If you’ve been watching USA’s brand new drama Mr. Robot, you already know it’s not a light and fluffy hacker drama. Instead, it’s dark and often violent, featuring a variety of personalities from all walks of life: the high-end E-corp workers, the underground hackers, and even the occasional seedy drug dealer. The finale for Mr. Robot was likewise going to be graphic and probing and today USA has decided to drop the drama due to a plotline that features similarities to the tragic killing of the reporter and photographer in Virginia.
Mr. Robot has aired nine episodes so far, and tonight was supposed to mark the show’s tenth and final episode in Season 1. However, because of the similarities between the fictional show and the real life tragedy, the finale has been postponed until next week. It will now air on Wednesday, September 2 at 10 p.m. ET. Here’s the full quote from USA.
The previously filmed season finale of Mr. Robot contains a graphic scene similar in nature to today’s tragic events in Virginia. Out of respect to the victims, their families and colleagues, and our viewers, we are postponing tonight’s episode. Our thoughts go out to all those affected during this difficult time.
Earlier this morning, news broke that two journalists were out in the field in Virginia when they were killed while filming a live news report. The two victims were Alison Parker and Adam Ward, who worked for news station WDBJ in Moneta. A former employee of the news station, Bryce Williams, has been listed as the official suspect following the murders. He was pronounced dead after shooting himself while being pursued by police. The deaths were shocking, as tragedies such as these usually are, especially considering they seem to have occurred because of a jilted employee.
Usually when a network temporarily bans an episode of a show, it is due to a recent tragedy or major occurrence that has shaken up American life. Episodes of American Dad and even Mike and Molly have aired at later dates following intense events. The episode of American Dad in question, for instance was briefly dropped from the schedule after the horrifying Sandy Hook shootings in the U.S. A tornado-themed episode of Mike & Molly was pushed back when tornadoes tore through the Midwest.
Despite the fact the season finale has been pushed back, this should have no effect on the long-term future of Mr. Robot. The USA drama has already been renewed for a second season and will return in 2016.
