Black Mirror season 4 subjective round-up |
22/1/2018
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Charlie Brooker comes back with the fourth season of his sci-fi anthology masterpiece. 6 new episodes of Black Mirror bring us more of his nihilistic vision of the fast approaching future where the worst nightmares regarding technology come true. It is still a very ‘worried’ show.
The show follows its original structure with each episode having a different setting, cast and microcosm, and embraces its original Twilight Zone vibes. This time, however, Charlie Brooker focuses less on politics and ideologies and more on the characters and their agenda. This season is more than ever a study of human nature in relation to the changes that technology brings. The issue of ideology and its crisis is still omnipresent throughout the show however it is human beings and the choices that they make that is in the centre of the narrative. Black Mirror was always keen on investigating the increasingly close relationship of humans with machines. This time, however, the idea of that symbiosis is taken to an entirely new level. The show investigates not only the dangers that humans will face but also raises questions about the well-being of digitised clones of human DNA. Another recurring theme is the control that technologies allow and its acceptable degree: control over each other, our children, the control that system has over us.
Despite the increased budget, Black Mirror has managed to keep its intimacy by successfully mixing a variety of genres with a subtly hidden layer of its signature sarcasm and parody.
The new season is well made with beautiful cinematography, acting performances that will send shivers down our spine and engaging stories that will make us reflect on the direction our world is going. What the new Black Mirror misses, however, is that mind blowing, jaw dropping episode that will leave us speechless for days. Yes, I’m talking about the success of the excellent San Junipero. The award winning episode left viewers with very high expectations and regardless of how great the new season is, it doesn’t provide anything on this level.
Interestingly the fourth season is women dominated and the main female characters are portrayed as powerful, intelligent, independent and resourceful. Stay with us because the femininity Black Mirror is the theme of our next article!
As an absolute Black Mirror freak I’ve been waiting for the new season with nervous excitement, wondering if I will be able to stop myself from binge watch the whole thing. I consider Brooker’s show as one of the last remaining bastions of the anti-binge series. The episodes are usually so mentally and psychologically demanding that watching several of them in a row could be seen as masochistic. The new season is no different and I think taking the time to reflect on each episode is crucial for understanding and full enjoyment of Black Mirror.
I can proudly admit that despite the temptation and inner torment I took my time with the new season. I set myself a limit of 2 episodes a day which gave me enough time for a solid reflection. The new Black Mirror didn’t disappoint me in the slightest.
I composed my own subjective ranking of the season 4 episodes. There are tons of spoilers so if you haven’t seen the show yet.. What are you doing here? Go and watch it right now! As I mentioned my ranking is absolutely subjective and I would love to get to know your opinions. Join the discussion in the comments and let us know what you think.
The show follows its original structure with each episode having a different setting, cast and microcosm, and embraces its original Twilight Zone vibes. This time, however, Charlie Brooker focuses less on politics and ideologies and more on the characters and their agenda. This season is more than ever a study of human nature in relation to the changes that technology brings. The issue of ideology and its crisis is still omnipresent throughout the show however it is human beings and the choices that they make that is in the centre of the narrative. Black Mirror was always keen on investigating the increasingly close relationship of humans with machines. This time, however, the idea of that symbiosis is taken to an entirely new level. The show investigates not only the dangers that humans will face but also raises questions about the well-being of digitised clones of human DNA. Another recurring theme is the control that technologies allow and its acceptable degree: control over each other, our children, the control that system has over us.
Despite the increased budget, Black Mirror has managed to keep its intimacy by successfully mixing a variety of genres with a subtly hidden layer of its signature sarcasm and parody.
The new season is well made with beautiful cinematography, acting performances that will send shivers down our spine and engaging stories that will make us reflect on the direction our world is going. What the new Black Mirror misses, however, is that mind blowing, jaw dropping episode that will leave us speechless for days. Yes, I’m talking about the success of the excellent San Junipero. The award winning episode left viewers with very high expectations and regardless of how great the new season is, it doesn’t provide anything on this level.
Interestingly the fourth season is women dominated and the main female characters are portrayed as powerful, intelligent, independent and resourceful. Stay with us because the femininity Black Mirror is the theme of our next article!
As an absolute Black Mirror freak I’ve been waiting for the new season with nervous excitement, wondering if I will be able to stop myself from binge watch the whole thing. I consider Brooker’s show as one of the last remaining bastions of the anti-binge series. The episodes are usually so mentally and psychologically demanding that watching several of them in a row could be seen as masochistic. The new season is no different and I think taking the time to reflect on each episode is crucial for understanding and full enjoyment of Black Mirror.
