Something that Mr. Robot's second season has pulled off masterfully is demonstrating what an absolute damn horror show it is to feel surrounded on all sides, something pulled off perfectly with the tension building this episode around Trent and Mobley.
A taut, suspenseful outing; a needed investment in secondary characters; a solid riff on themes of estrangement; a welcome mental vacation from brain-hurty shenanigans.
The storyline didn't play as well as usual. None of this is Carly Chaikin's fault, though: She was phenomenal in an episode that showcased her portrayal of Darlene at its finest.
The idea of an Elliot-free episode of Mr. Robot sounds like the result of a wacky-tobacky session in the writers room, but "Successor" was a winner because of the way it pushed its characters to the edge and forced them to react.