Each episode a self-contained story, Black mirror tells dystopian futuristic tales that have a tendency to hit rather close to home due to its constant link to our present world.
From the very first episode (that is equally observationally brilliant as bonkers disgusting) I was hooked on the, almost, philosophical approach this series applies as it questions (and often ridicules) our current mediated landscape.
And now the
third season is here (on Netflix instead of BBC4) and I can be short in my
judgment on this one: the latest season is perfectly in line with the seasons
previous; equally brilliant, unnerving, daring and mischievous.
I do miss
the 'end of part 1,2,3,4'-bit. Had a nice chapter-vibe to it.
But like the seasons previous the last season has one or two lesser episodes.
For
instance: a lot of people disliked The Waldo moment even though it is quite a
solid exposition on populist politics.
So the task I've set myself in this review is to take a look at what I liked and disliked about each episode of this season. But, remember, since Black Mirror's bar is set so high, me being critical is like disdaining Rembrandt.
Naturally
I'm trying to stay as spoiler-free as possible. Ending each short segment with
one, somewhat philosophical, question that, I think, you should take from this
episode. I won’t bother too much with shots, mise-en-scene and acting because
Black Mirror has always been story; first and foremost.
Nosedive
The very
first episode and a nice character-arch for Bryce Dallas Howard. True, you can
see the ending coming for miles and apart from the final scene (brilliant!).
It's this ending that comes before that scene that doesn't really work with the
rest op de teleplay; suddenly comedy instead of drama. Even though I’m certain
Howard was having the greatest of times on set.
But the
element of people constantly rating each other and the plastic world that comes
from that is fascinating to watch. Forget all about big brother, you've got
millions of people watching your every step. It's like invasion of the body
snatchers turning everybody into Stepford wives.
It’s this
class struggle Black Mirror often loves to play with. With it Nosedive delivers
both a view of the psyche (perfectly captured between the brother and sister
dynamic) and peer-pressure set in a highly stylized world that grows murkier as
Howard’s character starts her ‘nosedive’.
Honestly,
halfway through I wondered how many people would have snapped in this world. I
certainly would've. Staying kind to everybody every day even if they are not –
there are not enough 'happy pills' in the world to make that possible. This is
the world Hannibal Lector would love, I guess.
Question: Popularity as the new currency, is that a good thing?
Playtest
Now this
story has been done several times before. But Black Mirror makes the wise
choice of waiting a while before springing it on us. However, that choice
cannot hide the fact that, in the end, those other versions where often a bit
better. I think, mainly the added ending is what hurts the episode the most. You could call it one trick too many.
Nonetheless
is it a solid tale with actually some nice horror scares in there. Not
frightening enough perhaps for a horror buff/connoisseur like me. But
definitely well done.
Question: How real does immersion for entertainment have to be?
Shut up and
dance
Probably
one of the more brilliant episodes of the bunch. This is one of those episodes
in which every piece of the puzzle fits together perfectly. But alas, I can't
spoil anything.
In short
this is the kind of internet blackmail (good 'ol trollface) in the extreme. A
teenager (Kenny) his computer is hacked and through his webcam he's recorded
'having some alone time'. Then he gets a message: 'Do this or we release the
video'.
Now, we all know this can actually happen. We also all know that, even though it is terrible if it happens to you, it isn't the end of the world as long as we don't give in to the hacker's demands. But poor Kenny does and as such a David Fincher-like game starts. With Kenny jumping through hoop after hoop.
The main character is brilliant in his sweet portrayal as this boy filled with teenage angst. And contrasting that shy boy with the powerhouse Jerome Flynn as a white collar worker is a recipe for fireworks.
But what is
so mischievously good about this episode is the writing. I for one missed all
the hints and fell for every misdirection. But even better, the episode manages
to ask a philosophical question that stayed with me for the rest of the week:
Who's right and who's wrong? If you think you are on the side of right, does it
allow you to be horrendous to other people that are wrong?
I think, halfway through, I was hoping for a sweet Hollywood ending (again I can't spoil here). But then again, that's Black Mirror for you. Happy endings are rare.
Question: Does being on the side of good automatically make your actions good?
