Elliot goes back to work for E Corp, but Mr. No, hes not embodying Mr.
Robot as the episode begins.
In fact, Mr. Robots presence is nowhere to be found.
Credit: Michael Parmelee/USA Network
Elliot hasnt seen or felt him in weeks, and he thinks its because he hasnt seen Darlene.
He believes his sister is a trigger and that by avoiding her he can avoid bringing out Mr. We know thats not true.
We know more than Elliot, but we have no way to tell him that.
No, Elliot isnt becoming Mr.
Robot at the top of the episode.
Rather, hes becoming the person he thinks is necessary to save the world.
Elliot immediately falls into a routine as the newest member of E Corps data recovery team.
Hes abandoned the destructive rhetoric of Fsociety and is instead focused on cleaning things up from the inside.
Hes trying to join the world around him.
Hes not selling out; hes growing up, or so he says.
From selling employee data to cheating on emissions tests, Elliot knocks off one member of management after another.
The trouble is, Elliot doesnt seem to extend that theory to himself.
Hes only doing surface-level fixes for his own issues.
Robot isnt going to just slip away because Elliot is avoiding Darlene.
Thats not how that works.
The loneliness came back.
Thats coming from something broken on the inside.
(Recap continues on next page)
Elliot is trying though.
Hes been torn between Mr.
In fact, hes so thrown for a loop that he forgets its his birthday.
Krista is the one who reminds him, as hes once again back to his therapy sessions.
Hes constantly torn between the necessity and destructive nature of Mr. End of story he says nonchalantly, the push and pull of Mr.
Robot present as always.
You give a shot to fix it from the inside.
Elliot certainly isnt the only one being pulled in different directions.
Darlene has her own issues, her own things to fix.
Robot rears his ugly head again after a brief absence.
She alsoneedsto be close to Elliot so that save her own ass.
The FBI is on her to deliver something substantial.
Theyve been working with her for six weeks and theyre sick of getting nothing.
she has no choice but to admit that her brother isnt who she thinks he is.
Or, at least, there are times when he isnt.
With Darlene conflicted about Elliot, and Elliot himself unsure about how hes dealing with Mr.
Robot (or the lack thereof), Joanna seems to be the one whos on a clear path.
That is until the dumb, bro-tastic bartender boyfriend snaps.
Hes a variable that Joanna assumed she had control over sound like someone we know?
but turns out to be much more destructive than she could have imagined.
Mr. Sutherland gets back in the car.
The camera brings him into focus, and then a blurry figure walks into the background of the frame.
The focus shifts and we see Derrick fire a gun and hit Sutherland.
She falls back dead as Sutherland, still clinging to life, fires a round into Derrick.
Im in control now, hes saying.
Nobody within the show is, but I know where these pieces are supposed to be.
Darlene finally caves to the FBIs pressure and sets up something that allows them to mirror Elliots computer screen.
Theyre watching now, always watching, just like Mr.
Robot, just like the eye in the 1984 club.
The episodes third section is more internationally consequential.
Theres one holdout, he notes, and he takes them to task.
Price threatens to use his influence to change that decision should Zhang refuse to play ball.
The struggle for control continues, and is left unresolved.
Well, perhaps thats not totally true.
After all, Zhang/Whiterose seems to always be in control.
Zhang/Whiterose wants it done though, so it will be done.
With Stage 2 looming, its a good time for Elliot to get some semblance of control back.
How much does he have though, and how much of it is due to Mr.
In Kristas office Elliot relaxes and lets Mr.
Robot come out so she can confront him.
Smash cut to the subway, where Elliot sits below a poster for a new film called Separation Anxiety.
It stars Will Ferrell and Judi Dench, seemingly two opposing forces in the same film.
Pulled in separate directions indeed.
Back at home Elliot reboots his computer.
He doesnt trust Darlene.
He sends a file to Eugene Belford.
The FBI agent monitoring Elliot searches the file and finds nothing.
Thats because thats exactly what Elliot wanted him to find.
Dom stares at a security camera as Elliot comes into the house.
Nobody knows whos in control.
