The Labor Day weekend wasn’t kind to either The Light Between Oceans or Morgan as both newcomers failed to generate any interest at the box office. On the positive side, The Light Between Oceans managed to finish in the top 10. Morgan wasn’t even able to do that; tanking with a measly $2.4 million over its first four days in release in 2000+ theaters. Ridley Scott’s son Luke directed Morgan which now has the dubious honor of holding the seventh worst opening weekend for a movie debuting in at least 2,000 theaters title, according to Box Office Mojo. Fortunately for Fox, Morgan‘s budget was less than $10 million.
Meanwhile, Don’t Breathe continues to draw in audiences. The holiday weekend was another big one for the small-budgeted thriller distributed by Screen Gems. Don’t Breathe also had a budget of $10 million, but unlike Morgan it earned its budget back in its first weekend in release. In this its second weekend it’s now brought in $51 million domestically.
Robert Taylor and Katee Sackhoff in ‘Longmire’ season 5 (Photo by John Golden Britt / Netflix)
Netflix resurrected Longmire for a fifth season and today they released a new trailer for the much-anticipated upcoming season. The trailer flashes “Family…Desire…Justice – Where does your loyalty lie” over some very intense scenes featuring Longmire stars Robert Taylor, Ally Walker, Cassidy Freeman, A. Martinez, Katee Sackhoff, Adam Bartley, and Lou Diamond Phillips. Season five will be available on Netflix on September 23, 2016 and if you need to catch up or just refresh your memory, seasons one through four are currently available for binge-watching.
Longmire is based on the Walt Longmire books by Craig Johnson. Hunt Baldwin (The Closer), John Coveny (Trust Me), Greer Shephard (Major Crimes) and Michael M. Robin (Nip/Tuck) are the executive producers.
The Plot: Season 5 of Longmire picks up after the dramatic cliffhanger of season 4, where Walt Longmire (Taylor) and his girlfriend Dr. Donna Sue Monaghan (Walker) are shot by an armed intruder in Walt’s house. Laying in a hospital bed attempting to make sense of the attack, their fate and relationship both seem uncertain. However, one thing is clear: Walt Longmire is being hunted. Meanwhile, Cady (Freeman) is forced to come to terms with her deal with Jacob Nighthorse (Martinez), the ultimate betrayal for her father. Vic (Sackoff) determines a new level of independence for herself and Ferg (Bartley) begins a new relationship where deception lurks beneath the surface. Season 5 finds Henry (Phillips) at the crosshairs of two warring parties and his allegiance to one could have deadly consequences.
Troy Garity and Dwayne Johnson in ‘Ballers’ season 2 (Photo: Jeff Daly / Courtesy of HBO)
HBO’s football comedy/drama Ballers will finish up its second season in September 2016 with three new half-hour episodes. Ballers stars Dwayne Johnson and Rob Corddry as financial managers who attempt to woo professional athletes to their company. The cast also includes John David Washington, Omar Benson Miller, Donovan Carter, Troy Garity, Jazmyn Simon, London Brown, Arielle Kebbel, Dulé Hill, Richard Schiff, and Andy Garcia.
The Ballers Season 2 Plot: Things are getting more competitive and complicated for retired football star turned financial manager Spencer Strasmore. As the lines between professional and personal blur in his pursuit of lasting success and glory, Spencer must face demons from the past when he goes head-to-head with the biggest business manager on the scene. Meanwhile, Spencer’s closest friends and clients struggle to find their footing. A humbled Ricky explores his options as a free agent, while getting to know the father who left him behind; Charles tries to balance a new baby and his future in the game; and Vernon deals with the consequences of his life off the field.
Returning to help Spencer juggle lucrative deals and big personalities are his outrageous business partner, Joe, level-headed agent, Jason and girlfriend/sports reporter, Tracy. In a business where it’s go big or go home, Spencer and his crew are about to learn that having it all means being ready to fight for more dollars, deals and respect.