I can proudly admit that despite the temptation and inner torment I took my time with the new season. I set myself a limit of 2 episodes a day which gave me enough time for a solid reflection. The new Black Mirror didn’t disappoint me in the slightest.
I composed my own subjective ranking of the season 4 episodes. There are tons of spoilers so if you haven’t seen the show yet.. What are you doing here? Go and watch it right now! As I mentioned my ranking is absolutely subjective and I would love to get to know your opinions. Join the discussion in the comments and let us know what you think.
6. Metalhead
Metalhead is the shortest episode of this season and allegedly the most tense one. Directed by the man behind the look of Hannibal and American Gods, the episode is a stunning black and white brutal survival horror story, set in a gripping, post-apocalyptic world.
Typically for Black Mirror, we don’t get much information about the universe of the episode. We don’t know what caused the breakdown of humanity and when it started or who controls the deadly machines. The questions about where people who survived live and how they function also remain without answers. The episode contains minimal amount of dialogue but its lack only helps.
The plot is not complicated: a group of three people - Bella, Tony and Clark - are on a mission to find a very important parcel. Inside there is something that may save the life of a little boy. Obviously there is a complication and they encounter a robotic guard dog that kills Tony and Clarke forcing Bella to escape on her own. The whole narrative of Metalhead is therefore focused on the heroine trying to survive in the brutal, dehumanised environment. This simplicity is the strongest aspect of the episode. The black and white style in combination with the rough, bold landscape created a story full of tension that conveys the extreme emotions that Bella experiences.
Metalhead is arguably the most gory episode of Black Mirror ever created. It is bloody, brutal and violent but that is balanced well with the black and white stylistic. Bella’s horrifying suicide at the end, when she cuts her throat is juxtaposed with a shot of a teddy bear in the box they were originally looking for. Therefore implying that the death and sacrifice of the 3 people were caused by their desire to comfort a child. It leaves us with the conclusion that the human spirit is never broken, not even in a world dominated by murderous robots. Yes, it's cheesy and very literal but to a certain degree justifies the gore we experienced watching the episode.
Metalhead is, in my opinion, the most experimental piece of Black Mirror ouvre. It is also one that doesn’t make the political aspects of technology a central focus. There is no time for contemplating on the dangers of technology, it’s all about the desire to survive. It is a perfectly well-made piece but the lack of this hidden philosophical debate makes it a little bit more flat in comparison to other Black Mirror instalments. It’s a good episode but left me with a sense of being unfulfilled.
Typically for Black Mirror, we don’t get much information about the universe of the episode. We don’t know what caused the breakdown of humanity and when it started or who controls the deadly machines. The questions about where people who survived live and how they function also remain without answers. The episode contains minimal amount of dialogue but its lack only helps.
The plot is not complicated: a group of three people - Bella, Tony and Clark - are on a mission to find a very important parcel. Inside there is something that may save the life of a little boy. Obviously there is a complication and they encounter a robotic guard dog that kills Tony and Clarke forcing Bella to escape on her own. The whole narrative of Metalhead is therefore focused on the heroine trying to survive in the brutal, dehumanised environment. This simplicity is the strongest aspect of the episode. The black and white style in combination with the rough, bold landscape created a story full of tension that conveys the extreme emotions that Bella experiences.
Metalhead is arguably the most gory episode of Black Mirror ever created. It is bloody, brutal and violent but that is balanced well with the black and white stylistic. Bella’s horrifying suicide at the end, when she cuts her throat is juxtaposed with a shot of a teddy bear in the box they were originally looking for. Therefore implying that the death and sacrifice of the 3 people were caused by their desire to comfort a child. It leaves us with the conclusion that the human spirit is never broken, not even in a world dominated by murderous robots. Yes, it's cheesy and very literal but to a certain degree justifies the gore we experienced watching the episode.
Metalhead is, in my opinion, the most experimental piece of Black Mirror ouvre. It is also one that doesn’t make the political aspects of technology a central focus. There is no time for contemplating on the dangers of technology, it’s all about the desire to survive. It is a perfectly well-made piece but the lack of this hidden philosophical debate makes it a little bit more flat in comparison to other Black Mirror instalments. It’s a good episode but left me with a sense of being unfulfilled.
