Review: Black Mirror

If you've been on Netflix recently, you will have been greeted by a huge advert of a series called Black Mirror, and if, like me, this intrigued you enough to start watching it, you will not have been disappointed.

The first two series of this show came out in 2011 & 2013 on Channel 4 and, despite my naiveté, were very successful and the reason why Netflix have commandeered the rights to now release Season 3 themselves on the platform. Changing England for America, but keeping the same dark, mysterious tone of the first two series, Netflix have done an excellent job. 

To look at the three series as a whole will give you an idea of the genre of this show, which is very difficult to define. With each episode totally in isolation and no ongoing plot throughout the series; the only continuous theme is the setting; the not-too-distant future, and the non-explanatory and blasé approach to impressive modern technology. From the outset of each episode, the characters casually interact with these innovative inventions leaving the viewer desperately trying to work out how or why they are doing it. The overriding theme of the series deals with the sheer danger of this modern technology, and the show is inexplicably dark and depressing, with happy endings few and far between. The viewer is shown the sinister, perverse side of humanity, and the terrifying proximity of this future setting is what will shock and linger with you even after the episode has ended. The chilling realisation that we aren't far away from these types of problems, and how scarily realistic and relatable these issues are, will really hit home.

Without going into any details so as not to ruin any of the episodes, this show will stick with you and really make you think, it isn't for the faint-hearted and certainly can't be described as uplifting; but it's great, so check it out. If you like dark, eerie glimpses into the future, this one's for you.  

 

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