Ballers September 2016 Episodes:
Episode #18 (season 2, episode 8): “Laying in the Weeds”
Debut date: SUNDAY, SEPT. 11 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates: Sept. 11 (11:30 p.m., 12:30 a.m.), 12 (8:00 p.m.), 13 (3:55 a.m.), 14 (10:45 p.m.), 16 (3:45 a.m.) and 17 (12:45 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Sept. 12 (1:05 a.m.), 15 (midnight) and 16 (6:00 p.m.)
As Spencer (Dwayne Johnson) tries to move forward, Joe (Rob Corddry) works to keep things together. Charles (Omar Benson Miller) and Ricky (John David Washington) clash. Travis (Adam Aalderks) faces tough questions and worries about his prospects. At his draft day party, Spencer asks for help, while trying to keep ASM’s latest developments quiet.
Written by Steve Sharlet; directed by Simon Cellan Jones.
Episode #19 (season 2, episode 9): “Million Bucks in a Bag”
Debut date: SUNDAY, SEPT. 18 (10:00-10:30 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Sept. 18 (11:30 p.m., 12:30 a.m.), 19 (11:40 p.m.), 20 (2:55 a.m.), 21 (10:30 p.m.), 23 (3:25 a.m.) and 24 (12:05 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Sept. 19 (3:05 a.m.), 22 (11:45 p.m.) and 23 (7:00 p.m.)
Andre makes Spencer (Dwayne Johnson) a surprising offer. Ricky (John David Washington) considers where to build his legacy. Vernon (Donovan Carter) pushes himself harder to get back on the field. Charles’ (Omar Benson Miller) busy schedule puts him at odds with Julie (Jazmyn Simon).
Written by Evan Reilly & Steve Sharlet; directed by Julian Farino.
Episode #20 (season 2, episode 10): “Game Day” (season finale)
Debut date: SUNDAY, SEPT. 25 (10:00-10:30 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: Sept. 25 (11:45 p.m., 1:25 a.m.), 26 (8:00 p.m.), 27 (2:40 a.m.), 28 (10:30 p.m.) and 30 (3:20 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Sept. 26 (3:10 a.m.), 29 (1:30 a.m.) and 30 (5:00 p.m.)
Spencer (Dwayne Johnson) makes a last-ditch effort to get back what he’s lost. Ricky (John David Washington) awaits a call that could define his future. Vernon (Donovan Carter) takes a road trip. Siefert (Dulé Hill) offers Charles (Omar Benson Miller) a big opportunity, but it comes at a cost.
Written by Evan Reilly & Steve Sharlet; directed by Julian Farino.
Grimm star Reggie Lee admitted upfront that he can’t really talk about anything when it comes to what we now know is the show’s sixth and final season. Lee was once again part of #TeamGrimm at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con where the cast answered (as best they could) questions about the upcoming season. Lee also sat down for roundtable interviews where he talked about what he’s loved about playing Sergeant Wu.
At the time of our interview, the official confirmation hadn’t come down from NBC that Grimm was coming to an end. Season six had a shorter season order than seasons one through five, so it wasn’t much of a leap to assume this was going to be the farewell season for the popular dramatic series. “We’re just lucky to be here,” replied Lee when asked about the shorter season.
Reggie Lee Interview:
Last season you went through a huge transformation. These are some pretty big changes Wu has gone through.
Reggie Lee: “I feel powerful!”
I was going to ask how it felt to transform.
Reggie Lee: “It’s interesting because first when I read it I was like, ‘Oh no! Is he going to go to the darkside? Am I getting killed off?’ As an actor you are always like, ‘Am I going to get killed off?’ But, you know he’s always been inherently a cop but I do feel it’s given me a whole emotional thing to play with. I mean, in these things sci-fi takes you out of your realm. It’s not like you’re just imagining this human thing that’s happening to you. It really makes you imagine beyond that, so for me as the actor I felt a lot more power. Which for Wu I think is a really great thing because he’s always felt like probably the underling that’s kind of, ‘Do this. Do that,’ even though he’s a sergeant. He is the kind of on the managerial side of it all, so this has been great to actually be a part of the team and be useful.”
What’s been it like to play Wu’s quick acceptance of the whole world of Grimms and Wesens?
