WEB DESK: The USA Network has been home to several notable TV series, with “Mr Robot” standing out as a significant achievement. Created by Sam Esmail, the cyber-thriller follows Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek), a cybersecurity expert who moonlights as a hacker aiming to dismantle the powerful conglomerate Ecorp, which he perceives as “Evil Corp.” Elliot joins the hacktivist group known as fsociety, led by the enigmatic Mr. Robot (Christian Slater). Throughout the series, Mr. Robot constantly manipulates Elliot’s perception of reality, unveiling dark truths, such as Elliot’s sister Darlene (Carly Chaikin) being one of his fellow hackers and the revelation that his dissociative identity disorder stems from childhood abuse.
The final two episodes, “whoami” and “Hello, Elliot,” follow Elliot’s confrontation with Whiterose (B.D. Wong), the leader of the Dark Army hacker group. These episodes reveal that the world Elliot believed he inhabited is entirely different. Elliot learns he has another personality, a twist that redefines the entire narrative.
In “whoami,” an alternate version of Elliot enjoys an ideal life with living parents and an impending marriage to his childhood friend Angela (Portia Doubleday). This version is ultimately killed by the main Elliot, who then awakens in the office of his therapist, Krista Gordon (Gloria Reuben). Krista reveals that this Elliot is an alternate personality, “The Mastermind,” created from the trauma of parental abuse to protect the real Elliot.
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This revelation reshapes the entire series, showing that the Elliot viewers followed is a projection of his subconscious. The Mastermind Elliot’s drive to take down Ecorp was an effort to create a safe world for the real Elliot. In a surreal twist, both the Mastermind and Krista address the audience, blurring the lines of reality further. Despite understanding his nature, the Mastermind refuses to disappear and wakes up in a hospital, with Darlene by his side. She serves as the real Elliot’s strongest connection to reality. After learning his final hack succeeded, the Mastermind goes to a movie theater where Elliot’s other personalities, including Mr. Robot, watch the real Elliot’s memories. The series concludes with the real Elliot awakening as Darlene greets him with “Hello, Elliot.”
Esmail originally conceived “Mr. Robot” as a feature film, a fact he shared with Entertainment Weekly after the Season 1 finale. He envisioned the reveal of Mr. Robot as one of Elliot’s personalities as the central twist of the film. This intent explains the structured and complete storytelling of the series, with the Mastermind Elliot’s revelation likely planned as the film’s climax.
“Mr. Robot” remains a standout in USA Network’s original series lineup and marks a creative milestone for Esmail. He has acknowledged the series’ influence on his recent Netflix film “Leave The World Behind.” With USA series like “Monk” and “Suits” enjoying renewed popularity through revival movies and streaming, “Mr. Robot” deserves a re-evaluation, particularly for its masterful and satisfying conclusion.
