Before I begin: Bandersnatch
A student creates a ‘choose your own adventure’ videogame called Bandersnatch. The episode itself is constructed as this game, meaning: the viewer has the power to decide how the story progresses by making choices.
I didn’t write a review about Bandersnatch because it is A) A very difficult episode to review. And B) apart from the gimmick there isn’t much to say about it really. There isn’t a lot of commentary within the narrative that I could explore.
Now, outside the narrative/the episode there is actually something interesting to mention: C) by the time I reached Bandersnatch the hype was already over (quite a short hype that was).
Hypes are, in fact, getting shorter. Not even a month ago people were raging about the Game of Thrones-
ending and by now people are already on the Chernobyl bandwagon.
Like the Truman show: “What else is on…where’s the remote?”
The day after this highly constructed show premiered the internet was already flooded with infographic guides on how to make each choice in the Bandersnatch narrative.
We all got the episode at the same time. So, apparently some people immediately got to work just so they could be the first to put something out there. Where is the enjoyment of the show? And, for the people using the (e.g.) infographic where is the ‘figuring out for oneself’- bit?
It’s like a game and somebody immediately starts with the walkthrough. That’s not the right way around for me. You start the game and then check the walkthrough after in case you missed anything.
Like I did when I played a lot of JRPG’s. Especially the official guide to Final Fantasy 9 was amazingly evil.
And, staying with this allegory of games that’s something that happens when you place a complete series online nowadays: instant fulfilment. You see it (benchwatch it) once. Some people online highlight what you should look out for and after one viewing you are done and ready for the new show.
Maybe a week by week episode countdown isn’t such a bad thing?
Two college friends, both happily (or miserably) hobbling towards a midlife-crisis decide to play a fully immersive fighting game one night. One plays the female character, the other a male...
Is Black Mirror going soft on me? Another season another, somewhat tame tale about love. Anyways, the first thing that popped into my mind when I got the gist of the idea this episode was selling wasn’t some sort of philosophical debate of love over lust (though I will address it below). Rather, I had to think about something Terry Pratchett once said:
“What we are, in fact, are electronic ape-men. We woke up just now in the electronic dawn and there, looming against the brightening sky, is this huge black rectangle. And we’re reaching out and touching it and saying, “Is it WAP enabled? Can we have sex with it? (…) Can we have sex with it? (…) Hey, can we have sex with it?” And like ape-men trying out sticks and stones and fire for the first time, there’s a lot of spearing ourselves in the foot, accidentally dropping rocks on the kids, acute problems in trying to have sex with fire, and so on. We have to learn to deal with it.” (2001: The vision and the reality - Sunday Times, 24 December 2000)Of course the minute you introduce a hyper immersive game mechanism into the world people are going to use the platform for everything BUT gaming. Not just the NC-17 stuff but also impossible things like leaping from tall, buildings, killing NPC’s, see how long you can stand on your head – my imagination doesn’t reach that far.
Like the telephone was originally meant to function like the radio; and movies were intended as nothing more than moving pictures (thus documentary over fiction) people will always find a new way to use a new technology before it settles down.
The same is currently taking place in the online world as well. If you, for example, think about the rise of youtubers.
This makes Striking Vipers both a comfortably recognizable and a somewhat dull episode. It showed me something I already knew.
People have been shagging in Second Life for years.
The rest of the episode, however, consists of cleverly written dialogue with allows the three main actors to shine. Nothing too shocking (that is, unless you are quite the puritan).
IntersexualityStill one could take the plunge and debate whether or not this episode also highlights a trend of ‘omni-sexuality’ in the (online) world both on a poly-sexual and meta-sexual field. Meaning several things at once:
1. Gender issues are disappearing in the online world as people happily become a different gender online and even ‘perform’ sexual acts in that gender. Take, for instance, the above mentioned side-note about Second Life. Nobody is stopping me to become a woman in that world and seduce somebody.
2. The definition of sex is changing. By some definitions ‘sex’ already incorporates communication devices like ‘phone sex’, or ‘webcam sex’.
And yes, in this sense a d*ck pick is the modern day equivalent to an exhibitionist in a long raincoat.
3. Homosexuality is starting to be accepted more and more in Western culture. More so, homosexual acts between straight people (the so-called ‘experimental phase’ as it was called in the old days) is being accepted more and more.
4. Meta sexuality is taking steps to the foreground in which it isn’t the bodily function that is important but rather the ‘merging of minds’.