Reggie Lee: “At first, when I read it I go, ‘Oh, that’s tough,’ but you kind of find it inside, find it emotionally. For me in terms of being so freaked out about this whole thing from the get-go and then suddenly discovering it, at that point I was supposed to be pissed at Nick (David Giuntoli) and Hank (Russell Hornsby) because they hadn’t told me anything. But that was kind of pushed aside because I got so excited about it, which I love. I love that about this particular character. He’s kind of like a kid, you know? Even with this it’s like, ‘Oh my god, I get to turn into a creature! Let me try it! I’m going to try it. I’m going to try to get angry in front of my mirror and then I’m going to stop it! Then I’m going to see what I can do with it.’ So, it’s been something to play with.
Internally for an actor it’s very tough to make that switch right away. But finding it has been kind of the gratifying part.”
The scene with the shotgun was one of the best scenes of the season.
Reggie Lee: “The thing is Wu is almost kind of like, ‘I’m going to prove my worth. So, I’m going to try to not be afraid of this. I know this happens, so let me try to prove my worth.’ (Laughing) W-u-r-t-h.”
Kevin James in ‘True Memoirs of an International Assassin’ (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)
Netflix just released the first photos from the action comedy True Memoirs of an International Assassin. The comedy film stars Kevin James in a case of mistaken identity and was directed by Jeff Wadlow (Kick-Ass 2) from a script he co-wrote with Jeff Morris (Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever). In addition to James, the cast includes Andy Garcia (Ballers) , Zulay Henao (Meet the Blacks), Maurice Compte (Narcos), Andrew Howard (Taken 3), Rob Riggle (22 Jump Street), Kelen Coleman (The McCarthy’s), Leonard Earl Howze (Memphis Beat), Yul Vasquez (The Lottery) and Kim Coates (Sons of Anarchy). Todd Garner, Mark Fasano, Raja Collins, and Justin Begnaud produced the film, with Kevin Frakes, Ankur Rungta and Guy Riedel executive producing.
True Memoirs of an International Assassin will premiere on November 11, 2016.
The Plot: The action comedy stars Kevin James as Sam Larson, a mild-mannered would-be author who gets mistaken for a killer-for-hire when his fictional novel about an international assassin is published as a true story. When the book is a huge success, he is suddenly kidnapped, taken out of the country, and forced into an assassination plot.
Kevin James in ‘True Memoirs of an International Assassin’ (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)
Shamier Anderson as Agent Dolls in ‘Wynonna Earp’ (Photo by Michelle Faye/Syfy/Wynonna Earp Productions)
Shamier Anderson joined his Wynonna Earp castmates Melanie Scrofano, Tim Rozon, Dominique Provost-Chalkley, and Katherine Barrell for a lively panel with fans at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con, followed by roundtable interviews to further discuss the popular genre-bending Syfy series. Anderson told us that fans should be ready to learn more about Agent Dolls’ backstory in the show’s second season. Plus, the second season will find Dolls working through his complicated feelings for Wynonna and the upcoming season could possibly reveal what he’s injecting himself with and why.
Shamier Anderson Interview:
What do you hope we’ll see from Dolls in season two?
Shamier Anderson: “I think in season two we’ll explore a lot about Dolls, from his origins to who he was before he was an agent, if he was married, had kids. We’ve explored Wynonna’s background, Doc’s background, Bobo Del Rey, Willow…but we haven’t really exposed who this person is, why he’s here and why he’s reacting the way he is. What are these serums that he’s popping in? I think it’s going to be cool coming back to the jail where he’s put half of those criminals in and being thrown in with them, and understanding what can happen after that. It’s probably a whole series in itself, you know? Dolls Locked Up. Prison Break: Dolls Edition. That would be pretty cool.”
Do you know what Dolls is or is it a secret to you, too?
Shamier Anderson: “Honestly, I want him to be a unicorn. That’s my honest opinion. I think Dolls being a unicorn would be the coolest thing on TV. But, we’re still figuring it out. I think even if I knew, I still wouldn’t tell you guys. But it’s one of those things where I have a hunch, but it will interesting. Somebody mentioned that he may be a mutant from X-Men. Can you imagine?”
