Mr. Robot Review: 409 Conflict (Season 4 Episode 9)

Mr. Robot delivers an episode that is equal parts triumphant and terrifying.

Whiterose takes what looks to be her final bow on Mr. Robot Season 4 Episode 9, “409 Conflict,” and with so much story left to tell, I’m not sure if we should cheer or cower in fear at what’s to come.

Where does a series go when the main villain’s plan has already been foiled? With Mr. Robot, nowhere good.

Regardless of how terrifying we know Elliot’s “other” personality will be, we have a moment to celebrate the successes of this hack-tastic episode with the remaining members of fsociety. Esmail is giving us a win and we will gladly take it.

An almost Rami Malek-less episode is a bold move for this series in its final hours. But it’s a move that feels necessary in the wake of all the crucial revelations surrounding Elliot. The man deserves some time off, frankly.

Mr. Robot saw a brief opening to put the spotlight on Elliot’s infamous alter ego and they took it. And while this show could have easily had Elliot stay away longer, bringing him back to address Whiterose’s Angela ploy just feels right. Elliot knows better than anyone when an authority figure is trying to use their manipulative tactics to get what they want.

Besides, the transition between Elliot and Mr. Robot on the phone looks too cool not to work around.

Elliot’s absence opens the door for Mr. Robot to take charge. The change in leadership is reminiscent of the fsociety’s early days when Mr. Robot was the one calling the shots and pushing Elliot into the ocean to make a point.

In every sense of the way, this episode is a call back to the storylines that put this show on the map, even after Elliot takes over. Before the days of exploding buildings and grand New York showdowns, there was a group of hackers in a run-down arcade looking to make a point.

Having Elliot, Darlene, and Mr. Robot walk us through another successful hack is every bit the nostalgic trip down memory lane it needs to be.

Opening this episode with a meeting of minds is unexpected in all the ways that make Mr. Robot’s way of storytelling ever so captivating. You don’t know what’s coming next, you just know it’s going to be interesting.

That sentiment rings true when Mr. Robot, who I was so close to trusting, reveals to Elliot’s other alter egos that he knows quite a lot more about this “other” personality than he lets on. Just last week the idea of having Slater in the driver’s seat again seemed almost comforting but that quickly changes once we hear he is ready to orchestrate another plan behind Elliot’s back.

Thankfully, this series has laid the proper groundwork and we know whatever Mr. Robot has planned, his intentions are not to hurt Elliot anymore than he has to. And it’s rather smart of the series to make Darlene a key component in its endgame given how important her relationship with her brother is to viewers.

That being said, I don’t think the opening scene’s circular dialogue is the best way to showcase such a pivotal conversation.

This episode demonstrates how incredible Mr. Robot’s dialogue can be when complemented by the right direction and score. This episode also demonstrates how stale even the most crucial scenes can come off as when the layout of the scene is working against itself.

Darlene has been a pivotal part of this series since the beginning. It seems only fitting that she is the key to its endgame — and really, the key to the success of “409 Conflict”.

At the end of the day, it’s Darlene who steps up to take down Whiterose. It’s Darlene who resurrects fsociety to take down the Deus group in a grand display of public humiliation. Seeing Elliot’s sister, who is just as broken at the mention of Angela as Elliot, rise above the pain and put on that iconic mask like some kind of vigilante hero, is worth celebrating.

I’m glad Mr. Robot didn’t go through with the “Angela’s not really dead” scheme. There’s misdirection and then there’s just being plain rude. Angela being alive is impossible and somewhat unfair to an audience that likes to be toyed with but not banged around past the point of enjoying the ride.

Allowing us and the characters to process her death this way is a celebration of its own. This feels like the goodbye Angela deserved.

Expect the unexpected. That’s not just the motto of Esmail’s favourite reality tv show, it’s also a sentiment Mr. Robot takes to heart. That much is clear when Whiterose shoots Price in the middle of the street and retreats to her home to prepare for her early curtain call.

If you’re keeping track that means the long-time villain of this series is making an abrupt departure about 4 episodes too early.

That also means Elliot is likely to end up the hero and the villain of his own story — a twist that should feel predictable for a show that will always be one step ahead of its viewers.

I should be mad that Whiterose is now nothing more than a glorified paperweight of a nemesis in this battle for society’s freedom. But this ruse is everything we’ve come to expect from Mr. Robot and everything we’ve come to enjoy.

It seems only right that Whiterose would show her true self in the final moments of the episode because she has nothing left to lose. It’s a fitting ending to her rule over this show. The irony that Elliot was able to take her down because she ran out of time is not lost. Neither is the fact that Whiterose was never an end game villain. Elliot’s own secrets were.

Price’s care-free showdown with Whiterose is all kinds of great because neither seems to have a handle on the interrogation and neither is willing to admit so. Add in Price’s spot on banter about the dark army’s poor management and you’ve got the makings of a witty showdown between two characters that are equal parts clever and expendable.

This episode makes the viewer feel like they are right in the thick of this game of chess. Whiterose makes a move and Price counters it, only for Mr. Robot to interject with his thoughts on how the game should be played. You never really know who is going to come out on top.

Phillip Price is still very much the corporate monster he was when we first met him and yet in his final moments we find ourselves mourning his impending death.

The man manages to redeem himself with a beautiful speech about Angela living on through the actions of her loved ones and some particularly great one-liners. He is just the right amount of petty to make this redemption arc work in his favour.

“409 Conflict” is reminiscent of a clever heist movie with its thrilling score, dynamic game plan, and a chessboard brimming with skilled players spread out across the vast landscape of New York City.

That glorious moment of seeing Elliot and Darlene pull off the hack is amplified by a satisfying dose of good-guy triumph.

Something tells me Elliot and Darlene will need this win given the bleak future that awaits them when the sun rises on a new episode.

This episode is another win for Mr. Robot and the good guys.

What did you think of this episode of Mr. Robot? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Mr. Robot airs Sundays at 10/9c on USA.

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