Mr Robot: Initial Thoughts

The television program Mr Robot, created by Sam Esmail and starring Rami Malek and Christian Slater, is one I had been interested in for some time, as it provoked a generally strong response among critics and friends. I had not actually heard very much about the show's premise, however, and so had relatively few preconceived notions when I belatedly watched the first two episodes this week. I was struck by how bluntly the show's narrative, centered on a socially anxious and depressive hacker named Elliot, attempted to convey contemporary paranoia and alienation spurred by the rise of the Internet. The plot is heavily infused by conspiracy , through Elliot's antagonism towards a sinister, massively powerful corporation as well as the activities of a quasi-terroristic hacker cell led by Christian Slater's character, the mysterious "Mr. Robot" This effect is reinforced with montages alluding to relatively current events, signaling the show's deep investment in capturing something of the national zeitgeist. I had somewhat mixed feelings about this, as when a show or film attempts to be overtly "timely", I can grow suspicious of what it's trying to sell me. Since Elliot's therapist refers to prior delusions on his part, there is some ambiguity as to the degree the events of the show are being shaped by his perception. This allows the program to create some ambiguity towards the socio-political anger and cynicism it portrays, and while ambiguity is a boon for a drama, this seems potentially too easy a form of ambiguity.

I found the direction and subjective tone of the drama deeply impressive, and also had a high regard for the cast. Coney Island was a splendidly atmospheric setting for the scenes surrounding Mr. Robot. The opening scene of the second episode, where Eliot meets with the interim CTO of Evil Corp, outrageously flanked by a dozen corporate lawyers, was one I found especially visually remarkable. A TV show that treats the visuals as more than an adornment for the writing is always a rare treat, though it seems there is lately some improvement on that front. Since we are essentially living in a post-prestige era of television, the ambition of the show was a welcome throwback to some of the major programs of the real or supposed Golden Age. If the themes of anger towards prevailing American (perhaps global) society are developed in a genuinely original or profound manner, we certainly could have a classic series on our hands. Yet I was never entirely convinced by Mr Robot's portrayal of society, since the dominance of one particular evil monopolistic corporation can only distract from the real world dominance of multiple centers of overwhelming corporate power.

I couldn't help but be reminded of the recently departed and dearly missed Person of Interest while watching Mr Robot..Being an overt genre show, and airing on CBS, POI does not immediately smack of prestige and ambition in the manner of the newer program. Yet it similarly highlights contemporary anxieties towards technology and society at large, and the fact that it does so without deliberately presenting itself as a commentary on our historical moment is perhaps a boon in that show's favor. POI's willingness to function in a deliberately unhip, procedural frame marks its relation to the surveillance state and the rise of the machines as something that must be deliberately pursued by the audience, whereas Mr. Robot forces the audience to view it as primarily a reflection of modern angst. For the moment, I surprise myself by preferring POI's approach, which did not allow it the privileges bestowed on programs that signify their status as prestige TV. Yet Mr. Robot is already tremendously compelling, which was not necessarily true of Person of Interest in its earliest episodes. The show is a work of tremendous talent and potential, and I greatly look forward to seeing where its first season arrives.