Mr. Robot 3x03 Reaction

Final comment! It's really crushing having to watch Elliot clueless to the two most important people in his life betraying him behind his back in different ways, both of whom feel like they're doing this *for* Elliot. Last season we see everything from Elliot's perspective to a blinding fault, and this season we know a lot more than him, which makes him being so unaware more hurtful rather than mysterious. Angela is definitely more distant from the audience, but I'd disagree with her emotionless disposition being out of nowhere. In S2 especially there's so many moments when she's stone-faced, maintaining a cold composure in what should be an emotional situation (The Price talks, the FBI hack, being confronted by Dom in her apartment, being led to the Whiterose meet). You can read the emotion in her eyes, but her face is otherwise blank. This is just how she acts. I would instead say the difference to now is that there's a sense of confidence and control that, before, always felt like a shaky facade on the verge of collapsing. Despite her undeniably achieving a lot in the previous seasons, watching it felt like being in an uphill battle and losing constantly while getting cornered. Whereas now, all that doubt feels like it's dissipated and she knows exactly what to do. Plus, it's not like the vulnerability in her character is gone, as demonstrated by the last scene in 3x1. So on my first watchthrough, I was really ecstatic about this new demeanour from Angela. Narratively it's very exciting and relieving to finally have her feel like the one in power with a lot to bring outside of her own internal arc. Despite ubdoubtedly achieving a lot in previous seasons, there's a constant feeling of her fighting an uphill battle and losing constantly; but here she feels truly competent and magnetic. This rewatch is a new experience, because I can definitely feel some of that discomfort vicariously through the reactions (I'm just SUCH an empath you know 😜😜). This new Angela is almost repelling and, to a degree, feels like an imposter in the shape of the Angela that we know, creating an uncanny valley effect. But also, for me there's still that element of coolness like the Wellicks in S1.

This is essentially Tyrell's bizarre adventure: The episode and I love it haha. It tells the story of one man finding his faith and having it crushed, and the wacky situations in between, while also filling in the gaps in other flashback moments. Though I will say the Leon scene always bugged me. Did no one think about how different his hair is from when the scene takes place? I was curious what you'd think of the full hobo look on him, didn't think you'd say it suits him. I think the opposite, though he does look really good in that one shot at the computer when he's just beginning to grow it out. Overall it's been a great journey of watching you eventually come to love Tyrell as a character (Milena's hand-heart towards him compared to her being so creeped out by him originally xD). He really is like a scared puppy 90% of the time in this episode. His love for Elliot is very one-sided, but the way Mr Robot looks at him before saying "You should go" is honestly straight from a tragic love story ahahah. Tyrell seems to become more sympathetic in contrary ways -- murdering someone (S1) and shooting the protagonist with a gun (S2) somehow make him more likeable afterwards. Like Milena says, none of it makes sense but emotionally it all comes together and makes Tyrell incredibly compelling. He's truly a chaotic element in the show. It's also wild, as you mentioned, that Tyrell is our emotional anchor in the final scene of Elliot recovering. It's so surreal imagining where we were at in S1 -- now, Tyrell is our protagonist that we as the audience stay with as we watch Elliot and Angela (!) quietly scheming to work with the antagonists and we're left out of the loop. It's so jarring and upside-down but that's why it works so well.

Great reaction! Not much to add this week except it's always a highlight on rewatch reaching this episode and experiencing what Tyrell experienced for the months between S1 and end of S2. More great stuff to come!

ROT-13 Series spoilers! Nalbar ryfr srry n yvggyr onq ng ubj crbcyr ner ernffhevat gurz gb unir snvgu va ubj gurl'yy trg nyy gur nafjref sbe gurve oheavat dhrfgvbaf... ohg jr qba'g svaq bhg jung Juvgrebfr fnvq be fubjrq gb Natryn? Nabgure vffhr vf gurl'er abg fngvfsvrq jvgu gur pheerag nafjre orpnhfr gb gurz, jryy Natryn vf n shyyl tebja jbzna, dhvgr engvbany naq frevbhf, lrg fur oryvrirf va gvzr geniry nsgre n unys-ubhe pbairefngvba. Vs gurl gbbx vagb nppbhag ure fgngr bs zvaq yrnqvat hc gb gung rcvfbqr vg jbhyq or n qvssrerag fgbel ohg nf vg fgnaqf V'z oenpvat sbe qvfnccbvagzrag naq rzcgvarff. Nyfb gur trareny gvzr geniry vqrn jnfa'g cvpxrq hc ol gurz hagvy vg orpnzr irel oyngnag, fb vg srryf bqq nf n erq ureevat fvapr vg ortf gur dhrfgvba bs jul hfr gung nf bar va gur svefg cynpr bgure guna frrzvatyl orvat snagnfgvpny sbe gur fnxr bs vg. Using a pastebin for the other ROT-13 message because it's a MEATY one: https://pastebin.com/HRxvPnSm

So happy you see Irving as a mix of lalo and saul bc i always saw him like that aswell lol glad youre enjoying his character hes one of my favorites!

OMG this a conundrum…I want you to advance and at the same time I don’t…

I've always felt sorry for Tyrell, his love for Elliot and desire to impress him / going the extra mile to demonstrate his loyalty and all these months of Tyrell's anticipation of their reunion - Elliot doesn't think he's real. :( Going as far as demanding his original suit back / clean shaven just to be met with "Do you see him??" - makes me laugh and feel bad at the same time

Got some more things to say (about Elliot, Angela and Tyrell) but will wait until activity dies down - When the gun jammed, Mr Robot was probably like 'Dammit Darlene, this is why you don't store a gun that you plan to use in a popcorn machine!' - The intro with the scrolling credits, eerie music and car track is a reference to The Shining. But I also think Sam Esmail just really likes long shots of cars driving to places, haha, since both season finale post-credit scenes have started that way, if you recall. - The Lalo guy's name is Irving, btw. It's on the car dealership store sign. I love the moment where he just has all these different mugs and all their labels on his shelf, denoting different identities he pretends to have hahaha. - How are you guys also calling Phillip Price "Pierce"? The last reactors did the same thing but they were at least concurrently watching Community where a character had that name, lol.

A Message for those who are careless with spoilers: I got this from the moderator (SuddenImpulse030) of Spartan & Pudgey channel and thought it would be useful here: IMPORTANT: PLEASE KEEP ALL INFORMATION TO THE EPISODES THEY HAVE WATCHED. You can talk about anything within reason but please: 1. No show spoilers 2. No character spoilers 3. No future event spoilers 4. No trailer, promo etc. spoilers. 5. No cheeky hints/semi-vague remarks about spoiler material because those can be figured out.

Will be updating this as I watch but Flipper being mentioned in the presence of Whiterose tickles me for some reason. Being mentioned in high places! I think what this episode cements is that Tyrell has Attachment issues, guy clings to people who give him approval of any kind, or even those who don't. Joanna, Elliot, even literally clinging to Price when he's fired. I love his character he's very funny ROT13: Sebz gurve pbairefngvba ng gur ortvaavat, gurl'er tbvat gb YBIR Cevpr'f raq. Thl trgf fuvgsnprq naq gnxrf gur cvff bhg bs Juvgrebfr sbe gur ragver avtug. Trahvar orfg punenpgre raq.