Filler episode? Who says the "major story" is Elliot vs Evil Corp? If instead the major arc is Elliot's journey or the idea of using hacking to change the world, then this episode is not filler but instead an illustration of possible real-world ramifications of hacking people's data in order to achieve your goals.

As mentioned by many others, why kill someone with skills you might exploit again later? Fernando felt no immediate peril from Elliot - he had just outsmarted him to get out of prison - and he might just be able to use him again.

It Follows was a vastly better and more original film.

This episode, IMO, raises Mr.Robot S1 over True Detective S1 (and well above S2) by shockingly illustrating possible real-world consequences to Elliot's hacking, killing off the most sympathetic character in the series half way through the season. It's impossible not to admire and respect the commitment and vision…

Sigh…

***SPOILERS FOR THE GUEST***

I think it's impossible to know at this point what happened. The evidence (such as we have) can be read two different ways - each of them equally convincing/unconvincing - depending on your point of view. We must wait and see.

Since the show has dealt with domestic abuse, as well as the stigma and perils of homosexuality during that era, the assault of Tessa, although unexpected, seems to me like territory that does fall under the purview of the show - especially since it was connected to the publication of the study and the idea that the…

"…it just seemed to me that it was a little too "convenient" that Cameron invented it in 1985."

…that starts to talk to him and convinces him to do very bad things.

Many people were working on 3D graphics by 1985. In 1983, I wrote a 3D-vector CAD program (entirely in Z80 assembly) to create 3D-models for an animation project, because AutoCAD only did 2D at the time.

Whatever his tactics, that still doesn't make it legal for Cardiff to avoid paying someone what they're contractually obligated to do. I'm positive Joe would have had no trouble finding a top-notch lawyer to take his case on commission - it was a slam-dunk.

I enjoyed the episode, but the Gordon stuff is really starting to go over the top. What's next? Gordon goes out to pick up the morning newspaper from his front lawn and gets hit by a chunk of blue ice?

"…with her on a blanket and the '80s music."

I never heard such stories (though I used Apple and Tandy, not Commodore or Atari) - but I would imagine there was no possibility of damaging disks unless the drive was reading/writing (i.e. had energized one of the heads).

I don't quite understand why they used the cover version since it sounds remarkably similar to the original. Could the rights for an old Joy Division song cost that much?

I also read somewhere that McKinnon wanted 6 as opposed to 10, allowing him to do more and delegate less (although I can't seem to find the article at the moment). He already wrote the first two episodes this year, which he didn't do last season.

Agreed. It was unexpected and shocking when Daniel did it, and continues to be unexpected and surprising each time they explore another facet of the aftereffects.

Thanks for the Jared quote. I didn't remember it well because, honestly, I don't think I paid that much attention to the opinion of a teenage boy that had never even met his step-brother until a month or two before - knows virtually nothing about him - and can't really be relied upon as much of an authority about…

"…he needs to stop his little pity party …"