Mr. Robot is one of the smartest and most thought-provoking shows out there, one that often pushes the boundaries of television. Presented through compelling characters—most notably the series’ unreliable narrator Elliot Alderson played by Rami Malek—the show’s themes are incredibly relevant to the modern world.
Season 1 was a sensational hit, but season 2 elicited a more mixed reaction from critics and fans. Season 3 won back a lot of goodwill, with many feeling as though the show captured the essence of what made it such a hit in the first place. Now a fourth and final season is set to premiere in October, culminating in the conclusion showrunner Sam Esmail planned from the very beginning.
Before the new season drops, it’s worth revisiting the best and worst episodes of the phenomenal series. Fortunately, viewers have been able to rate each episode on IMDB, providing a clearer sense of which episodes resonated with fans and which ones weren’t so successful.
Don your fsociety mask as we explore the best and worst of what Mr. Robot has to offer.
Best: “eps1.0_hellofriend.mov” - 9.3
Mr. Robot’s pilot episode is a perfect hook into the series. From Elliot’s first scene in Ron Coffee’s Shop to when he’s in Times Square and sees the news that Terry Colby has been arrested, every moment in the pilot creates intrigue and sets the right tone for the series.
As engaging as the episode is the first time around, it’s even better as a re-watch, where fans notice how every little detail subtly hinted at plot twists that were revealed later in the first season, especially in Elliot’s interactions with Mr. Robot and Darlene.
Worst: “eps1.3_da3m0ns.mp4” - 8.1
Much of this episode revolves around Elliot going through a drug detox, which manifests in intense hallucinations. Enjoyment of the episode really hinges on one’s investment in his hallucinations. While there’s satisfaction to be found in combing through the nuances and foreshadowing in each hallucination, too many fans found them tedious and an impediment to the first season’s momentum and overall plot.
Thus, it’s currently the lowest-rated episode in Mr. Robot’s run. That the lowest rated episode in the show’s history sits at an 8.1 speaks volumes to the show’s quality, though.
Best: “eps1.7_wh1ter0se.m4v” - 9.5
This episode forever changed everything fans thought they knew about Mr. Robot. It introduces the enigmatic Whiterose, whose role challenges much of what the audience assumed about Dark Army, E Corp, fsociety, and the hack that became known as 5/9.
At the beginning of the episode, it’s revealed that Darlene and Angela know each other and are close. By the end of the episode, fans know that Darlene is actually Elliot’s sister. As if that wasn’t enough, Elliot finds pictures of himself as a kid with Mr. Robot, making it seem as though Mr. Robot was his father all along. Forcing the audience to reevaluate everything they know is an integral part of the show’s identity, and this was one of the first episodes to pull off such a feat with perfect precision.
Worst: “eps2.0_unm4sk-pt1.tc” - 8.3
The first season ended with numerous cliffhangers that left audiences eager for a second season. For fans wanting answers, the first part of the season 2 premiere is a disappointment as the mysteries remain and more questions arise. Elliot seemingly living off the grid with his mother and obeying a strict routine to weaken Mr. Robot feels isolating for him, but also for the audience who is mostly kept in the dark.
A flashback at the beginning of the episode tantalizes the possibility of finding out what happened the night of the hack and where Tyrell is now, but it cuts away before anything too significant can be revealed. There’s an enormous payoff for all this ambiguity and mystery by the end of the season, though at the time it was certainly frustrating for fans who had long been waiting for answers.
Best: “shutdown -r” - 9.5
With several long-running storylines colliding and key shifts in the status quo, the season 3 finale serves as one of the most rewarding episodes in Mr. Robot’s history. Practically every character from Elliot, to Angela, to Dom and more learn new information that upends their world, forcing them to make life-threatening decisions that give them a new role for the fourth and final season.
For Elliot in particular, there’s finally tangible hope that things will be made right and the real 1% of the 1%—Whiterose—will finally be held accountable and have to face the consequences. The post-credits scene raises the stakes even further with the return of Vera, a character from season 1 with whom Elliot still has some serious unfinished business.
Worst: “eps1.2_d3bug.mkv” - 8.3
With the first two episodes of the series primarily focused on Elliot, this one largely shifts its focus to Tyrell Wellick. Tyrell’s lust for power and his twisted, unorthodox methods of getting what he wants are put on full display.
While some appreciate having a better understanding of who Tyrell is as a character, the episode paints him in such a despicable way that it’s difficult to walk away feeling anything but disgust. The corrupt, manipulative, cutthroat corporate figure is a stereotype. It’s not until later in the series that Tyrell becomes a more nuanced and even tragic character.
Best: “eps3.5_kill-process.inc” - 9.7
The long-awaited Stage 2 comes to complete fruition in this episode. Elliot tries to stop Stage 2, but, in doing so, makes it worse, leaving him feeling responsible for the 71 E Corp facilities that are destroyed and the thousands that die as a result. Confronting Elliot with utter failure, and the feeling that, despite his best intentions, he is accountable for such widespread death and destruction is a bold move, even by Mr. Robot’s standards, one that pushes Elliot to new and fascinating places as a character.
The ending is only part of the standout episode, as watching nearly every key character try to help or prevent the culmination of Stage 2 is an equally thrilling and nerve-wracking experience to watch. The suspense is escalated even further with most of the characters not knowing what the end of Stage 2 actually looks like, making the final result genuinely devastating to behold.
Worst: “eps2.0_unm4sk-pt2.tc” - 8.4
After a somewhat slow first part of the season 2 premiere, the second part kicks things into gear more. E Corp CTO Scott Knowles wears an fsociety mask and publicly burns $5.9 million to satisfy fsociety’s ransom demands. Gideon Goddard is killed by a man he just met in a bar. The episode ends with Elliot receiving a phone call from Tyrell.
It’s a more exciting installment than the first part of the season 2 premiere, but the payoff of these events moving forward is mixed. As a result, it seems like there was more emphasis placed on shock value than on the development of characters, plot or themes, which is a disappointing rarity for Mr. Robot.
Best: “eps3.4_runtime-error.r00” - 9.7
As a commercial-free episode presented as one continuous tracking shot, it is the most ambitious and technically impressive installment of Mr. Robot so far. These elements allow the audience to feel completely immersed in the pure chaos of the episode, following Elliot and Angela throughout E Corp headquarters as the Dark Army unleashes Stage 2. Because of the fluid way in which the episode is delivered, Elliot’s helplessness as he’s unable to stop Stage 2 feels palpable, as does Angela’s determination and fear as she tries to successfully complete a task that was intended for Elliot.
As if this isn’t enough, Darlene also tells Elliot she’s working with the FBI and about how Angela has been helping Mr. Robot without Elliot’s knowledge. The episode ends perfectly with Elliot and Angela coming face-to-face after their harrowing experiences and the truth finally bared before the two old friends.
Worst: “eps3.3_metadata.par2” - 8.5
The fourth episode of season 3 is mostly setup for the next two episodes, which are the two highest rated in the entire series. Stage 2 is nearly at hand. Elliot and Darlene try to take steps to stop it while Angela, Mr. Robot, and Tyrell take steps to make it a reality. There are some rich interactions between Elliot and Darlene, and it’s compelling to watch Angela as a full-blown agent of the Dark Army.
The once-mighty Tyrell Wellick is just sad to watch, as he wishes he could go back to the time when he loved Elliot and viewed him as a god. There’s also Tyrell trying to arrange safe passage to the Ukraine with his wife and child after Stage 2 is completed, but he’s unaware about Joanna’s tragic fate from earlier in the season. It’s undeniably a setup episode, one that’s necessary, but isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