5. The concept of ‘gender’ as a whole has been turned upside down lately. As some people start creating all new kinds of genders. Without delving too much in that particular discussion it is a clear sign that the old ‘man+woman’-idea is deteriorating in favour of variety.
Seeing this and many other gender-related debates going ‘round in the world Striking Vipers
‘Touching Snakes’? - Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.
positions itself nicely in these troubled waters by simply showing a ‘new’ possibility in a rather conservative world.
Now that men can become women without actually physically touching others:
Is it cheating? Are they even women because we are talking just a bunch of pixels here? If the mind is still male; what makes a woman? Body or mind? What is homosexuality? Is it meta or physical, or both?
And then there are even other questions like: Is the western world is becoming more intersexual? Is the current rise of ‘pink for girls only’ in the toyshops a last ditch effort to hold on to the past? Is the rise of populist conservatism a direct counter-culture result of this (possible) sexual revolution?
Back to reality
As always Black Mirror allows me to project a lot of questions. And my mind probably overthinks/loses the main point somewhere in my reasoning. At least what Striking Vipers clearly points out is that the questions you can ask about sexuality quickly become overwhelming.
That has always been the strength of Black Mirror: taking reality and just moving some ‘truths’ upside-down. As the kinks said it:
“Girls will be boys, and boys will be girls
It's a mixed-up, muddled-up, shook-up world.”
(Lola)
In the first episode Black Mirror asks a comfortably known question that still managed to get quite a (philosophical) response of me.
Then the episode tops it off with some wonderful acting by the three main leads who –rightfully so- play the material as a serious ménage-a-trios drama.
But, if that doesn’t suit you, Striking Vipers is also, strangely enough, one of the better game movies I’ve seen in recent year (sorry Tomb Raider; it is).
It is quite difficult to find the right balance in a video-game-movie. The game is often silly with the heroes being able to do the strangest stuff whilst, at the same time the ‘real movie people’ need to stay grounded. Helped by the story of Striking Vipers the designers got it just right in this episode. Everything is a ‘bit off’ in setting, clothing, hair and colours (reality has less bright colours obviously) and still recognizable enough for the audience (me) to accept it as a reality.
So if the discussion doesn’t interest you Striking Vipers actually shows some visuals that would (almost) put –the best game movie ever- Mortal Kombat (1995) to shame.
One fun observation to part with: nobody in this episode actually does any work.
Even the main protagonists just hangs around the desk all day. Just like a videogame!
You never see Mario do any actual plumbing.
Christopher wants to talk to Billy Bauer and his willing to go to extreme lengths to do so.
And another episode that is a bit more grounded. That’s seems to be the ongoing trend with Black Mirror since the first season. One episode all the way sci-fi, one more grounded and (ever since San Junipero) some love story inbetween.
It has to be said that also this second episode of the season didn’t truly slam it out of the ballpark in terms of ingenious plotting and planning. Smithereens is a pretty straight-forward story that takes some new events from the news and spins a small thriller from it.
In this case –without spoiling too much- the influence social media companies have on our daily lives.
First pillar.
In this sense Smithereens can be divided into two distinct parts. First there is the thriller element that comes from the hostage situation. Ever since I saw Samuel L. Jackson with all those little red dots on his shirt in The Negotiator (1998) I’ve been aware of the ‘sniper-danger plotline’. Basically a story invests time in the perpetrator for the audience to like him. As a result you don’t want the snipers to shoot him even if you know –in the back of your mind- that they try to save the hostage.
This type of plot works marvels in all kinds of stories (even in the finale of The dark knight) but only if the perpetrator can ‘possibly go’ at any moment. Normally this moment is reserved for the finale of a movie. But with technology/social media recording ‘basically’ each and every moment in our lives this moment can happen a lot sooner.
In the same vein that Cloverfield (2008) wasn’t reliant on the characters but rather on whoever picked up the camera.
This moment happens halfway through the episode when the episode introduces the Bauer character. Because after that moment (the character) Christopher is unneeded. As it were, now that the curtain is pulled back and we meet the wizard every question concerning Christopher’s actions could be found through his Smithereens account. This increases tension early on that the show skilfully exploits.
Second pillar.So there’s already an overall narrative/plot technique used to increase on the thriller element. But there is also a clever duality in the old school-new school Smithereens brings to the table. Basically the police forces (especially the Americans –a trope which just keeps giving) is last in line to get crucial information. And, to make it worse (in this fiction), when they do get it they automatically misinterpreted it based on elements from the ‘real world’ only (envy in this case) instead of looking for a more mixed answer.
