Amazon’s first dips into original programming is yielding some cracking shows and Sam Esmail’s Mr. Robot is right at the top of that pile. Expect the second season to act as a tipping point in its popularity when it launches next month. In the meantime, a couple of new, first-look images offer a glimpse at its (anti)hero Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek) in action, alongside its anonymous cyberwarrior (Christian Slater).
If you’re new to the show, Malik’s Elliot is a cyber-security specialist who gradually turns his expertise in corporate computing against The Man. His conversion to hacktivist and unlikely online superhero takes place partly under the guidance of fully-fledged anarchist Mr. Robot (Slater), although the edgy, socially awkward Elliot is unlikely to stay under anyone’s watch for long.
The pair of them will continue targeting E Corp – AKA Evil Corp – with all the tools at their disposal as Esmail’s show evolves in spiky, topical directions. Think The Matrix retooled for the Wikileaks era.
“When I initially conceived of the show it was a feature with an 800-page script,” its showrunner explains, "so I kinda know the landmarks along the way. The first season was just going to be the opening 30 pages of the feature, but the writers have really deepened the world and the character."
Season 2 of Mr. Robot, which adds The Office's Craig Robinson and Fear the Walking Dead’s Sandrine Holt to its cast, lands on Amazon Prime on July 14. Here's what else is streaming on Amazon Prime, Netflix and NOW TV this month.