Why Mr. Robot is One of the Most Underrated TV Shows in History

While Mr. Robot did receive some noteworthy praise, the show deserves much more recognition.

Sam Esmail’s Mr. Robot aired its final episode on December 22, 2019. The show is on par with some of the most innovative and groundbreaking television ever aired and yet does not receive near the same accolades as its counterparts.

The two arguably most acclaimed shows of recent history are without a doubt Breaking Bad and The Sopranos. These shows both follow an anti-hero, who while perhaps well-intentioned, wreaks havoc on their world until their bitter end.

Similarly, Mr. Robot follows Elliot Alderson, played by Academy Award Winner Rami Malek, a vigilante hacker bent on saving the world from the evil that controls it. In his attempts, Elliot is the cause of a great deal of havoc of his own.

Much like Breaking Bad and The Sopranos, Mr. Robot brings a cinematic essence to the television screen. It takes risks few shows are bold enough to take. Esmail has clear influences from both film and television and utilizes his inspiration from them to craft a deeply moving and visually pleasing story.

Mr. Robot features an episode shot in the style of a 1980s sitcom, an episode that is one continuous shot, and one structured as if it were a five-act play. The cinematography is both stylized and stunning. Reminiscent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Hush, the show also has an episode with almost no dialogue, relying solely on visual storytelling and the strength of its actors.

Speaking of actors, the cast of Mr. Robot is flawless. Lead by Rami Malek and Christian Slater, each other character holds their own alongside the two. BD Wong gives an enthralling portrayal of a powerful Chinese leader, who happens to be a closeted trans woman, and who is arguably one of the most compelling villains of all time. Nominated for an Emmy for his role, Wong was ultimately snubbed when he did not win the award.

Another fantastic performance from the show comes from Elliot Villar’s Fernando Vera, a crack addict who is at the same time violent, volatile, and vulnerable. You fear for the character’s lives whenever he’s on-screen, but secretly can’t look away and end up rooting for him to succeed with his half-baked schemes.

Sam Esmail not only worked as the showrunner, writer, and creator of Mr. Robot, but also directed the majority of the episodes. A single director for a television show is rare, but in this case, also a gift to the audience. He had a clear vision of how to tell this complex story, and he executed it perfectly. Including details from his own life, Sam Esmail’s attachment to this story is part of what makes it so brilliant. It is not just a story of a socially anxious hacker, but one of humanity as a whole. It tackles issues of society and family and does not shy away from the darkness we experience as humans.

The show began airing in 2015 on USA Network and did rack up a few acknowledgments, including Emmys, Golden Globes, and Critics Choice Awards. Despite the awards, the show never reached the same levels of respect as Breaking Bad, Sopranos, and other so-called legendary shows. The hype during the series finale didn’t occupy every American’s conversations the way Game of Thrones did. For unknown reasons, the show remains one of the most underrated of its time.

Created and produced by Sam Esmail, Mr. Robot stars Rami Malek, Christian Slater, Carly Chaikin, and Portia Doubleday. It aired originally on USA Network and the full series is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.