Stream-It Saturday: Mr. Robot

Laura was harassing me to watch Mr. Robot--USA Network's new show--so aggressively that she was basically interrogating me about whether or not I'd watched the first episode every time we talked or texted. Then another friend (Hi, Jennifer!) also started raving about it. And my father-in-law started talking about it, too.

Obviously, Laura was right. Which is additional evidence that you should just listen to Laura the first time. Mr. Robot is one of the most interesting shows I've watched in a long time, and one of the hardest to talk about. Because, you see, it's a show ostensibly about hackers. But it's also about a whole lot more. It's about mental health and perception and corruption and corporate greed and a whole bunch of other things. 

And then there's Rami Malek who is freaking STELLAR as the lead, Eliot Alderson. This show would have been good with a different actor, because the plotting and filming are so well done, but he brings it to another level, which a riveting performance. This is a role that could easily be overly-performed, but he's restrained, and it's fascinating. He's an actor I've always liked--he's good enough you notice him in everything he's in, but, wow, his performance in this is something people had better be paying attention to. 

One last thing I really love about Mr. Robot is hour claustrophobic New York City feels in this show. I often feel like in TV and movies that city feels so open and free, but my experience with it it quite the opposite: it's crowded and overwhelming and basically sensory overload and they just nail the city as a character.

Here's what no one told me (I'm looking at you, Laura--I thought we had an agreement to warn each other about such situations!): The first season of Mr. Robot ends on a crazytown cliffhanger! But it's so worth it, y'all. If you have cable (I don't), it's probably on On-Demand. If you don't, it's totally worth the $15 for the season pass--I wouldn't steer you wrong, I promise.

Oh, and USA? Please let us know when season two is coming? Pleeeeeaassee?!

The Trailer