The 12 Best Mr. Robot Episodes, Ranked

The USA Network hacking thriller "Mr. Robot" is one of the best and most underrated dramas of the past decade. Initially, "Mr. Robot" seemed like a risky project. While writer-director Sam Esmail established his merits as a creator with his highly underrated feature film directorial debut, "Comet," he had yet to prove himself as the showrunner of a complex narrative series. Rami Malek was rising star thanks to his role on HBO's "The Pacific," but the character of Elliot Alderson was very different from anything that he had done before.

All of these concerns evaporated after the first season reached its conclusion. With its stylistic direction, relevant social themes, electrifying soundtrack, and shocking twists, "Mr. Robot" was unlike anything else on television. It seems closer to an arthouse film than anything. The show contains allusions to such classics as "Blade Runner," "The Matrix," "Pi," and "Taxi Driver." "Mr. Robot" continued to get more ambitious throughout its run. The show reached its shocking ending in 2019, bringing the story of fsociety, the Dark Army, and Mr. Robot himself to a fitting conclusion. Here are the 12 best "Mr. Robot" episodes, ranked.

It was always going to be challenging for the final episode of Season 1 to live up to expectations. The previous two episodes featured game-changing twists that completely redefined viewers' perspectives. However, "eps1.9_zer0-day.avi" is able to wrap up the emotional conclusion of Elliot's journey to accepting Mr. Robot as part of his identity.

In the episode's most powerful moment, Elliot stands in the middle of Times Square and sees reflections of his past on the billboards that surround him. As Dmitri Shostakovich's "Waltz No. 2" plays in the background, Elliot has a touching conversation with the apparition of his father. This shows that Elliot has grown confident in his plan. However, it signifies that he will have to face the consequences of the 5/9 attacks for the rest of the series. Fsociety is able to hide the evidence and escape. Their victory is short-lived, but it's rewarding at the moment.

"eps1.9_zer0-day.avi" also includes some exciting stingers that build anticipation for Season 2. E Corp CEO Phillip Price (Michael Cristofer) signifies to Whiterose (BD Wong) that he knows who is responsible for the attack. "Mr. Robot" always features interesting soundtrack choices, and the use of Alabama Shakes' "Sound and Color" during the final scene is wonderful. Although Elliot hears a knock on his apartment door, the identity of his visitor is unclear.

While the biggest shock of the season would be saved for the next episode, "eps1.7_wh1ter0se.m4v" begins the series of revelations about Elliot's identity. Before the incredible twist, the episode takes the time to introduce a character who has been pulling the strings all along. Elliot has a brief conversation with the Dark Army's secret leader, Whiterose. Whiterose is obsessed with controlling time and tells Elliot the Dark Army is backing out of their commitment to support fsociety. While the rest of Season 1 focuses mostly on fsociety's hack, this episode teases the larger role that the Dark Army plays in Season 2.

Elliot is able to shut down a kink in the plan, and Mr. Robot reveals that he's been working with Tyrell. Riding high on his success, Elliot embraces Darlene (Carly Chaikin) and tries to kiss her. Darlene is shocked and pushes him away. Elliot is surprised but then realizes the truth. Darlene is his sister. The previous episodes do a brilliant job at hinting at this. Darlene's ease around Elliot can either be interpreted as the confidence of a sibling or the suggestions of a lover.

This revelation is compounded by the final scene in which Elliot learns from some childhood photos that Mr. Robot is his father. "We need to talk," Mr. Robot says. The episode brilliantly cuts to credits before viewers have time to process what Mr. Robot is talking about.

"Mr. Robot" was groundbreaking in the way that it tackled issues such as depression, anxiety, and hopelessness. Many viewers may have been attracted to the series because they felt represented by Elliot. Depictions of mental health issues in popular media can often be inappropriate or unproductive. Trying to make someone who is dealing with serious issues into a "quirky" character is frankly insulting. The Season 3 episode "eps3.7_dont-delete-me.ko" is perhaps the show's frankest deconstruction of the nature of healing.

