As I mentioned last week, one of the things starting to be made clear in Red Wheelbarrow is that while Elliot (Rami Malek) talks about maintaining a rigid schedule being his main anti-Mr. Robot strategy the real battle is really about which possible future should be followed.

In Leo Tolstoy's book Resurrection (mentioned both during Season 2 and also in Red Wheelbarrow), the main character, Prince Dmitry Nekhlyudov, refers to this same struggle as the difference between his spiritual and animal self.

To Tolstoy, the spiritual self is the one who is able to traverse the baser desires (like the need for revenge in Elliot's case) in favor of following goals more in line with one's higher being and the animal self is the one unable to overcome his or her baser instincts to commit violence or act in anger or with lust more than love.

As I have suggested all along, the battle between Elliot and Mr. Robot is not one for "control" of one body, it is a battle over strategic direction. Will Elliot rejoin the battle to "save the world" (which, when truly evaluated is borne of a desire for getting revenge on E-Corp, no different than Darlene's desire to kill Madame Executioner) or will he try to learn to connect to the people who cares about and establish true intimacy and friendship.

In other words, Elliot is really trying to hold off his own anger and baser self, represented by the face of his dead father in Mr. Robot (Christian Slater) through learning to meaningfully connect with other people (in this case Leon and Carla). On June 6th Elliot says:

"I gotta keep trying to communicate with Leon - with anyone - and distancing myself from HIM."

Throughout the book (and Season 2) images of connection have been juxtaposed with the strategic path desired by Elliot Prime and by Mr. Robot (Stage 2). Perhaps the most meaningful example is when Elliot dreamed that he was "with" his friends but somehow suspended in time and prevented from truly interacting with them. It reminded me of the Greek myth of Tantalus who was punished by being placed permanently right under delicious grapes that were always just out of his reach (no matter what he did).

In season 2, Elliot has a dream of a world where he can sit at a table with all of the people he cares about and interact with them all meaningfully (not just by searching their information or watching them longingly from afar). In other words, Elliot wants to reach the grapes that Mr. Robot (and stage 2) are keeping from him. And it isn't just "talking" with his friends, he wants the future where they all can exist and be happy. There may be temporary successes down the road offered by Stage 2 but there will never be a spiritual Elliot on that road.

Again, the best way to look at it, IMHO, is that Elliot is having an internal debate between the part of him that wants to finish E-Corp for good and the part of him that wants to learn to be at peace with the world (and connect meaningfully with his friends). While he might be able to work with some of those friends to reach the goals of Stage 2, that path will forever be antithetical to finding peace (think of Edward Snowden, Elliot would most likely always be a fugitive and never have a home even if Stage 2 was successful).

True connection is the antithesis of "Stage 2." Mr. Robot's path is antithetical to a meaningful and connected future for Elliot. In jail, connection means being honest with Carla (Eve Lindley) and maybe also with Leon (Joey Bada$$).

Sadly, as we know, Elliot is heading (even if it is kicking and screaming) towards finishing Stage 2. But, for now, Elliot is flirting with rigorous honesty born of trust to those who he feels are trustworthy.

Pronoun Problems