The nearly dialogue-free episode is masterful in its use of tension.
Waiting forSam Esmails special episodes ofMr.
Robotis like waiting for Christmas.
MR. ROBOT — “Method Not Allowed” Episode 405 — Pictured: Rami Malek as Elliot Alderson — (Photo by: Elizabeth Fisher/USA Network).Elizabeth Fisher/USA Network
This time around, the special episode actually takes place on the 25th of December.
There are two lines, and they both involve talking.
Everything in between is the absence of words, but the tension is palpable.
Elizabeth Fisher/USA Network
Attached to that is a red light camera, which will come into play later.
Back at home, Elliot is really shaken.
He almost died during that long, cold night.
Its Christmas, so the office is dead.
The security guards are watchingDie Hardon a laptop and barely notice Darlene coming into Virtual Realty.
Then, her badge doesnt work.
She tries again and again, but no luck.
She walks to the desk and we see this was the plan all along.
Darlene also left her phone behind, and the guard picks it up.
That gets his fingerprint on the clean screen.
Now, they have everything they need.
Elliot hacks into the security system and triggers an update that turns the cameras off for 40 minutes.
The fingerprint gets them into the server room, and Darlene gets to work.
Eventually, though, the one security guard realizes something is off.
He tells his partner to call the cops, and heads upstairs to check things out.
This is when things getreallytense and the episode is at its best.
The guard sneaks around the room while Darlene and Elliot work quietly.
They get the work done, but theyre found out.
The guard chases them, and Elliot locks him in the room.
They sprint down the stairwell, but the cops are at the main entrance.
They go back to the stairwell but theres nowhere to go.
The guard sees Elliot, and the two of them struggle with the door.
What follows is a long, incredible, heart-pounding chase.
She gets in her car and immediately tracks Elliots phone.
She races to catch up with him, and she does, just in time.
Darlene is waiting for him at the bottom of the hill.
The two drive away, Elliot panting, both of them looking scared.
Then Elliot puts his hand on Darlenes, and the camera focuses only on that.
Perhaps this relationship is finally fully repaired.
There are other consequential happenings in this episode.
Elliot tells him Tyrell wont be making it…but are we sure?
Im not ready to write off a Tyrell appearance just yet.
All of this is exciting stuff, but its the central heist that really drives this episode.
This is truly nail-biting television and a great addition to this seasons incredible run of episodes.
