Same haircut. Same eyes. Same mouth. Same actor. And yet: two very different people, played by the same person. Chalk it up to lighting differences, but Core Elliot’s jaw is looser, his face is more open, his eyes are calmer. The Mastermind? He’s all anxiety and introversion, and Rami plays each so differently that they look physically different.
I’ve had time to think about the finale, and I want to share why I’m satisfied, but first, please note I’m not posting this to host a debate. I’m posting this in case it helps anyone analyze their feelings about the close of the series. Your feelings are all VALID! There is no right way to feel.
**Spoilers Below**
After all, as Host Elliot (our Elliot) says, “But if changing the world is just about being here, by showing up, no matter how many times we get told we don’t belong, by staying true even when we’re shamed into being false, I believe in ourselves when we’re told we’re too different. And if we hold onto that, if we refuse not to budge and fall in line, if we stood our ground for long enough, just maybe, the world can’t help but change around us even though we’ll be gone.”
1. That closing monologue; Host Elliot knows his job is done, so he does the right thing, proving that all along, Host Elliot’s goal was to make a better world for Core (the Elliot that has existed since birth) Elliot. From the start, I accepted that this show was about Elliot Alderson, no one else.
2. And the better world is the world in which Core Elliot can experience the love he’s been denying himself since the abuse. To me, Esmail’s ultimate message is about love. I’m not talking about romantic love, but the kind of love that every person craves to attain: self-love. Host Elliot’s journey is going to help Core Elliot wake up in a world where it’s okay for him to love himself. Consider his final speech to WR. Consider the final monologue posted above. This was always about a broken man’s journey to accept himself and move past the traumas of his past. Host Elliot underwent that journey so Core Elliot could have a fighting chance to create a better future.
3. Speaking of romantic love versus self-love, I didn’t ship anyone because I accepted that this show had nothing to do with romantic love. Tyrell and Angela had very similar arcs—both of them were corrupted beyond redemption by their own actions. For me, Tyrell strangling a woman to death and admitting to liking it was enough. Angela knowing Core Elliot loved her and then manipulating his DID was enough.
4. I don’t care about WR’s machine. For me, it was simply a metaphorical plot-point to fuel Host Elliot along his journey. I think Esmail chose the time-travel concept because it speaks to us: we all have pieces of our past that we would like to undo or redo (Nick to Gatsby: “You can’t repeat the past.” Gatsby to Nick: “Can’t repeat the past? Why of course you can!”).
WR’s machine just further cemented why I hate people who are filthy rich. Instead of investing in something to help the greater good, like curing cancer, WR was only interested in her own delusion. Time and time again, we have seen the wealthy piss on everyone to chase their own, often ridiculous or unnecessary goals (I especially love when their only goal is to make more money). Show me an immensely wealthy person who cares about someone other than themselves. WR embodies that corruption, and her machine serves as a reminder to the rest of us how little we matter to the wealthy. Of course Host Elliot would want to fight this.
5. I am okay with a bittersweet ending because it mirrors life, but Esmail’s vision mirrors life in a way that gives us HOPE. For such a dark show, I was shocked by how hopeful I felt when the screen faded to black. By accepting our idiosyncrasies and refusing to change who we are to fit the societal mold of normal, “the world can’t help but change around us.” Thus, allowing for US to HOPE for a world in which change is truly possible, as long as we remember that change begins from within.
And how nice is it for someone with a mental illness to end their story with hope and the potential for healing? They didn’t become the villain, like we saw with Vera. I’m so very glad Esmail decided that he wanted hope to be his central message, and for that, I can forgive almost any stone he left unturned.
Thank you, Elliot Alderson, for such a powerful, purposeful message.
Intellectually i know the show ended near perfectly and im happy Sam knows when something needs to end and not be drawn out for the sake of it, plus the show is so brilliantly made and the themes are very prominent,,,,,
But emotionally,,,,,
I am in desperate need of a slice-of-life spin off about the Aldersystem. Darlene, Dom, Leon and Krista are all in it. They're all healing. Life is good.
Also, i reallllly wanna see persecutor magda and little Elli front. What would that be like.
And F Society? That’s just a dumb name I came up with for a hacker group... y’know... Fuck Society. I figured that’s what an anarchist hacker would come up with.
