| "401 Unauthorized" | |
|---|---|
| Mr. Robot episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 1 |
| Directed by | Sam Esmail |
| Written by | Sam Esmail |
| Cinematography by | Tod Campbell |
| Editing by | Rosanne Tan |
| Original release date | October 6, 2019 |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"401 Unauthorized" is the first episode of the fourth season of the American drama thriller television series Mr. Robot. It is the 33rd overall episode of the series and was written and directed by series creator Sam Esmail. It originally aired on USA Network on October 6, 2019.
The series follows Elliot Alderson, a cybersecurity engineer and hacker with social anxiety disorder, who is recruited by an insurrectionary anarchist known as "Mr. Robot" to join a group of hacktivists called "fsociety". As the series progresses, Elliot finds himself at odds with his real persona and with Mr. Robot's plans. In the episode, Elliot works in taking down Whiterose, while Angela fails to persuade Price from joining her against Whiterose.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.444 million household viewers and gained a 0.1 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, with critics praising the episode's twists, performances and writing.