Black Mirror

I will apologies for this post in advance. I actually wrote it quite some time ago and it has been sitting in my drafts folder for many months. At the time of writing, I had just witnessed Black Mirror for the first time, so I was a little overexcited by what I had just seen. Usually, when I write about something that I have just seen and loved, I tend to over hype it to the point where expectations are almost certainly let down. So just be warned, as good as this show is, I probably make it out to be some kind of deity. 

You have been warned...

For those of you who don't know (and why would you?) I absolutely love Charlie Brooker. I don't find the male gender of our species sexually attractive (or any other species that isn't human for that matter, so don't go spreading libelous rumors about me now), but I would happily marry this ingenious man. I don't even know what makes me more envious; the fact that he's married to the ridiculously delicious Konnie Hue, or that she's married to him.

I fell upon Brooker's work rather by accident. A couple of years back, I use to spend much of my time on David Firth's fat-pie website. One day, I came across a short cartoon that Firth did for some miserable looking TV personality (sorry Charlie, but it's true) who had his own show on BBC Four. With little else to do, I decided to give his program - Screen Wipe - a quick spin. The rest was history.

For many years since that day, I've become an ardent reader of Mr Brooker's hysterical Guardian columns. Each week, I make sure to read his latest entries; soaking up his cynical, misanthropic words like a drugged up sponge with a sever case of the munchies.

Quite frankly, Brooker's columns are my equivalent to what the Bible is to Christians. He has reshaped my entire view of reality, which is quite ridiculous, considering that he probably makes up most of his negative opinions purely for humorous purposes.

Brooker's work in screenwriting has been a member of my awareness for some time now. I had watched Nathan Barely (a sitcom from his earlier days) and thought that it was great. Yet regardless of my admiration for this show, I never really gave his screenwriting work any further thought.

I've always been a bit odd when it comes to watching new television programs. Due to my lack of familiarity toward a new story and characters, I usually put off watching them and instead stick to what I know (not very assuring, coming from someone who claims that Film and Television is their most passionate subject).

This habit also applies to Brooker's screenwriting works. I have never watched Dead Set before; and up until several months back, I had never watched Black Mirror.

How the hell did I go so long without watching this? It's perfect. A hybrid of a 21st Century Twilight Zone and a Nineteen-Eighty-Four for the twitter generation (a comment which isn't suppose to be as demeaning as it may sound).

What makes the show so insanely watchable is not just the sharp, satirical plots which dominate the show, but is also endlessly engaging due to how sincerely the characters within these stories react to the absurd situations which they find themselves in.

The layout of Black Mirror is also perfect in its design. Each week, the show is set in a different reality from the previous episode - always a semi-alternative present day - with completely different characters (hence the Twilight Zone similarities). Even though the theme, situation and protagonist differ entirely from one another, every episode contains a uniformed feel which weaves noticeably throughout; connecting each story together and haunting its viewers from start to end.

So far, there are only a total of six episodes in existence. Hopefully there will be more (please Brooker, make this so). Seeing as the episode count is currently so low, I have decided to compose a brief piece on each one individually.

SERIES ONE

EPISODE ONE: THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

The episode opens as the Prime Minister of Great Britain is awoken to discover that the Nation's Princess has been kidnapped. A hostage video - uploaded to You Tube of all places - reveals to the world that unless the leader of the United Kingdom goes onto live television and has full on sexual intercourse with a pig, her kidnapper shall execute her.

An absurd premise, however the sincerity played out by the episode's characters and the build up to the 'climax' will engage you in a story which you never imagine you could endure (unless you like banging the cast of Animal Farm that is).

This is a truly bonkers and excellent opening episode that explores some very interesting themes surrounding the power of public opinion and the world-wide-web.


EPISODE TWO: 15 MILLION MERITS

By far my favorite episode of Black Mirror thus far. This one haunted me for days after first viewing it. It manages to be both heart warming and heart shattering all at the same time.

I seriously don't want to give too much away about this episode. It really is a story which needs to be appreciated with fresh, unexpectant eyes. All I will say is that it's set in an Orwellian-type reality where everyone's lives are dictated and defined by Apple-like touchscreen devices which exist in literally every corner of society. It's a wonderfully tragic tale of love and humanity.


EPISODE THREE: THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF YOU

An episode which focuses around both a technology which is frighteningly plausible and a relationship which is quickly crumbling to pieces.

The Gimmick of this episode is that society are now able to record every waking moment of their lives with a grain device which is implanted within the back of every human mind. The humans of this society are able to store their recorded memories into a You Tube/Facebook type timeline and willingly play them back in either their own mind's eye or on an external device (usually a television screen).

Contains heavy themes of voyerism and how modern social media technology can allow others to peek into our lives to uncover our darkest secrets. So not so far off our own reality really.

SERIES TWO

EPISODE ONE: BE RIGHT BACK

Interesting enough episode, but maybe my least favorite of the show so far. Yet considering the high caliber of this show, this is by far an attack on its quality.

It's mainly about how far the technology of today may potentially go and how it can assist those who are grieving the tragic loss of a loved one.

I don't want to give too much away, because I feel that this episode is at its most interesting when you immerse yourself without being too aware of where it is actually going. So I advise you to check it out and see whether you can guess what direction the story is taking you in.


EPISODE TWO: WHITE BEAR

Now I'm definitely not giving anything away with this one. Seriously, if you are considering watching this, then go in with a totally clean slate. All I will say is that the episode begins by putting you in a "what the fuck is going on" situation, only to then twist and turn the plot in a thousand and one different ways. When the episode finally starts to explain what might be going on, another twist jumps out and spins the narrative in a completely new and alien direction. It will keep you guessing from start to finish.

EPISODE THREE: THE WALDO MOMENT

There seems to be quite a negative consensus toward this episode; particularly on websites such as The Internet Movie Database. A lot of people feel that the story is lazily written and overall pretty pointless.

I can't see where these opinions are coming from if I'm honest. I think the Waldo moment is the finest episode of series two.

The premise is a classic high-concept story. A good old "what if?" tale. In this case, the question is what if a hugely popular entertainment character became politically active? Just imagine if someone like Sacha Baron Cohan (especially as Ali G) not only enjoyed taking the piss out of notorious politicians, but also tried to bring them and their governments down with the power of their popularity?

That is essentially the plot of the Waldo Moment; a much loved cartoon character who becomes tangled far too deep within the world in which he's employed to ridicule.

The final scenes during the end credits are depressingly dark and dystopian in their execution. I absolutely loved it.


So if you haven't watched this before, then get your bloody act together and go watch it! You'll love it, I'm sure. If you don't then I pity you.