Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Computer-hacking antihero navigates anarchy, social anxiety.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
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Mr. Robot
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 22 parent reviews
Parents say that while the series showcases impressive writing and acting, it often indulges in gratuitous content that may not be suitable for younger audiences, particularly due to its consistent sexual and violent themes, which some find shocking and off-putting. Reviews indicate a divide, with some acknowledging the show's brilliance while warning it is more appropriate for mature viewers and could potentially corrupt young minds due to its disregard for sensitive topics like religion and morality.
- mature content
- parental concerns
- gratuitous scenes
- strong performances
- divide in reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 34 kid 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?
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
- Premiere date : June 24, 2015
- Cast : Rami Malek , Christian Slater , Portia Doubleday
- Network : USA
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Awards : Emmy - Emmy Award Winner , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Winner , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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