5. Black Museum
Black Museum is a very interesting concept, seemingly suitable for the finale episode; an anthology inside an anthology. It is not a new concept for Black Mirror, “White Christmas” was based on the same structure, but Black Museum is something more… It is Black Mirror distilled with all its greatness and downsides packed into three story with the addition of many, many twists. The episode perfectly illustrates the style of Charlie Brooker, but heavily exaggerates it.
The action of Black Museum takes place in the deserted, eponymous, Black Museum. It proudly exhibits the killing tools used by various criminals. Many of these elements come from previous episodes of Black Mirror, not only the ones produced by Netflix. Therefore fans will have lots of fun in finding relevant references.
The episode opens with Nish (Letitia Wright) entering the museum with only the owner, Rollo Haynes (Douglas Hodge), present. Rollo takes his visitor for an extraordinary tour around the museum and tells her brief stories of some of the artefacts.
There’s a doctor who gets addicted to pain he feels though an empathy-exaggerating device. The soft toy monkey refers to the story of a woman who, after falling into a coma has her consciousness transported to her husband’s brain. The last and most spectacular element of the exhibition is a very human hologram of a death row inmate. He gave permission to lock his consciousness as digital code and the sinister Rolo enslaves him in the museum and makes him his most entertaining attraction. Visitors can electrocute him over and over again, causing him endless suffering.
As Rolo finishes his story, Nish reveals her real identity as the inmate’s daughter. She frees the consciousness of her father and replaces it with Rolo’s and escapes with the consciousness of her mother transported into her head. A bit complicated? Yes and that’s the problem. I perfectly understand and appreciate the convention of Black Museum but the narrative is packed with too many twists that quickly lose their power. The motifs of the character of the mini stories told by Rolo are not convincing enough and it’s difficult to identify with their decisions.
Black Museum is a well made homage to Black Mirror which sadly lacks its signature depth, the dark visions of the future in Black Museum are more grotesque than terrifying.
The action of Black Museum takes place in the deserted, eponymous, Black Museum. It proudly exhibits the killing tools used by various criminals. Many of these elements come from previous episodes of Black Mirror, not only the ones produced by Netflix. Therefore fans will have lots of fun in finding relevant references.
The episode opens with Nish (Letitia Wright) entering the museum with only the owner, Rollo Haynes (Douglas Hodge), present. Rollo takes his visitor for an extraordinary tour around the museum and tells her brief stories of some of the artefacts.
There’s a doctor who gets addicted to pain he feels though an empathy-exaggerating device. The soft toy monkey refers to the story of a woman who, after falling into a coma has her consciousness transported to her husband’s brain. The last and most spectacular element of the exhibition is a very human hologram of a death row inmate. He gave permission to lock his consciousness as digital code and the sinister Rolo enslaves him in the museum and makes him his most entertaining attraction. Visitors can electrocute him over and over again, causing him endless suffering.
As Rolo finishes his story, Nish reveals her real identity as the inmate’s daughter. She frees the consciousness of her father and replaces it with Rolo’s and escapes with the consciousness of her mother transported into her head. A bit complicated? Yes and that’s the problem. I perfectly understand and appreciate the convention of Black Museum but the narrative is packed with too many twists that quickly lose their power. The motifs of the character of the mini stories told by Rolo are not convincing enough and it’s difficult to identify with their decisions.
Black Museum is a well made homage to Black Mirror which sadly lacks its signature depth, the dark visions of the future in Black Museum are more grotesque than terrifying.
4. Crocodile
Crocodile is the episode with the highest budget, set in the magnificent Iceland and is Black Mirror’s own Scandi-noir psychological thriller with the fantastic Andrea Risebourough as Mia: a woman on a killing spree. It also explores the nature of our memory and to what degree we are owners of our memories in a world where reading minds is possible.
The gender of the main character impacts the piece heavily and it’s interesting that the role was initially written for a man. Riseborough, however, after reading the script was so keen on getting involved in the production that the role was rewritten especially for her. It was a great decision as watching woman and mother committing ruthless and violent crimes is refreshing and new.
There are two parallel stories in “Crocodile”. In the episode’s prologue Mia and her boyfriend kill someone in a car accident as they come back from the party. They decide to hide the body and forget about the situation. Can anyone spot heavy references to I Know What You Did Last Summer?
Surprise, surprise they meet up again, years later, when Mia is a successful architect, a wife and a mother. Her ex-boyfriend informs her that he can’t deal with hiding his guilt anymore and is going to confess their crime. Mia, terrified that this will destroy her life, kills him in order to guard the memories about the accident.