Elliot is heartbroken about his failure to stop the bombings. Although he finally felt that he had made an arrangement with Mr. Robot to protect innocent people, Elliot realizes that all of their efforts were futile. Several members of Darlene's team, including Trenton (Sunita Mani), are killed and blamed by Dark Army for the attacks. Elliot wanders to a beach. It's clear that he is suicidal. However, he runs into Trenton's younger brother, Mohammed (Elisha Henig). Mohammed won't leave Elliot alone, and they are forced to spend time together, bonding.

It's possible that the episode takes place in Elliot's head and that Mohammed is merely an illusion that he has created to save himself from suicide. Either way, Elliot is able to accept his failure and move on. He even takes the time to bond with his longtime friend, Angela Moss (Portia Doubleday).

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

The biggest shocker of the first season occurs when "Mr. Robot" pulls a "Fight Club." After learning that Mr. Robot is his father, Elliot travels to his childhood home. Mr. Robot desperately tries to tell Elliot that he will always be there for him. However, they are confronted by Angela and Darlene, who are clearly concerned. Darlene asks Elliot who he thinks he has been talking to. Elliot struggles to accept the truth. After looking at his father's grave, he realizes that Mr. Robot is just a different identity that he has created for himself. "I am Mr. Robot," he reluctantly says.

While some eagle-eyed viewers may have predicted this twist, it took the majority of the audience by surprise. It's clear that Elliot is not a reliable narrator, but it isn't evident how much of the series is part of his illusion. This revelation doesn't just exist to pull the rug out from underneath the viewers. Elliot is taken off guard in the same way that the audience is. This helps make Elliot more relatable. Rami Malek delivers one of his best performances in the series. He is traumatized as he tries to process what he has learned. This becomes even more emotional after what we learn about his past in Season 4.

Elliot's last conversation with Tyrell is slightly eerie. His philosophical tirade about wanting to save the world suggests that his mind has become more fragile.

The idea of presenting a narrative as a single continuous tracking shot isn't an original concept. Alfred Hitchcock perfected the technique with "Rope," Alejandro Gonzales Innaritu used it in "Birdman (or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)," and Sam Mendes utilized it for his immersive war epic, "1917." However, it's a stylistic choice that audiences may not have expected to see on television. "eps3.4_runtime-error.r00" is presented as one continuous shot without any obvious cuts or edits. It was a particularly rewarding episode for anyone that had watched the first airing, as the episode was presented without any commercial breaks that would have disrupted the experience.

Using this technique in and of itself would have been impressive, but "eps3.4_runtime-error.r00" features one of the most intense action sequences in the series. Elliot attempts to return to the office of his old employer, E Corp. The building is surrounded by protestors who are trying to barge their way into the building. As Elliot and Darlene attempt to make their way into the facilities, chaos breaks loose. Elliot must try to shut down the computer system before the results of the UN vote come in.

The episode does a great job of navigating between the characters' perspectives. At one point, Angela takes center stage. Angela's horrified reaction to the events that follow sets up a very interesting change in her character arc.

"407 Proxy Authentication Required" is the most important episode of "Mr. Robot." While previous twists in the series redefined our perspective, "407 Proxy Authentication Required" explains why Elliot sees the world the way that he does. Sam Esmail directs the episode as an elegant play composed of five acts. Elliot is captured by Fernando Vera (Elliot Villar), who forces him into an emergency therapy session with Krista.

Krista and Vera slowly deconstruct Elliot's psychology as he recounts the events of his childhood. Elliot always thought that his father pushed him from a window when he was young. It slowly dawns on him that he actually jumped to escape. Elliot's father was sexually abusing him.

If this was presented as just another shocking twist, it could have been disrespectful. However, giving Elliot the time to reach this conclusion is simply heartbreaking. Rami Malek delivers his single greatest performance in the entire series.

If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.