And we have to talk about the kiss with Dolls and Wynonna. Will he be dealing with those feelings?
Shamier Anderson: “Yeah, I think so. I think even in that specific moment where they actually lip-locked was kind of just whoa for him – was a whoa factor. Even in the last moment in the series where you see him driving off and that look that he has, there’s so much going on in his head. There’s so much he’s thinking about. I think in season two will get to tap into his brain, and that will be a cool dynamic understanding how they’re going to work together with that connection. How are they going to do business with that intimate spark? And especially being Wynonna who she is and Dolls being who he is, that’s going to be messy. It’s going to be real messy.”
Is he willing to fight Doc for a woman?
Shamier Anderson: (Laughing) “I think so. We’ll see what happens.”
It’s been interesting to watch the relationship between Dolls and Doc develop.
Shamier Anderson: “I think Tim (Rozon) and I – Tim is amazing, by the way – he and I talked about a cool thing that we wanted to do as a spinoff. It’s called the Doc and Dolls Show or Riding in Cars with Doc and Dolls. How crazy would that be? You know, like Dolls teaching Doc how a car works. 30 seconds, ‘This is how the engine works.’ ‘What?'”
If you could write the first scene of season two for Dolls, what would it look like?
Shamier Anderson: “Doing chin-ups in a prison cell and fighting off a bunch of revenants and bad guys. Bang, hello! Shirt on though because I’ve got to work off these burgers.”
Wouldn’t he get one call so he could ask Wynonna to bring the gun to jail?
Shamier Anderson: “I don’t think they follow the rules in the Black Badge Division. I don’t think they get phone calls and rights and all that. I think you’re stripped of that stuff when you’re in a Black Badge facility. But if he did, I think he would probably call Wynonna or maybe his mom.”
Are you surprised at the passionate fan following?
Shamier Anderson: “It’s insane, the fandom, but in a good way. As soon as I got off the airplane at the San Diego International Airport, I was bombarded by Earpers. I was like, ‘What the heck?!’ […]But what’s really cool is the gifts that we’ve been getting, and just knowing each and every one of us and what we like. Tim, he got like Doc staches and all that stuff. Melanie loves coffee and she got coffee. Dom likes earthy things and she got earthy things. I DJ so I got DJ stuff. It’s like they really know who we are and that is just so humbling and so refreshing. I’m so grateful for our incredible fans who support us. It really means a lot.”
What do you think it is that grabbed the audience?
Shamier Anderson: “If I knew I’d call the executives right away and get seasons 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Honestly, I’m in it so what the fans get from us, that’s something that they can articulate better than I can. But I think what really works in our favor is the camaraderie we all have and the family that we have, and the love that we have for each other. I think that that really shows. It’s not an act. We’re not trying to be funny and cool. We genuinely have such a great time and joke around and love each other. I think the fans really relate to that. And also the diversity of the cast, the representation in every capacity. […]It’s just an eclectic show and I think it really has a reach to a lot of different audiences. In today’s society and what’s going on and in today’s television world, I think that’s a huge plus for us.”
And it has badass women.
Shamier Anderson: “That’s a given. Having a female lead, come on! A female cast, essentially. Tim and I are like, ‘This is a fantasy.’ Badass females – and Mel kills it. I think that’s super cool to see a woman in a role where she’s not playing a damsel in distress. She has real qualities and real flaws, and I think that’s awesome. Even for a guy watching that I’m like, ‘Finally something different.'”
Danny Pudi as Teddy, Vanessa Hudgens as Emily, and Christina Kirk as Jackie in ‘Powerless’ (Photo by Chris Large/NBC)
Danny Pudi called upon his real life work in insurance prior to landing a role on Community for his character in NBC’s new series, Powerless. The half-hour comedy is set in a world in which superheroes are accepted as the norm, and Pudi’s character Teddy has to deal with insurance claims caused by the damage done during superhero rescues and fights. The series, which is the first comedy involving the DC Comics universe, is slotted as a midseason replacement and also stars Vanessa Hudgens, Alan Tudyk, Christina Kirk, and Ron Funches.
