Black Mirror
There's no real place I want to share this so a "dead" platform like lj seems like a nice one.
I've fallen out of love with Black Mirror.
I'll continue to watch it because it reminds me of what it used to be but I think it's a hollow shell of its former self.
To start, Black Mirror showed us a glimpse of a world where morality was bent. Something deeply personal and socially repulsive was required to prevent an even more socially unacceptable event... for the sake of art.
It was interesting. It kind of made you think.
Then Black Mirror critiqued media... using the media itself. The meta was nice.
I wasn't very interested in the 3rd or 4th ep.
White Bear asked where the line was between justice and cruelty. A little cliche but ok.
The Waldo Moment showed the dangers of popularity. At the time, it seemed so unlikely.
White Christmas was lovely. It tried to show some concepts about consciousness (is a copied consciousness "real"?) and censorship.
But then... the tech became the focus. Not the concepts. And suddenly, the "multiverse" between episodes became apparent. Hints, cameos, just a little nod to the past, these things are fine. But you really don't need a "multiverse" for Black Mirror.
Instead of showing us something "new", we start to get rehashes.
Nosedive and Hated in the Nation were both about social engineering. And Community did Nosedive better imo.
Playtest was fun to watch but what was the concept? Fear? Technology?
Shut up and Dance was Big Brother (camera always watching) which is an old - actually, realized - concept.
San Junipero was the best of the bunch because it showed the moral change in generations. Getting a chance to relive with a new framework, that was nice.
Men Against Fire was another censorship - just on another level. It seems to be an extension of a "treatment" to PTSD and the lessened burden of guilt on killing people that drove drivers feel.
This last season is the worst of the bunch as far as concepts go.
USS Callister was basically if Lt. Barclay was a jerk.
Arkangel is the very tired concept of censorship + helicopter parenting. Actually, an article that commented that fans didn't like this episode as much because it seemed to focus on the helicopter parenting over the tech is what prompted this post. For me, Black Mirror was never about the tech. It was about using tech to show us concepts. The thing is helicopter parenting is a very tired concept.
Crocodile was a little better. I wish it had more to show with guilt or lack thereof. Then again, the fact that she was willing to kill a baby for her secret is pretty intense. Wish they focused more on it.
Hang the DJ was the Matrix. or 13th floor. The dating app concept was a little interesting. Would've been more interesting to see the effects of such a society than have it be a simulation. Like a society completely dependent on AIs making decisions for them.
Metalhead... what was the point? The twist that it was a teddy bear and not some sort of medicine wasn't a great one. Maybe it just needs to sink in a bit better.
Black Museum was an ok wrap up. But the core concept was just like White Bear mixed with White Christmas. The concept of the "real"ity of consciousness + justice vs. cruelty. It's something we've already seen before.
I just wish Black Mirror will show me something different. Something to think about.
That is the Black Mirror I love.
I'm afraid it's gone though.
I've fallen out of love with Black Mirror.
I'll continue to watch it because it reminds me of what it used to be but I think it's a hollow shell of its former self.
To start, Black Mirror showed us a glimpse of a world where morality was bent. Something deeply personal and socially repulsive was required to prevent an even more socially unacceptable event... for the sake of art.
It was interesting. It kind of made you think.
Then Black Mirror critiqued media... using the media itself. The meta was nice.
I wasn't very interested in the 3rd or 4th ep.
White Bear asked where the line was between justice and cruelty. A little cliche but ok.
The Waldo Moment showed the dangers of popularity. At the time, it seemed so unlikely.
White Christmas was lovely. It tried to show some concepts about consciousness (is a copied consciousness "real"?) and censorship.
But then... the tech became the focus. Not the concepts. And suddenly, the "multiverse" between episodes became apparent. Hints, cameos, just a little nod to the past, these things are fine. But you really don't need a "multiverse" for Black Mirror.
Instead of showing us something "new", we start to get rehashes.
Nosedive and Hated in the Nation were both about social engineering. And Community did Nosedive better imo.
Playtest was fun to watch but what was the concept? Fear? Technology?
Shut up and Dance was Big Brother (camera always watching) which is an old - actually, realized - concept.
San Junipero was the best of the bunch because it showed the moral change in generations. Getting a chance to relive with a new framework, that was nice.
Men Against Fire was another censorship - just on another level. It seems to be an extension of a "treatment" to PTSD and the lessened burden of guilt on killing people that drove drivers feel.
This last season is the worst of the bunch as far as concepts go.
USS Callister was basically if Lt. Barclay was a jerk.
Arkangel is the very tired concept of censorship + helicopter parenting. Actually, an article that commented that fans didn't like this episode as much because it seemed to focus on the helicopter parenting over the tech is what prompted this post. For me, Black Mirror was never about the tech. It was about using tech to show us concepts. The thing is helicopter parenting is a very tired concept.
Crocodile was a little better. I wish it had more to show with guilt or lack thereof. Then again, the fact that she was willing to kill a baby for her secret is pretty intense. Wish they focused more on it.
Hang the DJ was the Matrix. or 13th floor. The dating app concept was a little interesting. Would've been more interesting to see the effects of such a society than have it be a simulation. Like a society completely dependent on AIs making decisions for them.
Metalhead... what was the point? The twist that it was a teddy bear and not some sort of medicine wasn't a great one. Maybe it just needs to sink in a bit better.
Black Museum was an ok wrap up. But the core concept was just like White Bear mixed with White Christmas. The concept of the "real"ity of consciousness + justice vs. cruelty. It's something we've already seen before.
I just wish Black Mirror will show me something different. Something to think about.
That is the Black Mirror I love.
I'm afraid it's gone though.