I Robot, You Robot

AJ's Book Corner(ABC's)

Title: Children of Blood and Bone

Author(s): Tomi Adeyemi

Link: I'm Reading...

What I’m listening to...

Name of Album: Amber Oliver - EP

Artist: Amber Oliver

Favorite Song: When It’s Over

Link: I'm Listening to...

What I’m Watching

Name of Show: I Robot

Brief Overview: Usually I’m able to foresee what’s going to happen in most shows. But with I Robot I have been interestingly surprised by the twist and turns that the show takes. Not only does it tackle the technological insecurities of the world with this conglomerate called ECorp but it also depicts the issues of mental illness as well. Very good show, very interesting.

Elliot Alderson is the main character of I ROBOT who is a socially anxiety type of guy who is a computer hacking genius that works in cybersecurity, he has become who he is by the constant abuse from his mother and the crippling loss of his father(Supposedly). Basically, to me it seems that the loss of his father caused a split in him that the viewer is unaware of until much later.

Elliot’s father died from cancer that he developed because of his place of employment who knew about the cancer-causing issues of their company and did nothing about it except fire those people who were exposed to the cancer-causing agents.

We know that Elliot trust no one, he hacks everyone he knows including his best friend Angela and her cheating boyfriend. He even hacks his court ordered therapist who he has to see because of a previous anger management issue that is briefly discussed.

Elliot often breaks what I believe they call the fourth wall, talking to the viewer asking them questions although he knows that they will never answer back, sometimes he gets angry at them and refuses to talk to them. Elliot meets up with this fellow computer hacker who invites him onto this team that is dead set on taking down ECorp. Elliot works alongside this other hacker guy and his team, toward the end of the first season he realizes that the other hacker guy is actually him and has been him all along.

This is where I begin discussing the split in Elliot, how he copes with his father’s death and the constant abuse both verbal and physical from his mother. I’ve heard about how the body will defend itself by any means. Elliot’s means was a split into another personality, the personality of his father, who is the evil part of him, the part he call’s Mr. Robot. But the scarier part is that Elliot doesn’t remember or recall the things Mr. Robot does and is in a constant battle for control over him.

Revenge for a parent’s death is something that both Elliot and his sister Darlene take into their own hands and Mr. Robot goes rogue turning against everyone because he like Elliot can’t trust anyone, and Mr. Robot will not allow anyone to interfere with his course of revenge. Mr. Robot has kills, bullies and manipulates people including Elliot and his supposed best friend Angela who turns against Elliot and forms and alliance with Mr. Robot and his team to continue the course of revenge.

Angela also lost her mother from the cancer-causing effects of ECorp, that’s what binds her and Elliot. It was sad to see Angela turn, but I understood why. If I had lost my parent in that way and a corporation like ECorp got off scot free I would probably seek revenge as well. But the thing about revenge is it is never truly served. Revenge to me is a double-edged sword that cuts just as well as it stabs. I’m not finished with the series yet, but Angela and Mr. Robot have completed the plan and blew up ECorp buildings all across America. Angela is in a state of shock having helped in completing the tasks necessary for Mr. Robot’s plan to happen.

Elliot and his sister Darlene, and Elliot’s ex best friend Angela were children when they lost their parents. They grew up with the anger and unexpressed rage in them. Elliot developed multiple personalities, Darlene lacks the ability to trust people or feel she can depend on them. And Angela changed so much from the happy go luck person to an evil person set on revenge because she believed what she was doing was right because of her rage.

Throughout the series it does show small glimpses into the lives of Elliot, Darlene and Angela when they were children, and how their inner child speaks to them. I’m one to believe that children who have lost a parent at a young age have to grow up very quickly and they can lose touch with their inner child. I am thankful to have reconnected with mine. I try to embrace her when I can. But I think that for the rest of my life a part of me will always be the kid who got left behind the morning she found out her mom was gone. The good thing is I do have access to my inner child and my world view can be more open and uninhibited in certain instances.

When we become adults, we tend to become so closed minded, so shackled to the ebb and flow of work, family, house, car, money, and repeat. We speed through life and miss the small things.

I’m grateful for being able to slow down and grow in ways I would like to instead of having to be stretched by others wants and demands.

We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are. -Unknown