A show with an almost perfect Rotten Tomatoes score was hailed as "the best thing that’s been on TV or theater for five years" by Avengers: Doomsday.

While he is widely known as Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr.'s non-MCU movies are just as impressive, including his Academy Award-winning portrayal of Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer. Downey Jr. has also starred in satirical comedy movies like Tropic Thunder and has won Golden Globes for his performances in the television series Ally McBeal and for playing the titular detective in Guy Ritchie's first Sherlock Holmes movie. As someone with unique experience and insight into the industry, he recognizes a high-quality show when he sees it.

Robert Downey Jr. Had High Praise For Mr. Robot Ahead Of Season 2

Season 1 Has A 98% Tomatomater Score

During an interview with GQ in May 2016, Downey Jr. was asked about what he was currently watching. He shared that he was "frothing at the thumb controls for the second season of Mr. Robot, which is probably the best thing that’s been on TV or theater for five years." As per Rotten Tomatoes, Mr. Robot has an overall Tomatometer score of 94%, but season 1 has an even more impressive and near-perfect score of 98%. Downey Jr. was just as impressed as the critics were, which led to high anticipation for season 2. Check out his comments below:

Well, last night, I watched the conclusion of The People v. O.J. Simpson. Previous to that, I doubled back and finished up season four of House of Cards. Maybe the best season yet. I am frothing at the thumb controls for the second season of Mr. Robot, which is probably the best thing that’s been on TV or theater for five years. I am hopelessly strung out on what used to be the Military History channel—and then they changed channel 287 on DirecTV to the American Heroes channel—because I love military history.

Rami Malek's Emmy Award-winning performance as Elliot Alderson, Sam Esmail's creative vision, and the show's timely themes are among the many elements that contributed to the critical acclaim surrounding season 1. The show explores the complexities of personal trauma, mental illness, technology, and capitalism in ways that are equally thought-provoking, authentic, and unpredictable. It is unsurprising that such a well-made work of art resonated with Downey Jr. and convinced him it was the best work of television or theater within the last five years.

RDJ Was Right, Mr. Robot Was One Of The Best Shows On TV For Years

All 4 Seasons Are Phenomenal

At the time, Downey Jr. was only able to speak about season 1, and was right about Mr. Robot being one of the best shows in years. While there is a common sentiment that the show had a bad second season, all of Mr. Robot is brilliant, and it remained a phenomenal show throughout its four-season run. The plot twists in every season are equally shocking and satisfying and recontextualize everything the audience thought they knew about Elliot and other key characters. This ensures that the series has excellent rewatch value and is well worth more than one viewing.

In addition to Elliot, Mr. Robot (Christian Slater), Darlene (Carly Chaikin), Angela Moss (Portia Doubleday), Tyrell Wellick (Martin Wallström), Dom DiPierro (Grace Gummer), Phillip Price (Michael Cristofer), and Whiterose (BD Wong) all end up being fully developed and complex characters. Each of these character arcs and Esmail's creative vision feel consistent and rewarding from beginning to end. This is in large part due to Esmail directing every episode in seasons 2, 3, and 4, along with being the showrunner, head writer, and an executive producer.

Robert Downey Jr. Would Share The Screen With Rami Malek Years Later

They Are Both In Oppenheimer

Downey Jr.'s iration for Mr. Robot feels all the more fitting given that, seven years after the aforementioned interview, he and Malek share the screen together Oppenheimer's tense courtroom scenes. Malek plays nuclear physicist David L. Hill, who ends up testifying against Robert Downey Jr.'s character, Strauss. As both actors' careers continue to thrive, it would be exciting to see them share the screen again in a different movie or television series.

Sources: GQ, Rotten Tomatoes