Robot turns an unnecessary diversion of an episode into an excellent character study in Legacy.
Robotreview contains spoilers
Mr.
Robot Season 3 Episode 3
One of the best and most fascinating aspects ofMr.
Robot season 2 was Tyrell Wellicks very conspicuous absence.
Youll pop up in an Alf fantasy sequence and at the very end.
Even the finale of season 2 did virtually nothing to explain where Tyrell Wellick had been this whole time.
It seemed like this was a mystery thatMr.
Robotwas just going to leave a mystery for the rest of its run.
Now Legacy has happened.
The ultimate truth of Tyrells time in hiding is disappointing in its simplicity.
Still, I cant help but find myself fascinated by it once again.
Robot, even the simple is not simple and even the answers are not answers.
Maybe thats pseudo-intellectual bullshit.
Maybe the pretty visuals and stylish editing ofMr.
After watching Legacy though I somehow find the answer entirely satisfying and cool.
Robot and retrieves the gun from the popcorn machine.
Robot points the gun at the back of Tyrells head, startling him.
Tyrell stands up and Mr.
Robot pulls the trigger but the gun misfires.
In the time before Mr.
Robot can shoot again, Tyrell becomes the full lunatic hes always threatened to be.
Theyve been invited into Gods circle to lead the revolution.
No, not even that.
Tyrell thanks him and leans in to kiss Mr. Robot/Elliot but Mr.
Robot pulls back and says Some things are better left unsaid.
Robot uttering that line magically removes subtext from the rest of the episode.
Irving and some Dark Army goons arrive.
None of this is strictly needed.
We didnt need to know where Tyrell was.
The show was already thriving on the mystery of it alone.
And we already knew he was working with Mr.
Robot on stage 2.
Still, Legacy works like crazy.
It works not in spite of how unnecessary showing Tyrells exile was but because of it.
By placing Tyrell and Irving in this conventional, almostBreaking Bad-ian Granite State context,Mr.
Robotfinds a way to put in its best character work yet.
Kudos to Martin Wellstrom.
Its almost like in the time he spent away fromMr.
Robotseason 2 he was preparing for this showcase just like Tyrell was preparing for his reunion with Elliot.
He is absolutely wonderful here.
We spend so much time with Elliot on this show that sometimes the other characters suffer as a consequence.
After Legacy, its easy to see Tyrells purpose and value more clearly than ever.
Even the episodes biggest action sequence is unnecessary in plot but crucial to better understanding this Swede.
Tyrell escapes his rural confines to walk into town.
Somehow a beat cop recognizes him almost immediately despite hisMan of Steelbeard and trucker hat.
The cop brings him in and calls the FBI.
If youve not read that, scan the Wikipedia entry at least, you uncultured goon.
It may make the ultimate end game of Mr.
Robot come into focus.
The time we spend with Tyrell in Legacy is crucial to the shows ultimate mission.
Its amazing how richly realized Irving is here for having just appeared onscreen for two episodes.
He fits an archetype, sure.
This guy is seriously working on a sleazy romance novel called Beach Towel.
Also Wallace Shawn is in this episode.
Ultimately, the entirety of Legacy is like Wallace Shawn as Mr Williams, himself.
Its an unnecessary diversion.
Its also an entertaining and enlightening one.
Rating:
4 out of 5