The next part of the episodes is centred around insurance agent Shazia (Kiran Sonia Sawar) who tries to solve - case in which an automated pizza truck cause an accident. The device to help the investigation is a machine that reads people’s memories and visualises them on screen. I think the angle that Brooker uses to approach the issue of memory is very interesting. Is our memory, our thoughts something that can be used by others, against our will? Is it something that can be capitalised? Another aspect is the type of job that Shazia does. It makes us reflect on new specialisations and fields that technology will force to develop and enhance. Also, considering the responsibility people like Shazia will have, how to train them and test them? There are also issues with the protection and safety of such agents.
But coming back to Crocodile, Shazia visits Mia in her house in order to ask her few questions about pizza truck accident. Panicked Mia escapes to the bathroom where she tries to “delete” undesired thoughts about the murder she committed but it’s obviously impossible and she ends up killing Shazia to protect herself. What makes everything even worse, Mia finds out that her husband knew about her visit. At this point she loses all grip on herself and, driven by extreme fear, kills him and their little child. Interestingly, her crime proves to be pointless as a little hamster saw everything and his memory is used to solve the case. Therefore, we encounter another aspect that is worth contemplating: the differences in understanding and seeing the world between humans and animals. There is also an ethical aspect of using animals that way.
The scene in which Mia attends her son’s nursery show after killing three people is especially powerful and sheds some light on the possible meaning of the title of the show. It feels like the jaws of a crocodile slowly close up on her while we watch police waiting outside of the nursery. It also leaves us reflecting on the brutal way Mia murdered a baby in order protect her own child.
Crocodile is an excellent episode which conveys the motifs from The Entire History Of You but wrapped in Scandinavian style. The only doubts I have are about the violence and if it was all entirely justified. Blood and gore are my favourite ingredients in film but only if they are beneficial for the narrative. Killing Shazia’s husband and leaving him in the bath full of blood and murdering blind baby seem to be more attention seeking techniques.
The gender of the main character impacts the piece heavily and it’s interesting that the role was initially written for a man. Riseborough, however, after reading the script was so keen on getting involved in the production that the role was rewritten especially for her. It was a great decision as watching woman and mother committing ruthless and violent crimes is refreshing and new.
There are two parallel stories in “Crocodile”. In the episode’s prologue Mia and her boyfriend kill someone in a car accident as they come back from the party. They decide to hide the body and forget about the situation. Can anyone spot heavy references to I Know What You Did Last Summer?
Surprise, surprise they meet up again, years later, when Mia is a successful architect, a wife and a mother. Her ex-boyfriend informs her that he can’t deal with hiding his guilt anymore and is going to confess their crime. Mia, terrified that this will destroy her life, kills him in order to guard the memories about the accident.
The next part of the episodes is centred around insurance agent Shazia (Kiran Sonia Sawar) who tries to solve - case in which an automated pizza truck cause an accident. The device to help the investigation is a machine that reads people’s memories and visualises them on screen. I think the angle that Brooker uses to approach the issue of memory is very interesting. Is our memory, our thoughts something that can be used by others, against our will? Is it something that can be capitalised? Another aspect is the type of job that Shazia does. It makes us reflect on new specialisations and fields that technology will force to develop and enhance. Also, considering the responsibility people like Shazia will have, how to train them and test them? There are also issues with the protection and safety of such agents.
But coming back to Crocodile, Shazia visits Mia in her house in order to ask her few questions about pizza truck accident. Panicked Mia escapes to the bathroom where she tries to “delete” undesired thoughts about the murder she committed but it’s obviously impossible and she ends up killing Shazia to protect herself. What makes everything even worse, Mia finds out that her husband knew about her visit. At this point she loses all grip on herself and, driven by extreme fear, kills him and their little child. Interestingly, her crime proves to be pointless as a little hamster saw everything and his memory is used to solve the case. Therefore, we encounter another aspect that is worth contemplating: the differences in understanding and seeing the world between humans and animals. There is also an ethical aspect of using animals that way.
The scene in which Mia attends her son’s nursery show after killing three people is especially powerful and sheds some light on the possible meaning of the title of the show. It feels like the jaws of a crocodile slowly close up on her while we watch police waiting outside of the nursery. It also leaves us reflecting on the brutal way Mia murdered a baby in order protect her own child.
Crocodile is an excellent episode which conveys the motifs from The Entire History Of You but wrapped in Scandinavian style. The only doubts I have are about the violence and if it was all entirely justified. Blood and gore are my favourite ingredients in film but only if they are beneficial for the narrative. Killing Shazia’s husband and leaving him in the bath full of blood and murdering blind baby seem to be more attention seeking techniques.
