Mr Robot Analysis

Mr. Robot is a complex yet intriguing television series that is unlike the contemporary show. It likes to go beyond the norm, exercising daring camera shots, images, themes, etc. Moreover, it is a show that uses style and aesthetic technique to convey meaning across several episodes and even the whole show. After the first season of Mr. Robot, Elliot attempts to gain control of his conscious again and he accomplishes this by setting a daily schedule for himself and by consuming an abnormal amount of adderall. These scenes showcase the theme of being in control and Elliot’s need to gain that control back from Mr. Robot. Also the theme of power and status is illustrated through Angela’s immaculate and expensive wardrobe as well as her need to

Robot, Elliot’s short lived control over his consciousness has proven that control is an illusion. He wants to keep control over his own mind and plans to shut out Mr. Robot by overdosing on Adderall. After he stuffs his face with the pills, he states, “But od’ing on adderall was finally my way of controlling him” (00:15:34). However, even though Elliot was able to control Mr. Robot for a short period of time, he still attempted to by od’ing on Adderall, which gives all the power to the drug. Similarly to the previous season where Elliot is controlled by morphine, he is controlled by the Adderall. In this way, Elliot cannot think for himself in his own mental state and needs the help of drugs to keep Mr. Robot out. However, after men in black funnel cement down his throat, Elliot vomits out the Adderall. Mr. Robot proclaims, “You will cooperate, my son. I will make you, because I own you” (00:20:25), and Elliot in fear and panic mode, consumes all the soggy pills again, claiming that he will not be owned. Meanwhile, the shot of Mr. Robot is of his face half lit from the lamp, which gives off a very ominous and evil look to him. On the other hand, after eating all the pills Elliot vomited, Mr. Robot towers over him with a disgusted and shocked facial expression and the camera looks down on Elliot, which indicates that Mr. Robot has power over him. However, Elliot’s statement of not being owned by Mr. Robot contrasts with the camera angles and

Robot’s season 2 that showcases themes of control, power, and status. The music and use of drugs illuminates Elliot’s desire to silence Mr. Robot and return his consciousness back. The lyrics of the song Daydream in Blue and the imagery shows Elliot’s brief gain in control over his consciousness. The adderall scene shows how after he loses his control, he relies on drugs to shut out Mr. Robot and truly believes that that Adderall would help him. The theme of being in control is one major theme in the show as Elliot is in constant war with Mr. Robot and it is alluded in both season 1 and season 2. Another theme illustrated was gaining power and asserting status, which was shown through Angela’s wardrobe and the scene of her getting ready to have dinner with Phillip Price. Her immaculate wardrobe shows the contrast between her new position in E-Corp compared to her previous at All Safe. Just before her dinner with Price, Angela looks at herself in the mirror and repeats positive affirmations, reflecting a very different Angela who is assertive and confident. She realizes that her new job at E-Corp is her form of power and status, where people respect and value her. The music and her change in facial expression after realizing that her intimate dinner with Price is actually a business meeting indicate that Angela misinterpreted the dinner and cannot do as she planned. In conclusion, this show is able to use aesthetic and