It ran for four seasons and starred an Oscar winner
A psychological thriller with a near perfect Rotten Tomatoes score has been described by some as ‘even better than Breaking Bad.’
That show is Mr. Robot, which ran for four seasons between 2015 and 2019 and focuses on Elliot Alderson (Oscar-winner Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody), a troubled vigilante hacker who is recruited by the titular enigmatic anarchist (Christian Slater) to join his team of hacktivists known as ‘fsociety’.
The first season sees fsociety working to encrypt one of the largest corporations in the world’s data in order to cancel all consumer debt.
Heavily inspired by Fight Club, as well as a range of other conspiracy and tech thrillers, Mr. Robot was created by Sam Esmail – who was recently in the news as he wrote and directed the Netflix apocalyptic thriller Leave the World Behind.
Alongside Malek and Slater, the main cast of Mr. Robot included over its four seasons BD Wong, Bobby Cannavale, Carly Chaikin, Grace Gummer and Portia Doubleday.
Thanks to its dark themes, great performances, stylish direction and twisty plot-lines, Mr. Robot earned rave reviews from critics.
Here is a sample of some positive notices its first season earned:
Daily Mail (UK): “This is tensely plotted, tensely directed and hypnotically compelling.”
Daily Telegraph (UK): “Packed with twists, intrigue and in-jokes, Mr Robot makes most other dramas look pedestrian and positively prehistoric. Let’s hope it finds the audience it deserves.”
Globe and Mail: “It’s very good, cool, spooky and strong. Paranoia is its theme. And it’s brilliantly done, one of those series that, although fiction, uncannily and eerily connects with very real current events.”
The Guardian: “It’s perfect binge-watch material: turn it on and on again.”
NPR: “Rami Malek brings an amazing depth and detached charm to the role of technician Elliot Alderson.”
And while Mr. Robot was never as big a phenomenon as Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones, it did gain a cult following of fans – with one of whom claiming the show is actually better than the Bryan Cranston-starring series.
“Just finished rewatching Mr Robot because this might be the greatest show ever created on this fkin planet,” they wrote on Twitter.
Other agreed, with one person writing: “The rewatch is even better. This show is a masterpiece. From the first minute to the last second.”
Another said: “This show demands multiple viewing tbh I’m out of words to describe the writing, it was next level.
“Mr Robot is still playing in my head. Pure acting masterclass from all the cast and crew. “
All four seasons of Mr Robot are currently available to watch on ITVX in the UK.
Related links:
Netflix fans praise ‘hidden gem’ series that’s ‘better than Game of Thrones’