3. Uss. Callister
Praised and adored by many viewers USS Callister is a space epic, again something that Black Mirror has never done before. It is the story of a shy game developer, Robert Daly, who traps clones of his co-workers in a digital simulation of a Star Trek Esque show he adores. Therefore it draws on the phenomena of fandom, our digital self presentation and the ethics of dealing with human DNA and conclusively what makes us human. Add some juicy narrative twists and we have a perfect Black Mirror episode.
Daly who in real life is a quiet, disrespected man with social issues, is an almighty god and owner of the space in his modded version of his own game. He imprisoned the digital clones of his coworkers by grabbing their DNA without their knowledge and forces them to fulfil all his desires. His last victim is the clone of a new female worker who disrespected him. Here we go again, another episode with female kick-ass heroine who will save the souls (?) of other clones.
The episode is excellent and there is not much to criticise. Jimmi Simpson as James Walton was phenomenal and the scene where he repeatedly hits his head in a gesture of hopeless rebellion is one of the funniest in the series. Also, Nanette’s line: “Stealing my pussy is a red fucking line” is my current favourite. However, I don’t really buy the opening “vintage” ¾ aspect ration and retro Star Trek music
Daly who in real life is a quiet, disrespected man with social issues, is an almighty god and owner of the space in his modded version of his own game. He imprisoned the digital clones of his coworkers by grabbing their DNA without their knowledge and forces them to fulfil all his desires. His last victim is the clone of a new female worker who disrespected him. Here we go again, another episode with female kick-ass heroine who will save the souls (?) of other clones.
The episode is excellent and there is not much to criticise. Jimmi Simpson as James Walton was phenomenal and the scene where he repeatedly hits his head in a gesture of hopeless rebellion is one of the funniest in the series. Also, Nanette’s line: “Stealing my pussy is a red fucking line” is my current favourite. However, I don’t really buy the opening “vintage” ¾ aspect ration and retro Star Trek music
2. Hang The DJ
If there is an episode in the fourth season that is the closest to the vibe of San Junipero it’s Hang The Dj. Surprisingly heartwarming, funny and cute but still drawing on the dangers and changes that technology brings, Hang the DJ is a real Black Mirror romantic comedy.
Brooker adjusts the traditional narrative structure of the romantic comedy to match the microcosm of the episode. Amy and Frank meet and fall in love with each other at the first sight. In order to be together they have to face many obstacles. Our love birds, however don’t have to contend with families, distance or difference in political opinions but with the power of the algorithm that dictates their dating life.
In this episode Brooker takes closer look at the world of dating applications that has recently spread all over the world.
The world of this episode is set inside an innovative dating app, a super advanced Tinder or quoting Charlie Brooker “Spotify for relationships”. Therefore, again, we are confronted with the issue of the ethics and rights of “digital beings”? If users feel and experience the digital world as they do the real world, what happens in their “real” bodies while they live a digital code?
Amy (Georgina Campbell) and Frank (Joe Cole) meet on their first digital date where they are accompanied by the Coach (voiced by Gina Bramhill) who is going to find their perfect life partner. According to the analysis of client’s personality, habits etc. the system sets up client’s dates. Each relationship has a strict expiry date. The system has all the power and hints of disobedience are met with glares from menacing security. Is disobedience impossible?
Amy and Frank are a perfect rom-com couple, with their adorable clumsiness and awkwardness that usually accompanies first dates. Despite the fact that their first date only last 12 hours and they don’t even manage to have sex, they both feel that they want to see each other again. The system, in contrast, has other plans for them. Frank is being matched with a women who is definitely not his other half and is ordered to stay with her for 12 months. The scenes from their relationship, especially sex scenes and a scene where Frank eats garlic dip just to annoy his partner make Black Mirror funnier than it has ever been. Amy ends up with her hot looking and fantastic in bed partner Lenny (George Blagden), for 9 months. They separate not on bad terms, there were no arguments in their relationship. They didn’t feel fulfilled with each other with the pressure of the boring, daily routine. Amy, especially, wasn’t able to accept his little annoying habits, like a significant noise he makes after drinking.
