“Mr. Robot”: USA takes on the digital conspiracy thriller, a genre with a very high failure rate, and thanks to the dark playfulness of creator Sam Esmail and an inspired performance by lead Rami Malek, “Mr. Robot” may succeed where others have failed.
Though overly loaded with tech-mad plot points—code strings and routers are the new McGuffins -- the first hour admirably balances the personal with the political, while creating a universe both recognizable and tinged with equal parts surrender and menace.
Words that could describe the main character: Blank-faced and socially challenged, Elliott (Malek) is a nondescript techie for a cyber-security firm by day, vigilante hacker by night.