Mr. Robot Review: 410 Gone (Season 4 Episode 10)

Domlene shippers rejoice!

Mr. Robot Season 4 Episode 10, “410 Gone,” says goodbye briefly to Elliot so viewers can spend some much needed time with Dom, Darlene, and in a weird turn of events, Leon.

An episode missing it’s two leads would have seemed like a risk at one point in time, but thanks to seasons of proper development, there’s no one more fit to lead this show in Malek and Slater’s absence than Gummer and Chaikin.

Regardless of this episode’s outcome, few shows would dedicate an entire episode to the development of a queer ship with a series finale just hours away. Then again, Mr. Robot isn’t most shows.

We may not get the ending we want for Darlene and Dom (yet), but I can’t help thinking that’s this is the closest we’ve ever come to a happy ending on Mr. Robot.

Dom’s alive and happy. Darlene is alive and happy. There are worse fates to be dealt from a show that clearly doesn’t believe in letting a character be happy or alive by the end of their arc.

That gorgeous shot of Darlene stepping out of the car and blocking Dom’s own entrance from view just long enough for us to assume the worse — that is really satisfying to watch.

However, it is the choice for the story to follow Darlene back to the motel room and leave Elliot’s Washington Township field trip for another day that really stands out as the strong defining moment of this offbeat episode.

And don’t get me started on that sweet moment at the end of the episode when we see each character overcome the toll the Dark Army has put on them.

Darlene overcoming her panic attack on her own and making the decision to stay is complemented beautifully by the quiet realization that Dom is sleeping on the plane — actually sleeping.

There’s something admirable about the tragic nature of Domlene and that sentiment frames “410 Gone” beautifully. Dom and Darlene may not be endgame but they sure are something special.

We may have just witnessed Mr. Robot’s version of a rom-com road trip and I can’t help but feel like we need more. But of course, just when things start to get romantic the end credits have to roll. With no sequel to this zany adventure insight, I can’t help but feel like Esmail is diabolically laughing somewhere right about now.

Now let’s talk about Leon because who doesn’t love to talk about this show’s most valuable guest star?

Leon continues to embody my favourite characteristic in a person, which is to talk about tv and film regardless of whether or not the situation calls for such a discussion. I’m so glad Mr. Robot didn’t let that trait get lost in the urgency of this final season because witnessing Leon chat Dom’s ear off about a movie while she confronts him is just too perfect.

He also has this way of developing a relaxed relationship with people he has just met, which makes make him the perfect choice to be Dom and Darlene’s chauffeur for the episode.

The Dom and Leon reunion is unexpected but in hindsight, it makes sense that their paths would cross eventually — and for the sake of this story’s flow, it’s a good thing their worlds do collide.

Speaking of unexpected, it wouldn’t be an episode of Mr. Robot’s final season if Esmail didn’t have at least one trick up his sleeve. Irving is that trick and what a good one he is.

No one is particularly expecting the high-level Dark Army operative to make an appearance in an airport convenience store advertising his own novel. Yet, there’s something completely Irving about his entire exchange with poor Dom.

It’s rather humorous to see all of the Season 3 big bads just milling about and shooting the shit with people whose lives they screwed up horribly.

Despite those amazing guest appearances, this episode does feel out of place given it’s coming off the cusp of Whiterose’s big showdown. As much as I love the idea of a woman lead episode, this doesn’t feel like the best time to be adverting our gaze from Elliot’s storyline completely.

And frankly, there needed to be more conversation between Domlene. There is a solid amount of dialogue but with so much lost time between them, it just doesn’t seem like enough to make this slow-burn fully worth it.

Darlene has unfinished business being the “key” and all. So it’s not much of a surprise that “410 Gone” keeps her grounded. It is surprising to see how well Mr. Robot manages to break this news to the audience, however.

It’s hard to believe we are just two weeks away from the end. Yes, you read that correctly — two weeks, three episodes, and a double feature series finale that will leave us in no state to spread Christmas cheer.

With the series closing in on its final hours, I’m glad we get to spend some quality time with two of the strongest women on television.

As Leon so beautifully put it, “till the next episode then…”

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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