During the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con, the cast not only took part in a Q&A about the series but also sat down for roundtable interviews to further discuss the world of Powerless.
Danny Pudi Interview:
Can you talk about your character?
Danny Pudi: “So, I play Teddy. Much like Teddy Ruxpin, he is friendly – the friendly little bear. He is Emily Locke’s best friend. He has no powers…yet. He’s looking for the powers within himself. Teddy is used to this fun-loving boy playfulness in the office and I think Emily inspires him in the pilot to start looking within himself to see what other things he can do. I think he’s got a lot of talents; none of them are really applicable to his job.”
Where do you get to go with this role as opposed to other roles you’ve played?
Danny Pudi: “I think the first thing that excited me about this role was it’s similar to things in my real life. My job before I booked Community – I actually still haven’t quit – I was an actuarial recruiter for insurance companies in Chicago. I would fly in actuaries and all of our clients were insurance companies or consulting firms, banks, and so I dealt a lot with insurance – property casualty insurance. And so it’s fun to actually be in that world in a way. I worked in an office. I was really good at happy hours but wasn’t really good at my job. So, to me, this is a chance to tap into that world a little bit more.”
Were there a lot of comedic opportunities with that sort of insurance?
Danny Pudi: “Strangely enough, I was in charge of doing our Christmas talent show. I would do dance stuff. I got in trouble because I would be talking to people too long in the kitchen. Things like that. So this is a chance for me to tap into that. Also, I’m at a place in my life where I’m a dad. I have kids and I’m sort of like forced to be a grownup at home with the kids, but at the same time my job is this. So it’s like a nice way to sort of blend those worlds where Teddy’s also trying to be a grownup but he still has this really playful, childishness to him.”
It seems like a world where Abed would have been right at home. What did you have to do to distinguish Teddy from Abed?
Danny Pudi: “Well, I think in many ways Abed is much smarter. Abed is very bright and he has very set rules to his world. I think for me Teddy’s a little bit more my level. Abed knows what to say or what to do in many instances. He will just know what to do. I think one of my favorite scenes in this show in the pilot – and one of the things that I was drawn to – is there’s a moment where Teddy doesn’t really know what to say other than just be there for Emily. It’s a small moment but it’s a very clear moment of humanity that I think is very different from Abed. But it’s also just different on the whole of a character I’ve played. I’ve never played someone who just sees everything around him and just feels helpless and just doesn’t really know what to say, and doesn’t have any specific ability to talk his way out of it, to help anybody. He’s just kind of there. That weakness, I guess, was really exciting to play.”
How does he view the world that he lives in with these superheroes?
Danny Pudi: “I think he’s used to it. I wouldn’t say it’s ho-hum. I think he’s used to it. He doesn’t know how things are going to affect him. But I think Teddy is excited about certain things. It’s nice to play someone who’s excited about the world around him. He’s excited about what happens with Emily when she stands up for herself at the office. It inspires him to be like, ‘What else can I do?’
I think in terms of the superheroes, I think he’s kind of like, ‘How does it impact me? I still have to figure out where to go to lunch today.’ You know what I mean? He’s like, ‘That’s my job. I’m on lunch duty and we only have one hour for break. Hopefully my favorite coffee shop isn’t impacted by the fallen rubble.’ I think that’s how Teddy looks at it. I think he’s a little bit tired of Aquaman, tired of people who are constantly showing him what he doesn’t have and what he can’t do. But at the same time, he still has to do a job because he’s got to pay his rent.”
IFC Films’ Certain Women trailer should reminds moviegoers how much we’ve all missed seeing Michelle Williams on the big screen. Williams reunites with her Meek’s Cutoff and Wendy and Lucy director Kelly Reichardt for Certain Women, based on the short stories by Maile Meloy. The R-rated drama had a successful festival run and will be hitting theaters on October 14, 2016. In addition to Williams, the cast includes Kristen Stewart, Laura Dern, Jared Harris, James Le Gros, Lily Gladstone, Sara Rodier, and Rene Auberjonois.
