Overview

Mr. Robot is a TV show which focuses on the world of hacking and cybersecurity. Elliot Alderson is the main character, who joins a group of hacktivists aiming to destroy all debt records. 

The show has aired on USA Network with Sam Esmail behind the creation of its plot. It stars Rami Malek in a role which many say launched his career in the acting world.

Premise

The premise of Mr. Robot is pretty unique for a TV show. It follows Elliot Alderson, a man who suffers from depression and personality  disorders. He is a hacker who acts as a vigilante, joining a mysterious group who aims to cancel all consumer debt by hacking and destroying data.

The show has received a great deal of praise for its original concept and deployment of various characters.

Cast and characters

Rami Malek plays Elliot Alderson, the main character of the show. He is a hacker by trade, who unfortunately suffers from a number of mental disorders. While there are a number of additional characters and cast members in the show, Elliot is at the center of all the action. 

This show arguably helped to launch Rami Malek’s career, as he went on to star in a number of big films. Notably, he played Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody; a role which landed him the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Additional characters include Elliot’s sister Darlene, played by Carly Chalking. Meanwhile, Christian Slater plays Mr. Robot, the leader of the group who recruits Elliot to help them with their activities. Slater is also a producer on the show.

Filming locations

Unlike many television shows, Mr. Robot was filmed in and around New York. Most TV shows, even those set in this city, are filmed in Los Angeles – the center of television and film in America. 

Much of Mr. Robot was filmed at Silvercup Studios as well as Coney Island, which serves as the location for a number of exterior shots.

Trailer

There are a number of different trailers for Mr. Robot, and these largely comprise previews for upcoming seasons. All of these are available to view on platforms such as YouTube. The most popular of these is the trailer for the first season of the show, which has over 4 million views (at the time of writing). It features clips from the show with narration from the main character, Elliot Alderson. You can also find trailers for other seasons of the show by browsing video streaming platforms.

Production

Mr. Robot was created by Sam Esmail, who serves as both the showrunner and the main writer for many of the show’s episodes. Esmail had wanted to make a film about hacking for around fifteen years, but these ideas ended up becoming the basis for a television show. 

As part of the research process, Esmail consulted a number of different experts in hacking and other computer-based fields in order to make Mr. Robot as realistic as possible.

While Mr. Robot was initially intended to be a film, the script became so large that a TV series became a more appropriate idea. The original script was cut down to serve as the pilot for the show, which was picked up by USA Network and ordered for production in July 2014.

The original pilot was successful enough for USA Network to order the first season – comprising ten episodes. This was ordered in December 2014 and renewed for a second season before the first one had even been shown. Esmail has credited a number of other films and shows as influences for Mr. Robot, such as Fight Club and The Matrix.

Episodes and reception

Mr. Robot has had four seasons to date. The original season first aired in July 2015 and was made up of 10 episodes. Season three also had ten episodes, while season two had 12 and season 4 had 13. These were all aired on USA Network as well as streaming platforms internationally.

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Although Prime Video hasn’t been around for as long as Netflix, this doesn’t mean you should expect a less extensive service. Like its main rival, Amazon has placed a large focus on investing in high quality content, as well as its own original productions. Key examples of popular titles include Transparent, Mr Robot, The Tick, The Man in the High Castle and The Grand Tour. If you want the security of knowing a series won’t be subject to rotation due to licensing, you can be sure that all Amazon Originals – like Netflix Originals – are there to stay. Outside of original content, you can expect to stream classics such as The Walking Dead, Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy, plus exclusives like Lucifer, Vikings and Preacher. (These titles may come and go, but plenty of other exciting ones are sure to replace them!)

Pros and cons

Pros

  1. Downloading content for offline viewing. Not all streaming services provide this feature, and so those who want the option of watching their favourite TV shows and movies on the go can use Prime Video to download these titles before leaving the house.
  2. Convenient all-in-one package. Amazon Prime Video is unique in that it offers customers several other perks besides video. Fast shipping, music, groceries and other such services make for a highly effective lifestyle bundle that’s hard to turn down.
  3. Free trial. You can decide if this service is for you by partaking in a free trial for a full month. Cancelling it before this period is over means you won’t be charged for Prime Video.

Cons

  1. Library isn’t as extensive. Of course, the downside with focusing on other areas such as groceries and music – as well as the fact that Amazon wasn’t originally a streaming service; it just branched out to be one – means that you won’t get as many titles as you’d expect from big names such as Disney Plus.
  2. Few titles receive critical acclaim. While services such as Netflix and Disney Plus will be used to putting out content that is widely talked about and shared by consumers, Amazon Prime Video doesn’t have as much luck in this department.
  3. Hefty price tag. Some are put off by the yearly fee for Amazon Prime if they want to pay upfront. At $119 a year for US customers, it’s a sum that isn’t parted with lightly, and some may question if it’s worth it if they can get more titles for a lower price with another streaming service.

Types of content available

There is a wide range of content available to stream with Amazon Prime Video. Available genres include action/adventure, animated, children, comedy, documentary, family, drama, sci-fi/fantasy, teen, sport and thriller. You can watch Prime originals and exclusives such as Lucifer, The Purge or Homecoming. Titles are also arranged according to what you’ve previously watched, recommending related titles you may enjoy. You can view movies that other customers enjoy, so if people are watching Legally Blonde, 22 Jump Street or The Great Gatsby, these will be available to click onto from the Prime Video homepage. Certain movies are also available to rent, so if you want the latest titles on your compatible device, they are available for just a few dollars each. Some titles are only available for a limited time on Prime, so catch them before their expiry date. Recent movie releases can be bought as well, meaning you won’t miss out if you didn’t manage to see them on the big screen. Other categories on the Prime Video homepage include Highest Rated Movies, Rent or Buy bundles, and Prime Video channels such as Hayu.

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