Finally, our perfect couple gets another chance from System and they meet at their second date. They are so happy to be with each other again, especially after disappointing relationships they’ve just experienced, that they decide not to spoil their date with checking the expiry date. They live together for a while, happy with no care in the world until Frank gets obsessed with the amount of time they’ve got left. He breaks the promise and check the expiry date. Interestingly, he doesn’t talk about his doubts with Amy but with Coach who gives Frank the permission. At the same time horrified Frank discovers that the initial time he had assigned with Amy (5 years) dramatically decreases. By breaking the promise, he not only stole their time together but also left Amy feeling cheated on. They separate heartbroken. The scenes that follow are an interesting study of human nature and going through the stages of grief in a world where the only conversation companion is the mechanistic, mysterious Coach. The therapy for the broken hearted is a mantra Tom repeats constantly: Everything happens for a reason.
One of the principles of the System is to gather as much data about the client as possible. Therefore, the way he experiences grief and how it transforms is important information on the journey to finding your soul mate and it is important also outside of Black Mirror. All of us have to get their heart broken before settling with our ultimate Number One. It allows the transition that we need to go through to fully grow and be ready for the real, ultimate relationship. Therefore, Hang The Dj brings the question: can crying and talking to a machine, while going through some difficulties in life, be as beneficial for our growth as talking to another human being?
Ultimately, Amy gets a phone call from her Coach who breaks the news about her final date being found. As her Prince Charming is someone who she has never met before, she gets a chance to say goodbye to someone she dated. Obviously, she chooses Frank. They both decide to rebel against the System and leave the restaurant and conclusively the world of the application. The System was highly successful: of the 1000 couples that took part in the test, 998 rebelled. Great! Well done to the System. To be honest after watching hang the DJ for the first time I was really impressed with the level of efficiency of the System. I caught myself thinking that being able to use of these apps would be actually quite interesting and successful. Amy and frank also talk with other about these issues: love life and relationships before the System or Amy’s confessions about feeling broken down by the System. I felt like their little philosophical debates were there to illustrate the viewers thoughts and comments they supposedly make during the show.
At the end, we find out that everything the couple experienced was just a simulation generated by the app. Hence I am going to leave you with the question: what happen with all the cookies, those stored simulations and clones, at the end of the game?
Brooker adjusts the traditional narrative structure of the romantic comedy to match the microcosm of the episode. Amy and Frank meet and fall in love with each other at the first sight. In order to be together they have to face many obstacles. Our love birds, however don’t have to contend with families, distance or difference in political opinions but with the power of the algorithm that dictates their dating life.
In this episode Brooker takes closer look at the world of dating applications that has recently spread all over the world.
The world of this episode is set inside an innovative dating app, a super advanced Tinder or quoting Charlie Brooker “Spotify for relationships”. Therefore, again, we are confronted with the issue of the ethics and rights of “digital beings”? If users feel and experience the digital world as they do the real world, what happens in their “real” bodies while they live a digital code?
Amy (Georgina Campbell) and Frank (Joe Cole) meet on their first digital date where they are accompanied by the Coach (voiced by Gina Bramhill) who is going to find their perfect life partner. According to the analysis of client’s personality, habits etc. the system sets up client’s dates. Each relationship has a strict expiry date. The system has all the power and hints of disobedience are met with glares from menacing security. Is disobedience impossible?
Amy and Frank are a perfect rom-com couple, with their adorable clumsiness and awkwardness that usually accompanies first dates. Despite the fact that their first date only last 12 hours and they don’t even manage to have sex, they both feel that they want to see each other again. The system, in contrast, has other plans for them. Frank is being matched with a women who is definitely not his other half and is ordered to stay with her for 12 months. The scenes from their relationship, especially sex scenes and a scene where Frank eats garlic dip just to annoy his partner make Black Mirror funnier than it has ever been. Amy ends up with her hot looking and fantastic in bed partner Lenny (George Blagden), for 9 months. They separate not on bad terms, there were no arguments in their relationship. They didn’t feel fulfilled with each other with the pressure of the boring, daily routine. Amy, especially, wasn’t able to accept his little annoying habits, like a significant noise he makes after drinking.
Finally, our perfect couple gets another chance from System and they meet at their second date. They are so happy to be with each other again, especially after disappointing relationships they’ve just experienced, that they decide not to spoil their date with checking the expiry date. They live together for a while, happy with no care in the world until Frank gets obsessed with the amount of time they’ve got left. He breaks the promise and check the expiry date. Interestingly, he doesn’t talk about his doubts with Amy but with Coach who gives Frank the permission. At the same time horrified Frank discovers that the initial time he had assigned with Amy (5 years) dramatically decreases. By breaking the promise, he not only stole their time together but also left Amy feeling cheated on. They separate heartbroken. The scenes that follow are an interesting study of human nature and going through the stages of grief in a world where the only conversation companion is the mechanistic, mysterious Coach. The therapy for the broken hearted is a mantra Tom repeats constantly: Everything happens for a reason.
