uawiseguy2

The idea that juvenile delinquents could hack into NORAD's computers and accidentally start WWIII is a perfect subject for a technological thriller, which is what this film tries really hard to be. The casting of Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy, two of John Hughes's future stars, and the fact the missile-controlling robot, Joshua, has a cute face go against the more serious messages of the script as well. Its cartoonish structure of nerds/outcasts vs. the military-industrial complex makes the film feel like an episode of Captain Planet, with only the onscreen charm of Broderick and Sheedy holding the very simple plot together. John Badham would go on to direct Sheedy in SHORT CIRCUIT three years later, which does a much better job at combining a cute-faced robot and maniacal government officials. With one of the most intense missile-launch opening-scenes I've seen outside of a Tom Clancy or James Bond film, I felt disappointed the script didn't maintain that momentum.

Elliot's first fsociety mission, the infiltration of Steel Mountain, Is filled with tense failure and surprising redemption. His successive oversight when it comes to his personal relationships makes this episode perfectly balanced in terms of building stakes for Elliot's future. Angela's father also makes his first appearance and I really hope nothing horrible happens to him.

Hallucination-based episodes are commonplace in modern dramas and they almost always help develop character subtext and are filled with easter eggs that are elaborated-upon in later episodes. Placing one of these stories only four episodes in, however naturally brought on by Elliot's morphine withdrawals, seems rushed and leads to confusion. We don't know Elliot, Mr. Robot, Shayla, or Angela enough to feel the imagery's potency. Even though Mr. Robot and Elliot have a bonding moment, this episode would've better been suited at least a season in the future.