Season 3 feels like Season 2: Part 2. It starts right in the heat of the conflict and doesn't let up one bit, resolving all of the show's lingering mysteries and packing in tons of big plot twists and creative episodes.
Season 3 comes right after Season 2 as Elliot tries to fight against pretty much everyone to stop Stage 2 from going on. Angela, Tyrell, and Mr Robot have all been recruited by the Dark Army, while Darlene deals with being an FBI informant. This season introduces the Dark Army's middle man Irving, who's a hilarious addition to the show and is a joy to watch throughout.
Right from the first episode, you can tell that Season 3 is trying to simplify things. Everyone's allegiances are made much more clear, and some of the extraneous plot threads and characters are chopped off. This makes Season 3 a much more enjoyable outing than the second, allowing it to not only reach but surpass the quality of Season 1. Season 3 also manages to pack in some great plot twists, from the riot at E-Corp, to Elliot's failure to stop Stage 2, to pretty much everything that happened in the finale. Add in the show's usually great acting and cinematography, and you get a nearly perfect season. My only issue is the fact that Season 3 doesn't stand on its own like the first does, as it really does feel like a direct followup to Season 2.
As for the most notable episodes, there are once again a lot of them:
eps3.1_undo.gz: Joanna's death was a bit disappointing given how she had much more to offer, but it was still a shocking and well-executed twist. We also get a ton of other great moments like the conflict between Elliot and Darlene, along with Krista meeting Mr Robot.
eps3.4_runtime-err0r.r00: Easily my favorite episode of the whole show, this 45-minute long take that follows multiple characters up and down a building is a technical marvel. But what's even more impressive is the sheer amount of storylines that get some really big moments in a single take.
eps3.5_kill-pr0cess.inc: Coming right after the long take episode is an episode that rapidly cuts between four different storylines, and it's just as stressful. The final reveal of the true extent of Stage 2 is easily the best twist in the whole season.
eps3.6_fredrick+tanya.chk: And the show is still firing on all cylinders! This dark and emotional episode does a great job of dealing with the fallout of the last two episodes, along with its devastating goodbye to Mobley and Trenton.
shutdown -r: Easily the best finale the show ever done, Shutdown mostly comprises a tense confrontation at a barn that feels climactic. You get the vibe that anyone can die at any time. Everyone gets a moment to shine, and the episode is chock-full of big twists, shocking moments, and probably the best stinger yet.
Overall, Season 3 was a massive improvement on the season and easily the highest point of the show. The fast-pace and simpler plot make it much more palatable, and the crazy plot twists and satisfying resolutions help it stand out. Add in some of the show's best episodes and the same strengths Mr Robot always had and you get an absolute gem.
5/5 Stars
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