One of the principles of the System is to gather as much data about the client as possible. Therefore, the way he experiences grief and how it transforms is important information on the journey to finding your soul mate and it is important also outside of Black Mirror. All of us have to get their heart broken before settling with our ultimate Number One. It allows the transition that we need to go through to fully grow and be ready for the real, ultimate relationship. Therefore, Hang The Dj brings the question: can crying and talking to a machine, while going through some difficulties in life, be as beneficial for our growth as talking to another human being?
Ultimately, Amy gets a phone call from her Coach who breaks the news about her final date being found. As her Prince Charming is someone who she has never met before, she gets a chance to say goodbye to someone she dated. Obviously, she chooses Frank. They both decide to rebel against the System and leave the restaurant and conclusively the world of the application. The System was highly successful: of the 1000 couples that took part in the test, 998 rebelled. Great! Well done to the System. To be honest after watching hang the DJ for the first time I was really impressed with the level of efficiency of the System. I caught myself thinking that being able to use of these apps would be actually quite interesting and successful. Amy and frank also talk with other about these issues: love life and relationships before the System or Amy’s confessions about feeling broken down by the System. I felt like their little philosophical debates were there to illustrate the viewers thoughts and comments they supposedly make during the show.
At the end, we find out that everything the couple experienced was just a simulation generated by the app. Hence I am going to leave you with the question: what happen with all the cookies, those stored simulations and clones, at the end of the game?
1. Arkangel
This is probably the most surprising choice for number one on my list. Directed by Jodie Foster, the intimate drama Archangel is far from being ideal but it’s definitely the most disturbing and thought provoking one. Following one of my favourite director Lars Von trier: The Film should be like a rock in the shoe. It should confuse and make us rethink our reality. I think that’s the reason why I am so obsessively fond of Arkangel, because it seems to be Black Mirror’s indie-movie with all its aesthetics and philosophy. I’m also sure that Hitchcock would be very interested in exploring further this level of voyeurism.
It is also the first episode directed by a woman. Arkangel is a truly female dominated piece that uncovers different types and roles of womanhood. It deliberately cuts the father out of the picture to make the relationship between mother and daughter more intense but also in order to highlight the traumas and fears of single parenthood.
The story about overprotective mother Marie (played by Rosemarie DeWitt) who decides to implant a chip inside her daughter Sara’s head. This new technology allows Marie to monitor Sara’s behaviour by watching the world through her eyes. Moreover, it gives Marie the power to blur Sara’s vision when she sees something that could cause her distress. Marie has all this power and control trapped in a tablet, a piece of technology that gives her Sara’s literal perception of the world. Scary and dangerous stuff. But let's think… if we had a chance, would we use it? How would we use it?
Many people criticised the way Marie accepted the obvious downsides of the chip and agreed on implanting it in her daughter’s body. But we need to remember that parenthood is difficult and even more so when there is an ill older grandparent in the house who requires help. The number of tasks and responsibilities in a world that demands from us nothing less than perfection is often overwhelming. Does Akangel expose the scary world of online mums who on social media and forums criticise and judge each other? Marie wanted the best for her child, she wanted Sara to be safe and was assured in the clinic that their technology was tested and brings only benefits.
After years of using the chip Sara becomes isolated, withdrawn and lacks any social skills. That’s the weakest part of the Arkangel. The phenomenal potential of the idea has sadly not been used properly. The effects of being free from stress for years would be terrifying and probably would not leave someone able to function in real world, not to mention the recovery and therapy that would have to follow.
However, Sara seems to have it much easier. Her mother finally agrees to stop using Arkangel after she fails to react to her grandfather having a heart attack. As the chip can’t be removed, Marie turns it off and puts the tablet away. Consequently, Sara is forced to face reality on her own and not surprisingly at school is exposed on brutal and pornographic videos but seems to be doing fine.
Years later, the girl seems to be completely recovered and happily embraces her teenage years by going to parties and first dates. Her relationship with Marie also appears to be perfect until one night Sara fails to return home. Terrified Marie grabs the tablet and turns it off for the first in a while. What she sees is the most shocking and disturbing scene of this season. Marie watches her daughter having sex and taking drugs. From then the sense of control that tablet would give Marie makes her lose any control over her own and her daughters life. She orders Trick to break up with Sara and secretly feeds her "the morning after" pill to prevent her pregnancy.
