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"Tropes could be beautiful, or they could be ugly."
- Battle in the Center of the Mind: Despite fighting since the premiere, Elliot and Mr. Robot realized the pointlessness of remaining divided after a series of chess games for total control. That scene alone totally plays like Batman and Joker.
- The Cameo: Bill Harper of Steel Mountain fame re-appears in Elliot's dream, standing in as an allegorical acceptance of past wrongs.
- Fantasy Sequence: Elliot's dream features everyone he has ever known (including Qwerty, Shayla, the Wellicks, and even us) joining him for a feast as the E Corp HQ crumbles. Everyone applauds.
- Flashback: Featured as the Cold Open, it covers the origins of fsociety as well as the foundation for 5/9.
- Foreshadowing:
- Leon's speech about using dreams to find yourself ends up being more prophetic and important to Elliot than they both realize.
- Elliot's dream features the E Corp HQ imploding. At the time, it appears to be just wishful thinking on Elliot's part, but it later turns out to be an actual plan— stage two. Although, stage two is targeting the E Corp recovery building to prevent the restoration of what was lost.
- He's Back!: With the help of Ray's tutelage and Leon's spiritual guidance, Elliot realizes that the world can still be saved, and reaches a compromise with Mr. Robot.
- Mutual Invulnerability: An interesting deconstruction; as Mr. Robot and Elliot face off in chess with stalemates ending each game, it becomes apparent that the two cannot win or lose because of them being two shared personalities.
- Scare Chord: If you plan on watching this episode, it would be wise to lower your volume until the flashback ends. An absolutely ridiculous orchestral sting carries us back to the present, and it is preceded by what seems like an hour of silence.
- Suit Up of Destiny: Elliot putting on Edward's jacket and what would later become the fsociety mask. The portentous choir and orchestra music even give the scene a mystical tone.
- Wham Episode: As Dominique and the FBI draw nearer, Elliot, after joining forces with Mr. Robot, finally gets onto a terminal and immediately uses it to plan a hack against the FBI.
- Wham Line: Four words:Elliot: "I'm hacking the FBI."