San
Junipero
Okay, scrap
that previous statement. Suddenly a Happy ending in Black Mirror -what's up
with that? Even the Christmas Special was depressing as heck- but honesty due;
it is a happy ending with a big cold bucket of realism poured on top. Forget
the sugarcoating.
Now I liked
the various timelines. But it did cause me to predict a lot in advance. I guess
it had to do with the feeling that ‘something was off’; so you start looking
for clues. But it is still great to watch how the story gets there.
As always the acting is great (especially great when you take a step back to think about it). And I enjoyed how the homosexuality was treated as normal instead of ‘special’ –which I think is one of the big problems when dealing with the subject. Far too often good natured people are trying to tell a tale about homosexuality but, in their effort, make it special; and therefore ‘outside of our current world’ –like a superhero-movie.
No here the
two main females are gay. And that’s just a part of the bigger story; which is
basically a love-story.
Btw I loved
Greg. What a sweetheart!
Question: Immortality or death – your choice!
Men against
fire
The song is
back, ahh that song. It wouldn't be Black Mirror without it.
Anyway,
Black Mirror tries the zombie genre. And, of course, it inverts the genre.
Without spoiling anything I can say that this story has been done before. But
the explanation given here for the ‘why’-question is far more interesting than
that in previous fictions.
As an
additional layer of realism this episode is set in Eastern Europe. There are
more than enough references to the Balkan war.
Apart from the incredible aggressive fighter girl played by Madeline Brewer (I like her a lot) this episode is steadily focused on Malachi Kirby and his attempt to be one of the best.
Naturally,
being Black Mirror and all, the 'best' isn't good enough. But something about
the writing kept me on toes trying to figure out who this main character was.
The final reveal that, before, he wasn't very much, therefore, didn't struck me
much of a surprise (that's not really a spoiler, I've been vague enough
already).
I loved
the critique of the US army and current racial discriminative climate that
echoed through this scene.
Even though this is probably one of the ‘easiest’ episodes of this half of the season, it is still filled to the brim with potential. Especially keep an eye out for the scenes between the psychiatrist and his patient. Michael Kelly is as cool as we all know him (through Person of Interest and House of cards) as he deals the truth to a common bloke like you-and-me as a card game slowly to be won.
Question:
Can you live with fiction or do you prefer reality?
Hated in
the nation.
The longest
one in the bunch. Pretty much a full scale movie. And a great one at that.Take The Happening, Untraceable, a bit of Robocop and top it all off with Silence of the lambs (any movie buff should have gotten that reference) and you've got Hated in the nation. But what this episode lacks in originality it most definitely makes up with realism, contemporarism and sheer cheek.
Great to
see Kelly MacDonald in normal clothes again.
The basic premise might require a bit of salt. But when the sci-fi kicks in and you get your first glimpses of the big picture you are in for a hell of a ride. ‘Hated‘ is a great buddy cop mystery film that -for the large part- takes the sci-fi for real and goes with it (I actually understood all the things Blue was saying throughout. Wow!).
One or two
nitpicks have to go for the more stupid decisions two of the men-folk make in
this episode. Truly, haven't they seen any movie with a criminal mastermind at
work? Always, always rethink your plan!
That
manifesto, btw, looked a lot like the manifesto by that creep in Norway (I
won't utter his name).
Even though
the main character never truly gets a moment to shine on a personal level
(she's a bit too cold-hearted for that-a bit too much baggage we never get to
see). This episode follows the villain's plan and the detectives trying to
solve it falling right into the trap. And that's, to me, the main trick this episode
pulls: the main character is actually the villain, somebody we know nothing
about. But, like those internet death-wishes, he is the one who has the hardest
impact on our world. A brilliant move: An anonymous protagonist!
Question: How far does free speech reach?
Conclusion:
So which
episode was the best? How would I rank this first half of the third season of
Black Mirror? Without a doubt episode three (Shut up and dance) is ranking
number one. This episode was so tremendously carefully constructed that I’m
actually in awe. Two and three should go to San Junipero (because I love happy
endings) and Hated in the nation (because my cynical self hates internet
haters). Which puts Nosedive fourth, Men against fire fifth and Playtest in
last place. Not because I disliked the story. But rather because I felt there
was more to gain from the premise.
Final
conclusion: I like my Black Mirror to be depressing. But I need a happy ending
to follow up on it!
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