[rating=8.00] “eps1.5_br4ve-trave1e
Last week’s tragedy was tough to absorb. After seemingly getting a hold on his life, Elliot’s long time casual lover, friend, and now girlfriend Shayla was brutally murdered. A series of events that transpired solely based on Elliot’s actions. Where can he go from here? What will the loss, and guilt associated with that loss, do to Elliot’s psyche?
The opening of this episode was a flashback to Shayla moving into the apartment building. Elliot is wary of the newcomer, treading lightly as to not make his presence explicitly known. His efforts are for naught, as moments after crushing up a pill to snort and bask the day away in a fog, there’s a crash and a cry for help. Shayla barges into his life with a familiar dark blue beta in hand. From the moment they meet they’re not right for one another. Neither physically nor intellectually. And yet…the draw between them is uncanny. The Cure’s “Pictures of You” softly in the background as they wrap up their introduction, a moment that ends with an offer to engage in shady dealings to get Elliot a heavier product to quell the harsh reality of everyday life. The music grows louder as she walks away, and Mr. Robot flashes on screen.
One of the best things we can take from their initial interaction is Elliot’s response to one of Shayla’s overly prodding questions. “You don’t like people huh?” to which he responds, “No, not most of them.” This is critical to the overall understanding of Elliot’s mindset both before his tragic run in against Fernando, and the quality of life he’ll be facing after the fact. The only reason he ever had to trust people was Angela. His father shunned him before death, his mother was a harping bitch who seemed to resent her son’s being alive. And as his and Angela’s lives have begun to drift, Elliot’s lifeline was Shayla. The rest of the world he tolerates. Part of why I’m so gung ho with the Elliot being Robot theory is because it would have been the next step in his increasing paranoia. He’s always been worried about men in suits supposedly following him, why wouldn’t he disassociate with life in order to cope?
There were three major moments that need addressing this week (one of which quite honestly still has the majority of my skin raised with horror). The first was Angela’s agreeing to testify in the case against former Evil Corp CFO Terry Colby. In order to gain information about the circumstances surrounding her mother’s death, Angela goes to Colby with an offer to testify in his case about her mishandling of information. This will ultimately help to release Colby from both his house arrest and case against him. While it’s unclear whether or not she has an underlying plan, so far Angela is blowing it. The girl cannot get a hold of her emotions before she makes a decision and ultimately it will be her downfall. It hard to emotionally invest in a character who can’t do anything right for themselves, let alone the people around them.
The second shock (well, not really considering the character) of the night came from Wellick. Fresh out of a meeting with current CFO front runner Scott Knowles, Wellick is still upset that Knowles’ wife ratted him out. It was the one thing he could have used against the savvy businessman moving in on his coveted territory, and yet he was unable to get the job done. While attending a party of affluent ladies and gentlemen, Wellick makes his next move coaxing Knowles’ wife onto the roof with him. After initially rebuffing his advances (“My husband is downstairs getting the job you want, and you’re up here trying to fuck me.”), the two soon move into a passionate embrace, FKA Twigs’ “Two Weeks” haunting on in the background. In a stunning turn of events, Wellick’s rage pushes him to strangle the incapacitated woman. There’s no way around it, he straight up murdered her in cold blood, and then left her lifeless corpse on the roof for all the world to see. How will he get out of this one? Well, considering his pull, and the room full of suits he had brought Elliot to in the first episode it won’t be hard to cover it up. At the very most he’ll get a slap on the wrist from a judge for tomfoolery.
Finally came the hardest moment to watch this season so far. Not Shayla’s bloodied corpse in the trunk of the car, not Elliot’s comedown fever dream, or even the murder witnessed just a scene before. No, what kept hearts racing and minds turning was Elliot’s admission to his therapist Krista surrounding his hacking tendencies. Early in the episode she released him from his court mandated therapy, a moment that they were both sure would be their last together. However after an extensively thought out day, Elliot made his triumphant return to Krista’s office. At first she was satisfied with his apparent intention to open up with her, truly, for the first time. But soon the secrets spilled out. He knew about her daily habits, her sexual tendencies, her political leanings. He knew things about her that she likely didn’t even know herself. His admission came largely with a stipulation of forgiveness, because as he keeps asserting over and over again, just like her, all he wants is to be happy. To feel happy. Just like everyone else.
What’s exciting about this episode was how slow it was. It’s a double-edged sword keeping that sort of momentum going. However, it’s exactly what was needed after the six week jump. This early in the series the storyline, the characters, the setting…they could all quickly shift in one way or another. It’s exhilarating and terrifying, and part of why Mr. Robot will be around for as long as it deems itself relevant to the world.