To quote the third episode of Black Mirror: “They’re cops, not google!”
But Smithereens doesn’t stop there to give the ‘jolly ol’ bobbies’ a run for their money. As one late-in-the-game twist-and-turn-scene shows us -which was, somewhat reminiscent to the very first episode-: the police-force are utterly inept in handling new media.
Having said that the new-media companies aren’t perfect either. For starters I wouldn’t want those private companies to have access to firearms. I’ve played my share of Resident Evil thank you very much.
Especially if their computer keeps mishearing things. “I’ll blow his ducking head off?” Poor Donald Duck I guess?
But most of all it is actually rather intriguing how easily those tech-companies ignore privacy regulations. Listing in on a call? No problem! –an element nicely juxtaposed with the police force entering a house on suspicion (a right). Want to have somebody’s password? Sure I’ll call a buddy!
And then there is the element of detox. A bit convenient perhaps to get the Bauer character away for half the duration of the episode but believable. Videogame- and phone-addiction is a real thing nowadays and it will be a major player in the future.
Building a strong temple
Smithereens is a solid episode that has enough things in it to think about in the script. The acting and the visuals increase on this. Visually, Smithereens is a ‘classic’ Black Mirror episode. Some ‘wonky’ shots here and there –like a brilliant ‘almost upside down/Dutch angle’- that highlighted the protagonist’s mindset just right. And, of course, the always reliable ‘half-face’ shots.
For the acting then it’s Andrew Scott who gets to play this tormented young man in layered moments. It’s amazing how easily likable he is (I think that was the intention) as the actor is better known for his villain roles. His portrayal of Christopher feels like a man floating in an ocean and only barely holding on to his life raft –and the fathigue is overtaking him.
Opposite him then are a whole array of character like Damson Idris as the hostage who basically doesn’t get to play a whole lot more than be scared and a victim. And of course Topher Grace as a Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg kind of tech-mogul.
I remember quite clearly that, back in the day, Bill Gates was considered weird because he was so nerdy and Microsoft was obviously evil.
Nowadays we have vegetarian, homeopathic, socio-inept, half-humans running the show and Bill Gates is actually considered one of the normal ones.
Smithereens goes through a whole array of characters as Christopher tries to get hold of Bauer -before it finally reaches the top of the pile. Sometimes a bit of a shame (I liked the female police-officer) but understandable. Once a character's moment of the story is done you move on. And, moreover, this A to B … approach highlights the connectivity this episode play with as a theme.
So, as a story Smithereens is solid. As a visual and acted piece the episode is solid. Even the darn music is (unlikable but) solid. Then what did I open this paragraph with the worlds: “Didn’t slam it out of the ballpark” –to quote myself-?
Because Smithereens feels like a collection of episodes previous. A bit of Hated in the nation, a bit of Be right back, a bit of Shut up and dance and a bit of The national anthem.
Is this a bad thing that Black Mirror is repeating itself a bit? No, it’s a new view on the familiar subject matter. And since Smithereens is literally taking its cues from ‘today’s world’ (not, what the world could be) it asks direct questions about ‘today’s problems’.
Ashley O is the biggest pop star alive and shy fourteen-year-old Rachel adores her. The lives of these two girls get intertwined as Rachel gets a Ashley Too for her birthday. A robot doll with Ashley O’s voice and mannerisms. A way to be even closer to her idol than ever before.
Fiction imitating life! After seeing Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too (RJaAT) I for one couldn’t imagine anybody else for the part of the teen-idol singer than Miley Cyrus. Even though her lashing out in this fiction is a tad less ‘burning bridges’ than it was in real life with her butt-naked on a wrecking ball.
Still the reason behind it in both the fiction and reality is the same: You can’t pigeonhole an artist for all eternity. Artists, by definition, are changeable, they want nay need to try new things.
This basic premise, combined with the (now) Black Mirror-staple of copying personalities give RJaAT a new look at, this time, the pop-music industry.
Like the episode Smithereens before it RJaAT doesn’t really bring a whole lot of new things to the table. Instead it angles the mirror a bit to look at the possible ramifications of new technological advances in a new light.
“She’s Ashley O not * I think you chose some poor words there * Leonard Cohen!”
