Mr. Robot Review: eps2.5_h4ndshake.sme (Season 2 Episode 7)
With “eps2.5_h4ndshake.sme,” Mr. Robot blows my mind again, but we’ll get to that later.
Let’s start at the beginning.
Mr. Robot never fails to give its audience a well-crafted opening, and “eps2.5_h4ndshake.sme“ is no exception.
While last week’s episode took you back to the ’90s, the opening of “eps2.5_h4ndshake.sme” is reminiscent of French film.
I am struck by how sterile and stark the first shot is. Almost everything in sight is white, off-white, or pastel.
Is this the world Joanna and Tyrell live in? One where disorder and bright colors are noticeably absent?
When Joanna is on the sidewalk with her baby, the color palate switches to gorgeous light and dark blues. This scene is beautifully shot. You can feel the calmness of Joanna’s neighborhood and even though there is so much blue in the scene, it doesn’t feel contrived.
A protester dousing her in red paint shocks Joanna back to reality: her husband is God knows where, their plan to take over Evil Corp doesn’t work out, and she’s, for now, a single parent.
The inability to hear Joanna’s screams really brings home the French film aesthetic.
Interestingly, the protester who douses Joanna is wearing a light blue vest, very close in color to Joanna’s cardigan. This reminds me of Scott Knowles donning the fsociety mask earlier this season.
Does the fact that the protester and Joanna are basically wearing the same color signify that we are all the protester and the protested? Would Joanna have been the protester had she not met Tyrell?
Is Joanna a representation of evil because she loves what money can give her: power, designer clothes, and luxurious vacations?
Side note: what kind of person covers someone in paint who is pushing a baby in a stroller?! That is just dreadful!
Regarding Joanna’s sexual practices, I of course come from a sex-positive perspective, meaning as long as it’s consensual, and no one is going to be seriously hurt, there are no improper sexual acts. But I can’t help thinking there is a reason Joanna enjoys being slapped and choked during sex.
Because she commands a man to do it, does it give her a sense of control she’s missing in her life? Does feeling physical pain take her mind off of the emotional pain she feels?
Most importantly, because Joanna gives consent, is the act of a man choking her no longer violent?
Moving on to Elliot, Mr. Robot informs him he killed Tyrell!
WHAT?!
Why did Elliot kill Tyrell?! Because he thought Tyrell would brag to the wrong person and get them caught?
Is this the reason Elliot is hiding out at his mother’s house? He’s trying to emotionally deal with killing someone?
Angela: You laugh, but they respect me.
Oh Angela, are you really this naive? Evil Corp needs you to do a job for them, and you’re doing it. There is no way in hell they’re going to let you ensure internal inspections happen.
You thought you could change things from the inside, Angela, but a wise woman knows “you can’t change corporate culture.” It changes you.
Director of Risk Management: You sucked whoever’s dick to get transferred here.
Seriously?! I would have slapped this guy across the face and walked out. Why does Angela put up with these types of comments?!
Does she honestly believe she’s ever going to be able to right any wrongs committed by Evil Corp? I shouldn’t think like this. One person can change things if she tries hard enough.
Oh. My. God.
Elliot is in jail! I should have figured this out. His emphasis on his routine, eating three meals a day with the same person, getting beat up twice, almost getting raped, the use of racial slurs, and Leon stabbing a group of thugs all point to Elliot being in the slammer.
Did you figure it out?!
The question is, is Elliot in jail for hacking Evil Corp or for killing Tyrell? Hopefully we find out next week!
Other Random Thoughts:
- What is the pain Elliot needs protecting from that causes him to create Mr. Robot? His dad telling him he has cancer?
- I applaud Angela for telling Phillip Price she doesn’t want to celebrate his birthday with him. A lot of people would have given in.
- Although I think Mr. Robot getting increasingly violent isn’t a good thing, I believe Leon gives those racist, rapist goons what they deserve.
What did you think of this episode of Mr. Robot? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Mr. Robot airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on USA.
Sheena Bosket
Sheena is an attorney, writer, and Black feminist living and working in Atlanta. She can be found searching for an opportunity to date Jake Gyllenhaal and renovating her condo in Shondaland. She watches all of the Real Housewives franchises, and she's not ashamed. Sheena also occasionally writes about pop culture, politics, and feminism for Donatidaily.com.