The Plot: It’s the off-season in Livingston, Montana, where lawyer Laura Wells (Dern), called away from a tryst with her married lover, finds herself defending a local laborer named Fuller (Harris). Fuller was a victim of a workplace accident, and his ongoing medical issues have led him to hire Laura to see if she can reopen his case. He’s stubborn and won’t listen to Laura’s advice – though he seems to heed it when the same counsel comes from a male colleague. Thinking he has no other option, Fuller decides to take a security guard hostage in order to get his demands met. Laura must act as intermediary and exchange herself for the hostage, trying to convince Fuller to give himself up.
Elsewhere, Gina (Williams) and Ryan (Le Gros) have decided to build a new home outside of town. With their disinterested daughter Guthrie (Rodier) in tow, they visit Albert (Auberjonois), an elderly family friend who seems to be fading into senility. Trying to keep Albert focused, Gina gets him to agree to give the couple the pile of unused sandstone on his property so that they can build their home. Albert consents, and they soon return with a truck to haul the stones away; but as they do so, it’s not clear to Gina that Albert understands exactly what is happening.
On a horse ranch just outside of the tiny town of Belfry, a long drive from Livingston, a young female ranch hand (Gladstone) takes care of animals, isolated from the rest of the world. She develops a fascination with Elizabeth (Stewart), a recently graduated lawyer based in Livingston and looking to pick up extra money by offering legal workshops for teachers. Attending Elizabeth’s classes and having coffee afterwards only piques the ranch hand’s interest, ultimately leading her to make an unexpected drive to Livingston, hoping to find Elizabeth, even if she has no idea what to say.
Set against the Big Sky backdrop of southern Montana and reflecting both the immense scope and profound stillness of its setting, Certain Women examines the moments both large and small that make up the lives of strong, independent women looking for ways to understand and shape the world around them.
Netflix just released the official poster and trailer for the sci-fi thriller ARQ starring The Flash‘s Robbie Amell and Jessica Jones‘ Rachael Taylor. The film, which has a twisted Groundhog Day/Edge of Tomorrow vibe, is written and directed by Orphan Black‘s Tony Elliott and will premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. Netflix will release ARQ to its subscribers on September 16, 2016.
The Plot: In a future where corporations battle against sovereign nations over the last of the world’s energy supplies, young engineer Renton and Hannah find themselves attempting to save an experimental energy technology that could end the wars. The catch is, the technology has created a time loop that causes them to relive a deadly home invasion over and over again. They must figure out how to stop the time loop and come out of it alive.
Grace Gummer as Dominique “Dom” DiPierro and Portia Doubleday as Angela Moss in ‘Mr. Robot’ (Photo by Peter Kramer/USA Network)
Season two, episode nine of USA Network’s Mr. Robot begins with the first of several ominous knocks on doors. In a flashback, Elliot (Rami Malek) opens the door to law enforcement. They enter and place him under arrest for grand larceny, unauthorized use of a computer, and computer trespass. His lawyer tells him that he can get the hacking charge reduced and that Elliot should plead not guilty at the arraignment. He pleads guilty, however, and because the dog was worth $1,200, his theft makes it a felony. The judge sentences him to 18 months in county jail.
As suspected, Ray (Craig Robinson) is the warden and Leon (Joey Bada$$), under directions from Whiterose, quickly makes friends with Elliot. Interestingly, Leon is the only inmate wearing a white t-shirt without the orange shirt on top. Perhaps it signifies that Leon doesn’t belong or he, in white, is associated with Whiterose. Joey Bada$$ has achieved fame as a hip-hop recording artist, but he is very convincing in the role of an inmate. In fact, he wants to act; in an interview he said, “It’s been my dream to act since I was in like the eighth grade. I always wanted to be an actor. And I feel like the music just made it a little bit easier for me to chase that dream.” He has charisma and it would be good to see him in more roles.
