Black Mirror
Black Mirror Introduced
Black Mirror is a satirical and dramatised anthology of contemporary or near-future life. Its main common theme is the interaction of new technology with a range of life’s familiar and not so familiar issues.
The five series are made up of 21 stand-alone episodes, of various length, but averaging almost one hour. With one or two exceptions, I found the episodes to be highly original, insightful, superbly cast, absorbing, and to often resonate personally. This direct relevance makes the show’s dystopian-like present all the more foreboding.
Some of the episodes could be interpreted as warnings of our failure to appreciate all the implications of technological progress. However, these episodes are not that superficial and limited. They tend to present much more complex dilemmas.
For example, ‘Shut Up and Dance’ appears to tell the story of a teenager who is the victim of online extortionists. The despair of his loss of privacy, and helplessness in the face of ruin is unnerving. However, the reactions and interactions between the episode’s memorable characters turns this episode into an exciting psychological and action drama.
Other episodes appear to explore our technological wish-lists. One is imagining how amazing it would be if technology enabled us to recall everything that we did and said. Another is imagining that science could enable us to communicate with deceased loved ones.
The originality of episodes lies in the scientific innovations it portrays. It also lies in its to presentation of possible repercussions of the misuse of new technologies. However, its most outstanding originality lies in the manner in which it posits how such developments might impact on and alter human emotions and interactions.
An Outline of the Series and Episodes
The following is my brief summary of the series and episodes.
Series 1
The National Anthem – Will the British PM agree to be streamed live committing an act of beastiality, in order to secure the release of a Princess?
Fifteen Million Merits – A young woman contestant in a television talent show, must decide whether she will throw away her moral compass, in order to avoid returning to her oppressive and mindless existence.
The Entire History of You – Memory implants enable perfect recall, but at a huge personal price.
Series 2
Be Right Back – Being able to communicate with tragically killed lover spirals out of control.
White Bear – Dystopian tale of lost memory, public disgrace and the ultimate punishment.
The Waldo Moment – Can a crude television cartoon character beat the humans running for political office?
White Christmas – A tale of overlapping stories told by snow-bound ‘work-mates’, with a twist.
Series 3
Nosedive – Set in a society where online ratings determine social status (a step on from being preoccupied with number of ‘followers’, ‘likes’ and ‘hits’).
Playtest – An extremely annoying backpacker resorts to earning money by agreeing to be a guinea pig in the trialling of an overly realistic new electronic game.
Shut Up and Dance – A teenage victim of online blackmail follows instructions. A story that truly snowballs.
San Junipero – the love story of two young women. A story unconstrained by time and mortality.
Men Against Fire – Technology secretly used to make soldiers more eager to kill the enemy, and not suffer any post traumatic effects
Hated in the Nation – Daily voting on social media used to determine each day’s most hated person who is then killed by an ingenious misuse of a global saving technology.
Series 4
USS Callister – One for Star Trek fans, the but with a twist (and without space)
Arkangel – A (predictable) tale about the implications of using technology to check on your child
Crocodile – In this thriller, an accident investigator extracts witnesses’ memories.
Hang the DJ – The methods employed by a Matchmaking Service are challenged by a consumer couple in love
Metalhead – Bleak, black and white portrayal of human scavengers trying to evade killer canine robots.
Black Museum – A young woman’s guided tour of a museum, located at an isolated petrol station, turns into a horror tale – (once again) with a twist.
Series 5
Striking Vipers – Through role play, long term gaming friends are able to act out a relationship not possible in real life.
Smithereens – A hostage situation over a demand to speak with an eccentric ponytailed owner of a huge social media company.
Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too – Ashley O (played by Miley Cyrus) is an exploited pop star. A robotic doll that resembles her, comes to play a key role in a shy teenagers life.
Summing Up
Most of the episodes left me with much to think about. Invariably my reflections were not on the technology but on what the technology revealed about human nature, and how cleverly this had been presented.
Ultimately, this is confronting, disturbing and thought-provoking, but unquestionably entertaining, television of the highest calibre.