable. a miserable person.
he tripping sleeping around somebody he just met. smh
Gideondamn!
 
Joey Bad >>>>

Even though it would have been cool for it to have been Wale talking all that Seinfeld sh*t
 
no thanks
ill keep my dumb ass house.

sorry I can't co sign that

a TOWNHOUSE in Manhattan with a garage and in-door pool, cuz?

INDOOR POOL

Yeah the world could go to complete sh*t and scald my back I aint leaving.

sidebar

@largebillsonlyplease

how much would it cost to do a low budget movie based on a smart home gone sentient?

cause ummmm we AT least making 25% profit off that and hopefully get a studio to greenlight a remake.
 
sorry I can't co sign that

a TOWNHOUSE in Manhattan with a garage and in-door pool, cuz?

INDOOR POOL

Yeah the world could go to complete sh*t and scald my back I aint leaving.

sidebar

@largebillsonlyplease

how much would it cost to do a low budget movie based on a smart home gone sentient?

cause ummmm we AT least making 25% profit off that and hopefully get a studio to greenlight a remake.

yea none of that needs to be run by a computer though lol. i can walk over and turn on a light switch fam, i don't need to have it on my tablet

wouldn't cost anything but a camera and a smart house lol.
the idea is written already in my head.
 
Elliot's Sister Darlene speech about getting off our knees?

“We have been on our knees for too long,” she says, “and it’s time for us to stand up!”

I swear ...

I wished someone had said that about #blacklivesmatter

Cause that riled me up...
 
Last edited:
Back
Top