Parents' Guide to

Mr. Robot

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Computer-hacking antihero navigates anarchy, social anxiety.

TV USA Drama 2015
Mr. Robot Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 28 parent reviews

Joelle Z.
Joelle Z. Adult
April 11, 2023
age 18+

Sex is for shock value

I’m extremely, extremely disappointed in this show. I was fully invested in the plot, I think Rami Malek is an incredible actor and I was so excited to really enjoy a good series. What I did not expect was a sudden, no-warning sex scene that served as a shock factor. Two men having sex with loud noises and clear thrusting. I wanted to throw up out of surprise and disgust when I didn’t see it coming. It might’ve been hinted at when they kissed but the jump to the scene with no warning was clearly done to surprise the audience, and I didn’t appreciate it. I shut my laptop down and I’m not watching it again. A show can be good without gratuitous sex, and I’m tired of pretending like watching this crap is ok
Naacer
Naacer Adult
April 14, 2021
age 17+

See all 28 parent reviews

What's the Story?

By day, hyperintelligent introvert Elliot (Rami Malek) is "just a tech" at a New York-based cybersecurity company, where he works as a programmer alongside his longtime friend, Angela (Portia Doubleday). But after hours, he doubles as a black-hooded vigilante who pries his way into people's lives to expose the evil lurking within. It's a carefully crafted system that, along with measured doses of morphine, helps keep his crippling anxieties at bay -- until a mysterious stranger named MR. ROBOT (Christian Slater) extends Elliot an invitation to anarchy.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (28 ):
Kids say (35 ):

In spite of its borderline-terrible title, Mr. Robot is darkly intriguing, and lead actor Malek is a big part of the draw. From his scathing inner monologues to his socially awkward silences -- not to mention his abnormally large eyes that project a near-constant state of alarm -- his character is both oddly endearing and a little bit frightening, the sort of fellow who spends his nights bringing bad guys to justice but could just as easily be a serial killer.

Yet as withering as Elliot's analysis of the world can be, it also raises important questions about the choices we make and the lives we lead. Trouble is, Mr. Robot's unbleeped language, illegal drug use, and murky messages result in a drama that's too mature for most teens and much better suited to adults. So let older kids watch with caution -- or better yet, try watching with them to compare notes on the show's social commentary and how close it comes to the truth.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Mr. Robot's central character and how he functions as an "antihero" or a deeply flawed protagonist we still want to root for. Are antiheroes meant to be role models? How can we learn from them -- and even like them -- in spite of their flaws?

  • How does Elliot's view of the world compare with your own? Is society as consistently disappointing as Mr. Robot would have you believe? If so, how would you change it?

  • How have television standards for strong language changed over time? Does hearing (or not hearing) words such as "f--k" and "s--t" on a show such as Mr. Robot make you more or less likely to use them in real life?

TV Details

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