Mr. Robot: Season_3.0 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

Mr. Robot: Season_3.0 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman April 17, 2018

Prospective audiences should be sure to begin at season one and, of course, continue with season two before jumping into season three.

After two first-rate seasons (though some found season two a drop-off from season one) and ascending rather rapidly into the television stratosphere, challenging the likes of Better Call Saul as amongst the best things on television today, the upset would be if Mr. Robot’s third season in any way disappointed. It doesn’t. A serious, take-no-prisoners story and character evolution that picks up right as season two finished, the show remains a wonderfully engaging, quick, smart, and extremely well acted show that pulls out the threads holding together the fabric that is modern society, ripping them apart and depicting the modern world in a state of technological and, by extension, humanitarian chaos.

Official synopsis: 'Mr Robot' follows Elliot (Rami Malek), a cyber-security engineer who, along with Mr. Robot (Christian Slater) and fsociety, starts a revolution to change the world. Picking up immediately following the Season Two cliffhanger, Season Three will explore each character's motivations and the disintegration between Elliot and Mr. Robot.

Season three explores the greater evolution of the unique relationship between Elliott and Mr. Robot, which is of course difficult to dissect without directly spoiling how the two relate to one another. Sam Esmail has certainly guided their evolution through an intensity of character construction and uniqueness of bond that flourishes this season, particularly as each are often separated by scene, allowing for greater focus on each and their unique personas and interactions with others and the greater world around them. Season three pushes the characters hard through the gray areas of right and wrong, challenging them well beyond their essential core values, perception (and reality) of the world, and comfort zones (as comfortable as they can be), with Elliot even forced into the proverbial lion’s den for much of the season.

The show does not make understanding it easy. Enjoying it, yes, but it demands the audience dig in and think. It’s smart and engaging and complex yet still accessible for those who give it the attention it deserves. It’s not as indulgent, intimate, and intricate as season two, but it’s still a show that requires more than mindless vegetation not so much to enjoy, but to appreciate its flourishing for all its worth. The show thrives on variety but, at the same time, a consistency of tone and purpose. Even as episodes vary -- single-shot streams, rapid-cut frenzies, an episode framed at a widescreen aspect ratio rather than the series’ traditional 1.78:1 (there was also a 1:33 framing in season two) -- the central narrative structure, intensity of drama, and shot framing that builds story and characters through perspective never falters.

The following episodes comprise season three. Episode summaries are courtesy of the Blu-ray packaging.

Disc One:

• eps3.0_power-saver-mode.h: Elliot realizes his mission, and needs help from Angela; Darlene worries about them coming out clean.
• eps3.1_undo.gz: Elliot becomes encouraged trying to undo five/nine; Darlene gets stuck between a rock and a hard place; Mr. Robot sparks a panic.
• eps3.2_legacy.so: The former interim CTO of ECorp returns.

Disc Two:

• eps3.3_metadata.par2: Dom has a close call; Elliot chases himself with Darlene on the lookout.
• eps3.4_runtime-error.r00: ECorp is in chaos; Elliot is on the run; Darlene tries to help.
• eps3.5_kill-process.inc: Elliot faces off with Mr. Robot; Dom gets tired of the red tape; Tyrell has a new plan.
• eps3.6_fredrick+tanya.chk: Mr. Robot wants answers; the FBI closes in; Angela hits the rewind button.

Disc Three:

• eps3.7_dont-delete-me.ko: Elliot tries to get ghosted; it is the day of all days.
• eps3.8_stage3.torrent: Elliot trolls a former ally; Mr. Robot leaves a cryptic text; Tyrell gets new commands.
• shutdown -r: Elliot tries to save Darlene, but things do not go as planned. Mr. Robot needs to step up or step back. Angela considers the price.

Mr. Robot: Season_3.0 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Mr. Robot: Season 3.0's image is frequently home to mild noise, particularly right out of the gate early on in episode one and throughout in mostly lower light scenes, which come regularly throughout the program. Macroblocking also creeps into lower light scenes. Fortunately, other maladies like banding and aliasing aren't really much of a concern, and even the noise isn't super intensive beyond a scene here and there. Beyond that, the image is very tight, firm, and accurate. Textural qualities are just fine. The Blu-ray presents the digitally photographed show with commendable clarity and ease and efficiency of revealing basics like skin, clothes, and the various environments seen throughout the show, from well appointed offices to dense urban street-level locales. There's not a significant level of depth; the digital image is fairly flat, but not to the detriment of core details. Colors are fine under the show's lighting parameters, which are often skewered, dark, or filtered in some way, usually deemphasizing even more vibrant colors. Black level fluctuation and push to a too-bright appearance isn't uncommon. Still, and despite a checklist of a few shortcomings, the image generally pleases. Note that episode 3.7 presents in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio, whereas the rest of the season is framed at the regular 1.78:1.

Mr. Robot: Season_3.0 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Mr. Robot: Season 3.0 features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. This is a typical soundtrack for the series on Blu-ray. It's often rather large. Electronic-style music enjoys wonderful fidelity and effortless stage traversal, floating and pulsing with authority. Some of the most aggressive Techno beats -- partway through episode one being a great example -- where the sound soars, the low end engages with triumphant depth, and the din of a gathered crowd blended with the music makes for a significantly potent and immersive atmosphere. There are also plenty of discrete effects. Just as the visuals never shy away from skewered and unique perspectives and a general structure, the track makes wonderful use of its assets, creating unusual sonic environments that accentuate a point, define an environment, or highlight a particular element above others. It's not a linear, traditional track by any means, but this is not a linear, traditional show, either. The track handles rain and thunder elements with impressive saturation, and city din, like police sirens in the distance or passing cars in the near background, public address announcements, or barroom environmental effects are handled very well. The movie theater "open" in episode eight is gloriously big, with an impressively authentic boom and mild reverberation. Dialogue is clear and detailed with nature front-center placement.

Mr. Robot: Season_3.0 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Mr. Robot: Season 3.0 contains extras -- a few deleted scenes and featurettes and a gag reel -- spread across all three discs. No digital copy is included.

Disc One:

• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 7:11 total runtime): Scenes from each of the three episodes included on this disc.

Disc Two:

• Deleted Scenes (10890p, 3:58): A scene from episode 3.6.
• Through_The_Lens_Of_Episode 3.4 (1080p, 3:13): Complexly crafting the episode and exploring its story, themes, and perspectives.

Disc Three:

• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 3:21): A scene from the season's final episode.
• Gag Reel (1080p, 6:38).
• Mr_Robot_S3_A_World_Divided (1080p, 7:55): An exploration of the main characters and actor performances.
• The_Visual_Style_Of_Mr_Robot (1080p, 2:50): As the title suggests, a quick look at the show's photographic construction, Tod Campbell's cinematography, and the emotions and reactions it conveys.

Mr. Robot: Season_3.0 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It's amazing, and sort of frightening, how technology is manipulated on both sides of the law, on both sides of the now-ubiquitous "screen," and how it has changed, is changing, and will continue to change man. Mr. Robot doesn't peek behind the curtain to see what diabolical (digital?) puppet master is pulling the strings. It rips it down, the resultant collapse of society be damned. It's amazing television, assembled with careful purpose and a unique visual flavor that's at once both accentuating and telling of the greater narrative. It's intense and rewarding, absorbing and smart. Universal's Blu-ray delivers quality video and audio presentations along with a good assortment of bonus material. Very highly recommended in conjunction with seasons one and two.