Black Mirror

[Carlie]

Black Mirror is a UK science fiction-horror anthology series produced (and primarily written) by Dead Set creator Charlie Brooker. The episodes all explore techno-paranoia, general unease with the world and social commentary.

The series is inspired by The Twilight Zone, the Trope Codifier for shows of its type. The series' name comes from the reflection visible in a blackened digital screen.

The first series ended up winning the International Emmy for best TV movie or miniseries, and the second series started on 11th of Feb 2013. There has also been a Christmas Special, released in the UK on December 16th 2014, with a third series, moving from Channel 4 to Netflix, starting on October 21st, 2016, the fourth series premiered today on Netflix.

 

[Ghost X]

What do you think of it, Carlie? I've only seen clips of bits here and there.

 

[fancy]

Surprised this didn’t already have a thread!! ��

Fucking love almost all the episodes produced in the UK before Netflix purchased it. ���� The ending to the first episode in Netflix-produced series 3 especially pissed me off cuz I thought it defeated the whole message/tone of the show. Also don’t get me stated on that atrocious video game episode. Best episode to come from series 3 is ‘Men Against Fire’ imo.

Aaah didn’t realise series 4 is out! Gonna give that a go. Hope it’s improved from the previous series.

Also I know I ain’t Carlie lmao, but for my part, I think you’d really, really like it Ghost. Especially the first two series.

 

[Carlie]

What do you think of it, Carlie? I've only seen clips of bits here and there.

The series is amazing Ghost, is smart and has great social commentary (it predicted Brexit and 2016 US elections). You can have deep discussions about most episodes and it doesn't dummy down its content just to reach the general masses, an approach that bears resemblance to The Wire.

Fucking love almost all the episodes produced in the UK before Netflix purchased it. ���� The ending to the first episode in Netflix-produced series 3 especially pissed me off cuz I thought it defeated the whole message/tone of the show. Also don’t get me stated on that atrocious video game episode. Best episode to come from series 3 is ‘Men Against Fire’ imo.

Oh god Playtest,

Spoiler

talk about not knowing anything about video games and that Kojima copy, just no.

I actually hate Men Against Fire,

Spoiler

if it had come in series 1 it would have been interesting but by series 3 all the plot twists are telegraphed and it just didn't bring anything different to the table. Not helped by the fact that it had to follow San Junipero which is about as different of a Black Mirror episode you can get and along with Fifteen Million Merits the best in the series period IMO.

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

I started off hating this series because I didn't like the one about the PM and the pig - I thought it was crass and obvious - and I didn't like the one about the girl going to her friend's wedding who has to keep getting likes, it was like the kind of thing one of my students might write. But I saw the two worst episodes. My son encouraged me to keep watching and I've enjoyed it much more.

 

[Tetsujin]

Watched this recently and it was fantastic

 

[Lex]

I started off hating this series because I didn't like the one about the PM and the pig - I thought it was crass and obvious - and I didn't like the one about the girl going to her friend's wedding who has to keep getting likes, it was like the kind of thing one of my students might write. But I saw the two worst episodes. My son encouraged me to keep watching and I've enjoyed it much more.

The thing about this is that it was written and released before the pig allegations were even public knowledge. So someone either knew about it on the writing team or it was a fluke.

The only episode I thought was completely shit was the military style one in season 3.

 

[Cthulhu]

I can recommend starting at season 3 if you're new in the series, but eh, I'm no expert.

Just watched the season 4 opener;

Spoiler: S04E01

they once again go for the virtual reality thing, seems like a staple of the series; wouldn't mind them to dive into more diverse subjects a bit. I did like the obvious Star Trek parody though, .

 

[Carlie]

I started off hating this series because I didn't like the one about the PM and the pig - I thought it was crass and obvious - and I didn't like the one about the girl going to her friend's wedding who has to keep getting likes, it was like the kind of thing one of my students might write. But I saw the two worst episodes. My son encouraged me to keep watching and I've enjoyed it much more.

The thing about this is that it was written and released before the pig allegations were even public knowledge. So someone either knew about it on the writing team or it was a fluke.

Charlie Brooker discussed it in 2015 because he got asked about it a lot.

I can recommend starting at season 3 if you're new in the series, but eh, I'm no expert.

No that's not a good idea, for one later episodes have callbacks to earlier ones and say an episode like San Junipero can't be properly appreciated without having seen everything that came before.

 

[Cthulhu]

O rly? I thought it stood well on its own. (I started at S3 and worked my way down btw)

 

[Channy]

I'm pretty sure we started S30 and went backwards.... Netflix kind of sorted it wrongly I think. Either way we've seen all previous eps and enjoyed it. Some of them get pretty intense like the gamer one and White Bear.

We watched eps 1 and 2 already... 1 was okay, like Yop said, kind of similar to others. 2 "Archangel"

Spoiler

was pretty intense for me. In the beginning it's like, sure, protect your baby after she ran off once, you're paranoid... but watching her have sex, do drugs and learning she's pregnant before SHE does and slipping the EC pill on her... that's low. And I didn't blame the daughter for attacking the mum and running off like that. Phew

 

[Cthulhu]

Spoiler: Archangel

That's some Minor(ity) Report shit right there . Haven't watched it yet but, heck.

 

[Carlie]

 

[Tetsujin]

There is a new episode out now and it's a "Choose your own adventure" style one

 

[Interslicery]

It felt pretty hollow, honestly. The whole

Spoiler

you're just like him, you dont actually have any meaningful choices!

has been covered in multiple other stuff, and better too.

More a gimmick than something that'll actually make you think.

 

[Tetsujin]

Yeah, the story was kinda weak.

Spoiler

That Netflix/fight ending was great though :'D