So the second season of Mr. Robot boils down to Wellick and Elliot. The episode “eps2.9_pyth0n-pt2.p7z” revealed a lot of things that have been bouncing about in the verse. For starters, that FBI flowchart shows Tyrell and Elliot as two distinct people.
(Although, unlike everyone else on that board, there is no line with an arrow pointing from one to the other. It is a direct line that ends on the picture. So what does that mean?)
In keeping with Sam Esmail’s mission of keeping the audience both on their toes and constantly second guessing, other things are revealed.
Angela, far from being a pawn of Darlene’s, seems to have struck a deal with Whiterose. Either that or she has been an agent of the Dark Army for some time already. Clearly she has been working with Tyrell as the phone call at the end of the episode seems to indicate.
This episode of Mr. Robot peeled back suppositions and replaced them with some interesting facts. For instance, the flowchart and the inclusion of Mobley (sorry, Frederick) and Trenton at the very end as a teaser (The two of them are obviously in a witness protection scenario, presumably in Las Vegas.) shows that they both rolled over for the feds.
Dom reveals that Romero’s death was actually a freak accident and not the work of the Dark Army at all. This episode also showed that the FBI uses “good cop/bad cop” as well, even going so far as to use “Burn Notice” in a threatening manner.
A lot of little things became blazingly apparent in this episode. For one, Elliot (Malek) does an excellent impression of Christian Slater. When Alderson “becomes” his late father without the imaginary persona, he copies the speech patterns of Mr. Robot perfectly.
Joanna Wellick can “turn on a dime” where emotions and behavior are concerned. Her face off with Knowles, who was sending the gifts, the phone and making those “breathy” phone calls, was shocking. Not because of how Scott reacted to the poisonous statements coming out of her mouth, but because of the statements themselves. This is one vicious woman.
It comes as no surprise to learn that she wants her bartender boyfriend to help set Knowles up for the murder of his wife.
Angela, like almost everyone else in this show, is shown to be a multifaceted character. As is Darlene, who protests her own self worth while still attempting to follow Elliot’s plan.
Dom also exhibits a duality. At home she is a lonely and slightly odd young woman (she talks to her Alexa like a friend) and at work she is the python, a predator patiently stalking its prey.
This entire season has been about illusion, even more than season one of Mr. Robot. It has thrown out twist and turns each week like so much mind confetti. Last week’s episode was a good example of this confusing trail of clues that ultimately lead to a dead end.
It also seems to serve as a reminder, when placed against this episode of what may still be the final twist.
Esmail has shown that Tyrell Wellick is, or should we say was, a separate entity. He was, until he was presumably shot by Mr. Robot in the arcade (and yes we still believe that happened) and went missing for most of season two.
However…
In this world, Elliot takes on the persona’s of dead people he has/had a close connection to. His father, who died an undignified and horrible death has become a part of Elliot. The dead man is Elliot to a huge degree.
If, as Mr. Robot, Elliot killed Tyrell, who confesses on the phone that he “loves Elliot,” and since the two men had a powerful connection, it would make sense that Elliot is “being” Wellick.
This means that Elliot being shot never happened, like when Mr. Robot shot him in the head earlier in the season, it is all in his mind. Essentially, Robot and Tyrell are both manifestations of Elliot.
After all, the Arabic speaking cab driver never once acknowledged Tyrell’s presence in the car.
Esmail has continuously yanked the mask off of characters to reveal intricate hidden facets of each one. If the clues are correct, even Darlene may be something she is not.
The looming presence of the Dark Army, represented by Leon in the closing moments of the show, makes it seem that, unlike Romero, Mobley and Trenton might just be two loose ends that will soon be tied up.
Back to the Wellick/Alderson conundrum, Esmail may be dangling the possibility of Tyrell being the real leader which would then make Elliot a Mcguffin. Like Mr. Robot’s diversionary tactics in the abandoned warehouse, the creator has been leading us in an alternative direction to keep us off the scent.
Mr. Robot has been one hell of a ride this season. As the lights went out in New York, after Angela finishes her conversation with Tyrell, it seems to be a portent of things to come. Esmail seems to be saying that the third season will be even darker.
CAST:
- Rami Malek – Elliot Alderson
- Christian Slater – Mr. Robot
- Carly Chaikin – Darlene
- Portia Doubleday – Angela Moss
- Stephanie Corneliussen – Joanna Wellick
- Martin Wallström – Tyrell Wellick
- Michael Cristofer – Phillip Price
- Grace Gummer – Dominique “Dom” DiPierro
- BD Wong – Whiterose/Mr. Zhang
Guest starring Brian Stokes Mitchell as Scott Knowles
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