Review: Mr. Robot ‘405 Method Not Allowed’

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Warning: Post contains spoilers

Since its inception, USA hit series “Mr. Robot” has eschewed Hollywood conventions. Accordingly, “Mr. Robot” season 4 episode 5 “405 Method Not Allowed” arrives as one of the most inventive series entries to date. It’s Christmas Day, and while it might be a mostly silent night, all is not calm. Ethical hacker Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek) and his sister, fellow fscoiety member, and co-collaborator in taking down the Chinese Dark Army Darlene (Carly Chaikin) infiltrate Virtual Realty. In order to gain access to the Dark Army’s Cyprus National Bank funds, Darlene and Elliot must break into and hack Virtual Realty. While the hack itself is successful, their escape isn’t. Improvising, Elliot leads the NYPD on a meandering chase while Darlene masquerades as a gymgoer and worriedly, albeit nonchalantly, walks out of the building.
FBI Agent Dom (Grace Gummer) prepares to visit her mother. But Dark Army operative, taxidermist, and master of the terrifying smile Janice (Ashlie Atkinson) has other plans. Just as Dom dumps a box of store-bought holiday cookies into a Tupperware, presumably to boast later how she slaved away in the kitchen all morning, Janice instructs Dom that she’s needed in upstate New York. Earlier, Elliot and E Corp (aka Evil Corp) CTO Tyrell Wellick (Martin Wallström) torched a Dark Army van. Thus, Janice mandates that Dom intercept any intel on the investigation from local authorities.

Current E Corp CEO Philip Price (Michael Cristofer) is slated to retire as part of Elliot’s plan to take down the Dark Army and Dark Army mastermind  Whiterose (BD Wong). Sitting alone in a restaurant, Price receives a text from Elliot informing him that Wellick won’t be at a meeting later of the Deus Group to appoint an Evil Corp CEO successor. While Wellick was slated to replace Price, unbeknownst to anyone but Elliot, Wellick is dead. At the restaurant, Price receives a bill informing him to head to E Corp headquarters and tip the trombone player $20. Likewise, the trombone player gives Price a dry cleaning receipt. Upon arriving to pick up the order, Price finds a note in the breast pocket with an address, probably of the Deus Group meeting. Presumably, every Deus Group member received similarly cryptic instructions leading them to the ultimate invite.

Elliot’s former therapist, Krista Gordon (Gloria Reuben), plans to finally introduce her boyfriend to her family on Christmas. The two chat over text a Krista helps him pick out a sweater. Then, Gordon shops for groceries. But menacing drug dealer Fernando Vera (Elliot Villar) has other plans for Krista as he kidnaps her.

Observations:

For an episode with almost no dialogue, quite a lot happens during “Mr. Robot” S04E05 “Method Not Allowed.” Its minimal dialogue contributes to an immersive experience. Rather than banter between characters or narration by Mr. Robot (Christian Slater), the surrounding sounds place you as the viewer into the perspective of its characters. Moreover, it forces you to concentrate on visuals, and in this way follow the plot. It’s a bit unfair to truly call “405 Method Not Allowed” a silent episode, as composer Mac Quayle’s pulse-pounding dark synth score provides a tense audial atmosphere. Cleverly, the spare dialogue bookends with Darlene opening the show gently telling Elliot “It’s cool dude, we don’t have to talk.” Just before the end credits roll, Vera confronts Krista with an ominous “It’ time we talk.” The ample Christmas music which plays throughout fosters a subverted “It’s a Wonderful Life” sort of vibe, upending the trope of a peaceful holiday.

The hack doesn’t quite go as planned. While Elliot and Darlene escape, Janice sends Dom after the Alderson siblings. However, this could potentially work in Elliot and Darlene’s favor. Since Dom is hellbent on stopping the Dark Army, it’s possible she’ll team up with Darlene and Elliot. Although we’re no closer to discovering Whiterose’s plan, Price continues the process of stepping aside as E Corp CEO.

Meanwhile, Vera closes in on Elliot. As Vera explained previously, he wants Elliot to join him as a business partner. With Krista kidnapped, Vera likely plans to torture the information out of her that he need to coerce Elliot into joining Vera’s operation.

From a technical perspective, “405 Method Not Allowed” plays out like a 70s thriller such as “Three Days of the Condor” or “The French Connection.” Its sparse spoken words foster a taut, tense atmosphere. Cinematography glistens with panning, wide shots, overhead claustrophobic camera angles, and a frenetic chase through Central Park. “Method Not Allowed” culminates with Janice sending Dom after Elliot and Darlene.