Due to an unfortunate parallel to a real-life tragedy today, USA has postponed tonight's “Mr. Robot” season finale to air next week.
(Some minor spoilers follow.)
The freshman thriller's season finale features a very graphic on-camera shooting. It's not identical to the tragedy this morning in Virginia, where a TV reporter and cameraman were murdered during a live broadcast, but it was close enough that USA understandably decided it was wise to put a bit of distance between the real and fictional events. No one who watched tonight would be thinking about anything else.
In a statement, the network said, “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.”
The finale will now air in its entirety on Wednesday, September 2 at 10 p.m. Tonight in its place, USA will re-run last week's penultimate episode of season 1.
This isn't the first time a scripted TV episode has had to be postponed due to a real-life tragedy – two “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” season 3 episodes, for instance, were delayed months due to parallels to the Columbine massacre – and it unfortunately won't be the last.