Review: Mr. Robot ‘Forbidden’

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Warning: Post contains spoilers

“Mr. Robot” season 4 episode 3 “Forbidden” begins with a look at Chinese Dark Army mastermind Whiterose’s (BD Wong) past. As the anecdote reveals, Whiterose aka Minister Zhang, was once a liaison between the Chinese government and companies such as IBM. Zhang and his partner were more than simply business associates, however. Rather, the two are romantically involved. “What about Italian tonight?” his co-worker asks Zhang in Chinese during a business meeting. “If I see one more fortune cookie–” Then-Director Zhang interrupts: “Forget dinner. I just need to be alone with you.” The continued flashback reveals that while they harbored romantic feelings toward one another, they were forbidden to act upon these emotions. Yet, they had a plan. Zhang was to become Ambassador to the U.S. where he and his secret partner would finally be free to be their true selves. According to the extended reveal, Zhang first revealed Whiterose to his partner, coming out as transgender.
When ethical hacker Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek) was physically honeypotted by E Corp CEO Philip Price (Michael Cristofer), Alderson managed to convince Price to assist in taking down Whiterose. Elliot’s plan is to drain the Dark Army’s funds from Cyprus National Bank. But in order to pull off the hack, he needs the entirety of the Deus Group, a shadowy league of extraordinarily powerful people, in the same room. Philip Price therefore announces his retirement as CEO which mandates a Deus Group reunion to unanimously elect a new successor. Rather than denying Price’s request, Whiterose advances the timeline. “Give Philip Price what he wants…let him know that we will arrange a Deus Group meeting to confirm a successor…schedule the meeting for tomorrow. If there’sone way to disrupt a man’s plans, it is to destabilize his timeline.” Zhang nominates Evil Corp CTO Tyrell Wellick (Martin Wallström) as Price’s replacement.

Meanwhile, Elliot runs into his former therapist Krista Gordon (Gloria Reuben) on the street. “I’m doing better…I’m finally talking to Mr. Robot (Christian Slater) just like you always said I should,” Alderson explains. Unbeknownst to Elliot, the encounter on the street is witnessed and captured by one of sinister drug dealer Fernando Vera’s (Elliot Villar) thugs. Elliot and his sister Darlene (Carly Chaikin) research how to hack Cyprus National Bank. Darlene and Elliot uncover that Olivia Cortez was Susan Jacob’s contact at Cyprus, and the Deus Group’s only US account manager. Based on her iCal, Elliot ascertains that Olivia’s ex-husband has her kid for the evening, and Cortez herself has a date with someone from OkCupid. Armed with this information, Elliot breaks into Olivia’s apartment. Unfortunately, while Alderson figures out Cortez’s credentials, he needs her fob for a one-time two-factor authentication code. Thus, improvising, Elliot heads to the same bar where Olivia waits for Evan.

Speaking to his alter-ego Mr. Robot, Elliot explains that while casing Olivia’s apartment, he discovered a bottle of oxy in her apartment. Based on her custody agreement, if Cortez is caught using, she loses her child. Initially, Elliot plans to blackmail Olivia, but Mr. Robot intervenes. “I’m sorry,” Alderson begins as he approaches Olivia. “You’re gonna want to sit back down.” Right as Elliot is about to blackmail Olivia, Mr. Robot chimes in “‘Cause I’m gonna buy you a drink.” Elliot proceeds to head back to Olivia’s apartment, sleeps with her, and snags the key fob.

Vera’s plan becomes clear. He aspires to become the king of New York. For that, Fernando requires a brilliant architect. And Vera wishes for Elliot to be his partner.

Observations: 

In a strange twist, Elliot gains what he needs through other means than hacking or blackmail. I really enjoy the means through which Elliot and Mr. Robot seamlessly merge and interact with one another. The bar scene with Olivia highlights this. Elliot makes the initial approach, planning to blackmail Olivia. But the personable Mr. Robot intervenes. In-between talking with Olivia, Mr. Robot and Elliot argue in bouts of audible-to-the-audience dialogue. It’s a brilliant visual depiction of dissociative identity disorder. Plus, “Mr. Robot” S04E03 “Forbidden” lends a look at a different part of Elliot, a sort of fusion of Mr. Robot and Elliot. “Letting people in doesn’t have to hurt,” Mr. Robot explains.

“Forbidden” culminates with Wellick breaking into Elliot’s apartment. “Elliot,” Tyrell exclaims. “I’ve come with the news we’ve been waiting for. They want to make me CEO of E Corp.” Terrified, Elliot rushes to the window, peeks through the blinds, and hastily scribbles on notepad “They’re listening.”

At times, it appears “Forbidden” takes a step away from much of the ongoing storyarc. That’s not to say it’s a boring episode. On the contrary, Vera’s plan becomes clear and Elliot successfully gains a key piece of information for the Cyprus hack. But much of the episode is Whiterose backstory, or Elliot infiltrating Olivia’s life in an offline hack. What progression of the overarching narrative occurs sets up what promises to be an epic next chapter, with Elliot and Wellick presumably on the run. Much of “Mr. Robot” season 1 featured Tyrell and Alderson collaborating, and their dynamic never ceases to entertain.