The moment this episode ended I had very mixed feelings about it. I just knew I had to watch it again before I reviewed it and I'm glad I did. Once that anxious feeling I get in my chest when I hope something with the main story is happening goes away and I just focus on the episode, I love this episode. It's got the funniest moments of the season so far, Mr. Robot screaming at that woman when he's ran out of patience, the drunk santa calling Darlene "Dolly", etcetera. But this episode also was deeply introspective and did the characters of Dom, Darlene, and particularly Tyrell, so much justice when it comes to their emotional journeys.
When I see this episode's ending without it instantly cutting to commercial and ruining the experience, I feel the sense that this is how Tyrell's journey is meant to end. He was never "one of them" (the 1%), so why would his journey end in some big explosive moment that we're anticipating it to for a character like Whiterose near the end of the season? Tyrell was always the most mysterious character of Mr. Robot and he gets the most mysterious, but also strangely the most beautiful, death on the entire show, especially for a character of his importance.
I loved seeing Darlene work through her feelings with Tobias. I empathize so much with her attempt to help Tobias after taking all of the dark stuff he said on the car ride the wrong way. It makes total sense why she would take it the wrong way, not just because of her emotional state in this episode, but also because of her job as a sibling to Elliot. Darlene is always worried about him and that part of her comes out when Tobias says all these things. It's perfect for her character and I also like the twist that the drunk santa character is actually a super nice guy, which I wasn't expecting on my first watch.
Dom's storyline calls back to when she showed up at Angela's place unannounced and told her about her nightmares she has where she's drowning, and that the moment she gives up control and stops fighting, she wakes up. We actually get to see this dream play out on screen, except it's mixed with her sexual feelings that come with being a lonely person and her fear of the dark army being everywhere because they are everywhere.
All of these storylines don't matter in the grand scheme of things, probably (except for Tyrell dying, that'll be important). And once you let go of that need for answers, you get one of the best single episodes of Mr. Robot for its characters. And it doesn't get much better than that.
And also the directing and cinematography is gorgeous.
And also Pine Barrens.
When I see this episode's ending without it instantly cutting to commercial and ruining the experience, I feel the sense that this is how Tyrell's journey is meant to end. He was never "one of them" (the 1%), so why would his journey end in some big explosive moment that we're anticipating it to for a character like Whiterose near the end of the season? Tyrell was always the most mysterious character of Mr. Robot and he gets the most mysterious, but also strangely the most beautiful, death on the entire show, especially for a character of his importance.
I loved seeing Darlene work through her feelings with Tobias. I empathize so much with her attempt to help Tobias after taking all of the dark stuff he said on the car ride the wrong way. It makes total sense why she would take it the wrong way, not just because of her emotional state in this episode, but also because of her job as a sibling to Elliot. Darlene is always worried about him and that part of her comes out when Tobias says all these things. It's perfect for her character and I also like the twist that the drunk santa character is actually a super nice guy, which I wasn't expecting on my first watch.
Dom's storyline calls back to when she showed up at Angela's place unannounced and told her about her nightmares she has where she's drowning, and that the moment she gives up control and stops fighting, she wakes up. We actually get to see this dream play out on screen, except it's mixed with her sexual feelings that come with being a lonely person and her fear of the dark army being everywhere because they are everywhere.
All of these storylines don't matter in the grand scheme of things, probably (except for Tyrell dying, that'll be important). And once you let go of that need for answers, you get one of the best single episodes of Mr. Robot for its characters. And it doesn't get much better than that.
And also the directing and cinematography is gorgeous.
And also Pine Barrens.