So what are the things this episode highlights? For the first 30 minutes this episode is all about thematic. Both the protagonists: Ashley O and Rachel (played nicely by Angourie Rice from the Nice guys-fame) live in a broken home with only a single parent. Both parents are pretty darn lousy at their job. Both are extremely insecure. And both are addicted -Rachel to the doll Ashley Too and Ashley O to pills.
A nice stab at the drug culture in the music industry. Prince OD-ing, Michael Jackson using horse tranquilizers on a daily basis.
Also, of course, the strange notion that Stars have access to different doctors than us ‘normal’ people.
Like their biology is different. Just to be blunt here: a proctologist won’t treat you differently.
Interesting here is that both the Ashley Too doll and the pills work on the same level. They are constructed to get the user hooked (Ashley Too by constantly asking questions as a way of gaining confidence and mimicry friendship).
Yet, at the same time both girls are a million miles apart when it comes to status and wealth. Rachel the shy wallflower girl and Ashley O (pretending to be) the confident ‘believe in yourself’ star.
Only when Rachel (urged on by her Ashley Too) tries to become somebody she’s not by trying out a dance routing in front of the school does the mirage drop for a second; not for Rachel but for Ashley O as the lives of the two girls are now (for the audience) intertwined.
I thought it was well played that the school audience didn´t boo the poor girl off the stage.
Not all school kids are textbook movie bastards.
The thematic here might be an ‘old one’ (‘...we’re all mortal!’ to quote JFK) but it sets the stage for the sci-fi to follow.
Pulling the plugAs the ‘true-full sci-fi’ element gets introduced the above thematic of similarities begin to level out. The reason why Rachel gets to do what she does is because her life isn’t that of Ashley O. Rachel actually has a loving sister Jack. That’s why, in the end, Rachel doesn’t change because she never had to hide who she was.
But most of all this introduction of ‘sci-fi’ allows the episode to bring a new theme from the pop-industry the forefront: Lazarus.
Like David Bowie last album, stars of the past keep turning up again with new songs. Not only in samples with new artists performing the main song. Sometimes full new songs or, even, actually performing on stage as if they are there -like the famous holographic projection of Tupac.
Where’s the line to draw? When do you cross this line?
Can I release a Freddy Mercury demo? Can I release a Kurt Cobain track even if I know he hated it? Can I sample an artists’ voice and put it on a song I wrote? Can I have an artist graphically depicted on the stage as a hologram playing the new songs I wrote?
These are the questions the villain of the piece
Yes, as last season, this episode has a true villain –“...what it would do to me!”
Instead of even remotely considering the consequences to the other character-.
unwittingly highlights in a pompous speech that’s more about capitalism than creativity or even artistry.
Moreover, without actually saying it, this speech underlines ‘the preserving of the image’ of an artist. We don’t want to know how crazy Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson were in life. We like the songs they made and the image about them. And with a hologram, straight from a computer there are no (uhm) ‘mishaps’ in an artists’ personal life to worry about.
So there are pros and cons but it all boils down to the old question of influencers’ influence on an artist (E.g. Phil Spectre) in light of new technology. In which the question now becomes: If you control the artist completely, as a doll; are we still talking about an artist?
Rise from the Ashes
Visually, RJaAT plays nicely with the whole auto-tune glitter and glammer world of today’s pop music. It’s obvious that Ashley O is copied from Ariana Grande and the like;
Without condemning the music they are making.
This sugar-coated ‘happy go lucky’ world for tween girls which every parent (and sibling) hopes they grow out of.
The robot Ashley Too fits nicely in this category as it is just too Apple perfect.
A nice add is the processing element that happens in the eyes of Ashley Too in the first part of the episode,
I would have preferred Rachel to truly change her colours by the end of the episode but, then again, this isn’t the girl she is. And that’s something she will learn.
Understanding this makes the happy ending this episode of Black Mirror offers a bit less Disney-esque as poor little Rachel will slowly find out that her idol, free of her mask, is better suited as a friend to her (sibling rivalry) sister than herself, making Rachel friendless and alone again.
The mirror cracked from side to side…or not
The episode that stands out for me is episode two: Smithereens. But overall this fifth season is a bit weaker because of all the reusing of ideas previous. It’s good to shine a new light on a previously used concept. But there’s always a risk of gravelling in it.
Still as a series of questions posed for the audience to philosophise about/play ‘what if’ mindgames with, Black Mirror is still the show to beat. It’s just too deliciously plotted and filmed to put down.
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