Obviously Sara finds out about her mother's actions and the fact that she's been using Arkangel. She ends up almost killing her by repeatedly hitting her with the tablet. Ironically, the anti-stress filters are on so the girl doesn't realise the seriousness of the injuries she caused. Finally she escapes and finds herself wandering around the streets. Where is she going to go? How will she be able to survive on her own if the years of using Arkangel disabled her senses and thinking? And what about her mother and the guilt she will have to deal with?
Arkangel is the most personal episode for me as I grew up only with my mum who was constantly worried about me. There was also omnipresent guilt caused by the fact that she had to work instead spending time with me. All that led her to being overprotective and trying to inherent heavily in my life which was extremely elly difficult for both of us, especially when I was a teenager. I know for sure that if she had the option of using Arkangel she would. I also know that millions of others parents would decide to do it. Therefore I consider the episode directed by Jodie Foster as moving, thrilling and intelligent study of the relationship between parent and child.
It is also the first episode directed by a woman. Arkangel is a truly female dominated piece that uncovers different types and roles of womanhood. It deliberately cuts the father out of the picture to make the relationship between mother and daughter more intense but also in order to highlight the traumas and fears of single parenthood.
The story about overprotective mother Marie (played by Rosemarie DeWitt) who decides to implant a chip inside her daughter Sara’s head. This new technology allows Marie to monitor Sara’s behaviour by watching the world through her eyes. Moreover, it gives Marie the power to blur Sara’s vision when she sees something that could cause her distress. Marie has all this power and control trapped in a tablet, a piece of technology that gives her Sara’s literal perception of the world. Scary and dangerous stuff. But let's think… if we had a chance, would we use it? How would we use it?
Many people criticised the way Marie accepted the obvious downsides of the chip and agreed on implanting it in her daughter’s body. But we need to remember that parenthood is difficult and even more so when there is an ill older grandparent in the house who requires help. The number of tasks and responsibilities in a world that demands from us nothing less than perfection is often overwhelming. Does Akangel expose the scary world of online mums who on social media and forums criticise and judge each other? Marie wanted the best for her child, she wanted Sara to be safe and was assured in the clinic that their technology was tested and brings only benefits.
After years of using the chip Sara becomes isolated, withdrawn and lacks any social skills. That’s the weakest part of the Arkangel. The phenomenal potential of the idea has sadly not been used properly. The effects of being free from stress for years would be terrifying and probably would not leave someone able to function in real world, not to mention the recovery and therapy that would have to follow.
However, Sara seems to have it much easier. Her mother finally agrees to stop using Arkangel after she fails to react to her grandfather having a heart attack. As the chip can’t be removed, Marie turns it off and puts the tablet away. Consequently, Sara is forced to face reality on her own and not surprisingly at school is exposed on brutal and pornographic videos but seems to be doing fine.
Years later, the girl seems to be completely recovered and happily embraces her teenage years by going to parties and first dates. Her relationship with Marie also appears to be perfect until one night Sara fails to return home. Terrified Marie grabs the tablet and turns it off for the first in a while. What she sees is the most shocking and disturbing scene of this season. Marie watches her daughter having sex and taking drugs. From then the sense of control that tablet would give Marie makes her lose any control over her own and her daughters life. She orders Trick to break up with Sara and secretly feeds her "the morning after" pill to prevent her pregnancy.
Obviously Sara finds out about her mother's actions and the fact that she's been using Arkangel. She ends up almost killing her by repeatedly hitting her with the tablet. Ironically, the anti-stress filters are on so the girl doesn't realise the seriousness of the injuries she caused. Finally she escapes and finds herself wandering around the streets. Where is she going to go? How will she be able to survive on her own if the years of using Arkangel disabled her senses and thinking? And what about her mother and the guilt she will have to deal with?
Arkangel is the most personal episode for me as I grew up only with my mum who was constantly worried about me. There was also omnipresent guilt caused by the fact that she had to work instead spending time with me. All that led her to being overprotective and trying to inherent heavily in my life which was extremely elly difficult for both of us, especially when I was a teenager. I know for sure that if she had the option of using Arkangel she would. I also know that millions of others parents would decide to do it. Therefore I consider the episode directed by Jodie Foster as moving, thrilling and intelligent study of the relationship between parent and child.
Summary
This is the end of my subjective ranking, thank you for staying with me! Charlie Brooker said that Black Mirror is like a box of very dark chocolates. What do you think about this season's quality and which episode is your favourite? Stay tuned for more Black Mirror related articles!
by Paulina
by Paulina
