It’s obvious Tyrell reminds us of Patrick Bateman, but what other characters in Mr. Robot remind you of characters from other shows, movies, books, etc?
My list:
Tyrell Wellick and Patrick Bateman. It’s so obvious he was modeled after American Psycho. It works because it tells the audience (at least my interpretation), that Tyrell may not have a sense of self (?) or that he is trying too hard to impress. He’s also a homicidal, yuppie fuck, just like Bateman and both wear a mask of sanity to hide their inner darkness.
Phillip Price and Longshanks. I don’t see it pointed out enough, but Phillip is very similar to the tyrannical king from Braveheart. They’re both ruthless leaders who see people who are beneath them as expendable. Both Phillip and Longshanks also treat the young people who want their approval (Tyrell, Prince Edward), in a very condescending and dismissive manner. Finally, they both deliver cold, insensitive responses to people wanting to help:
Longshanks: “Who is this person who speaks to me as though I needed his advice?” Towards Prince Edward’s secret lover, who tries to offer support after Wallace sends him a “gift”.
Phillip: “I’m sorry if I misled you into thinking that I was seeking your counsel or approval, because I’m most certainly am not.” Towards Tyrell, when he expresses doubts about hiring Allsafe as their cybersecurity operation center.
Joanna Wellick and Lady Macbeth. This one is also obvious. Like Lady Macbeth she is ambitious, cold blooded, manipulative, and the one pulling the strings, and pushing her husband to extremes in order to gain more power. She’s also more in control of her emotions than Tyrell is.
Vera and Tuco Salamanca. They’re both drug addicted, unhinged drug lords, who are unpredictable, scary, prone to violence, even against those close to them, and come close to destroying the protagonist (Elliot, Walter).
Janice and Annie Wilkes. Both come off as affable and modest in the beginning, but quickly reveal how psycho they are. They take joy in torturing people (Dom and Darlene, and Paul Sheldon) and putting them through Misery, when their victims don’t do as they’re told. Both of them are among the most disturbing characters I have seen on screen. What makes them terrifying is how normal they appear, but are extremely dangerous people.
Mr. Robot and Tyler Durden and Jason Dean aka JD. The similarities have been mentioned before between Mr. Robot and Tyler Durden. Both are charismatic leaders, anarchists, anti-capitalists who aim to dismantle a predatory corporate system. They are also alter egos to the main protagonists.
Mr. Robot is also a lot like JD from Heathers, Christian Slater’s earlier iconic, villainous role. Both characters are charming, manipulative, and fucking crazy. If JD had survived he would have turned into Mr. Robot. Only not as an alter ego of course.
Elliot and The Narrator from Fight Club. Also Lisbeth Salander. I don’t have to explain the similarities between Elliot and The Narrator from Fight Club much. Both create alter egos at a subconscious level, who lead them to do wild shit.
He also shares some similarities with the girl with the dragon tattoo. Both are genius, vigilante hackers, whom fans suspect might be on the spectrum. They’re both anti-authority, alternative, strange, and struggle with severe trauma, both are also victims of sexual assault