Elliot is released after 86 days and the early release is attributed to the 5/9 hack by a guard. Elliot, though, attributes it to the Dark Army. Darlene (Carly Chaikin) meets him outside the jail. As they hug she whispers something in his ear. Out loud, Darlene tells him that she believes that the Dark Army is cleaning house. She hasn’t been able to contact Mobley or Trenton; in fact, Trenton’s parents have filed a missing person report.
Later Elliot observes Mr. Robot (Christian Slater) talking to Darlene and Cisco (Michael Drayer). This is the same Cisco we thought that Darlene hit with a baseball bat in the last episode. Of course, we didn’t actually see her hit him. We have no idea what happened in the intervening month; this is just one example of how the viewers are kept disoriented by incomplete information or alternate reality (see discussion in last week’s recap about collective memory). Elliot no doubt feels the same disorientation when Mr. Robot acts in his stead and Elliot is kept in the dark. Elliot observes Mr. Robot arguing with Darlene and Cisco about stage 2. He comes to the fore as Mr. Robot fades away saying that he feels off and that “something is happening to us.”
Elliot and Mr. Robot trade places several times and there is what looks like glitches or signal transmission interference happening with both of them. The ongoing brownouts in the episode are analogous to what is happening with Elliot. He tells Darlene and Cisco that he wants to meet with Xun. After Cisco tells him that he could be killed, Elliot says that the meeting will be with Mr. Robot.
Meanwhile using a ruse, Angela (Portia Doubleday) gets into the Risk Management department head’s office. Among the files that she then copies from his computer is the Washington Township leak file. Offering these stolen files, Angela meets with a Nuclear Regulatory Commission staffer. He wants her to meet with the Deputy Director. Deputy Director Phelps (Caroline Strong) takes her down a long hallway lined with security cameras to meet her colleagues who Phelps says are interested in what she has to say. Seeing the red light at the end of the hall along with the fact that Phelps knows that she works for E Corp, Angela is spooked and leaves.
There are a couple of very interesting scenes with Whiterose (BD Wong). The first one takes place in a cemetery and he/she appears as a woman accompanied by an assistant. They peer at the headstone belonging to Leonard Moore, the former CEO of E Corp from 1986-1993. In the course of a discussion between Whiterose and the assistant, we learn that Whiterose is responsible for his death because Moore tried to shut down her project. Whiterose then urinates on the headstone.
Later, Whiterose (as a man) meets with the current CEO of E Corp, Philip Price (Michael Cristofer). Price angrily tells Whiterose that because of the fallout from the 5/9 hack, E Corp can’t keep all of their plants and that the federal government will take over the Washington Township plant. He needed bailout money but because of the Beijing shooting, doesn’t have it. He wants the Chinese to loan E Corp money at 0% interest rate. Clearly, Price has the upper hand because that plant is important to Whiterose. He tells Whiterose that he is a mercenary who doesn’t play fair and even threatens WWIII. Since Angela went to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Washington Township plant must be a nuclear power plant or something else dealing with nuclear materials. As further proof that Price has the superior position, he closes the discussion with a reference to time, a peculiar obsession of Whiterose’s.
Switching back to Darlene’s subplot, she wants Cisco to go back to Sharon Knowles’ house to recover the defective VHS tape that has Darlene’s face on it. Cisco finds the tape but as he is leaving he hears panting and looks in that direction. Meanwhile, there is a knock on the door where Darlene is staying. When she opens the door, she looks surprised as she appears to see two people there.
FBI Agent Dom DiPierro (Grace Gummer) knocks on Angela’s door and Angela lets her in. She tells a scared and silent Angela that Ollie told them about the CD at AllSafe. Dom adds that they have been tracking her ever since and admits that while she can’t connect the dots yet, it will catch up to Angela and then she will be thrown in a dark cell. However, Dom lets her know that she is Angela’s “one hand to play.” Angela looks on the verge of tears as Dom leaves.
The episode concludes with an SUV approaching Elliot. Joanna Wellick greets him with a “hello, Ollie.” When they previously met, he introduced himself as Ollie.
This episode leaves viewers with many questions. Among them are: who did Trenton see coming in the coffee shop; who are the people at Darlene’s door; who did Cisco see; where is Tyrell Wellick; and does Angela decide to work with Dom.
