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Black Mirror: Black Museum (2017)
Black Museum is a 'Tree-House of Horrors' style episode; and season 4's finale is its hardest to watch
The final episode of Black Mirror's fourth season was one shrouded with a lot of mystery; with Brooker and Jones defining it as a 'Tree-House of Horrors' style episode with, in the style of White Christmas, three separate stories to tell. And, having finished the episode, I have to admit it was the most difficult of Black Mirror's run to watch and, while definitely an all-round great episode, I had a few nit-picks in regards to credibility - by Black Mirror standards of course.
Aforementioned, the episode centres around three separate stories. Here, a young British woman named Nish visits the Black Museum where she meets the eclectic Rolo Haynes. After introducing her to some of the many artifacts - smart easter eggs to previous episodes - he tells her three separate, immensely disturbing stories. The first centres on a doctor named Dawson who, after being introduced to a device that allows one to feel another pain - in order to diagnose them. However, this takes a turn when a glitch happens in the device and Dawson now receives pleasure from pain. The second follows young couple Jack and Carrie; after Carrie is rendered comatose by a road accident, Jack is given the opportunity to have her consciousness implanted into his own. This proves an issue as Jack wishes to move on with his life with another woman, but he has Carrie's persistent voice in the back of his mind. And the last story? Well we'll get to that one.
I have to mention the final twist of this episode. In the final story, Rolo introduces Nish to the main attraction; the living hologram of a man executed by electric chair - who he allows to be persistently tortured by the attendees of the museum. Revelation comes when Nish sheds her fake accent and reveals to Rolo that not only is she the daughter of the imprisoned man, but the water she gave him has been poisoned. While this was a great moment when everything clicked into place, my slight issue comes with the overly-convoluted reveal that honestly seems dark for darkness sake. It's definitely clever, but I definitely felt it to be quite over-the-top.
However, to wrap up Black Museum is an all-round great episode of Black Mirror, and deeply disturbing and violent. The acting from Letitia Wright and especially Douglas Hodge as the increasingly maniacal Rolo Haynes was excellent. While it is the hardest to sit through, and aforementioned in my eyes a tad over-the-top and convoluted, it's definitely a rewarding experience that - with it's countless clever easter eggs - feels like a finale for the series.
Black Mirror: Metalhead (2017)
Terse, tense and terrifying; Metalhead is a quick, brutal shot of adrenaline from Black Mirror
My opinion on this episode is definitely an unpopular one. Metalhead is the black and white episode of Black Mirror's fourth season - and its first foray into this visual style. Definitely the episode that, during the fourth seasons's marketing, I had no idea what Metalhead was going to be about; but honestly the one I was most excited to see. Was I disappointed? Well let's have a look at Metalhead first.
We follow Bella, a woman who along with two male companions, Clarke and Anthony, attempt to break into a secluded warehouse in the post-apocalyptic British countryside. However, there they awaken a robotic life-form: a dog-like killing machine which, after taking out Clarke and Anthony, engages Bella in an ultimately fatal chase through the desolate post-apocalyptic landscape in a race for survival.
Let me get this out the way first. Metalhead may be the Black Mirror episode that terrified me the most. The technology being referenced here - upon research on my own part - is the Boston Dynamics dog-style robots. Many people's issues with Metalhead seem to be how vague it is. But that's what I loved. It demands you to research technology you may not even know is being developed. Charlie Brooker is asking a simple yet wholly frightening question: what if robot dogs took over the world? If it's anything like Metalhead's world, I don't ever want to know.
I have to highlight Maxine Peake. At 41 minutes, she is in almost every frame of this episode, and we feel every emotion along with her. Every bit of fear and tension she feels, through her brilliant performance we feel it to. Furthermore, this has to be Black Mirror's most visually arresting episode. The black and white style is so evocative and paired with the desolate British country, it just looks harrowing. The episode also uses the music of Penderecki, and it is truly spine-tingling.
Metalhead is set to be Black Mirror's most divisive episode. I understand the criticism to an extent, however my appreciation for this episodes boldness - having almost no dialogue - and stunning visuals hasn't been wavered by the many fans who dislike it. Definitely Black Mirror's most experimental episode to date, and I commend Charlie Brooker for taking a risk - to rewarding effect.
Black Mirror: Hang the DJ (2017)
Hang the DJ is a darkly comical look at modern romance; an overall beautiful, heartbreaking episode
Hang the DJ is the Tinder-style episode of Black Mirror - which I was hoping for. An episode I feel is similar in style to season 3's San Junipero - and of course, because I love SJ and it's take on love, I loved this episode, too. Here, Charlie Brooker takes a lighter approach - well light in terms of Black Mirror, which in general is still shrouded in darkness - with a message that is positive: go for what you believe in. And, in all honesty it might just be the seasons best - and one of my favourite of the entire series run.
In this Black Mirror society, a technology exists called Coach; in the style of Tinder it picks out matches for you. However, here you are paired with certain people - without question or the ability to decline - and are coupled with them for a certain amount of time - all until Coach finds your 'perfect match'. Our characters are Frank and Amy, who - to their recollection - are trying out Coach for the first time, and find themselves paired together. After only being given 12 hours together, and subsequently forced into a number of lackluster relationships, Frank and Amy attempt to find themselves back to each other.
I can't talk about this episode without mentioning it's ending twist; it was truly beautiful and executed brilliantly. After both being told their 'perfect match' is waiting, Frank and Amy meet up at their usual booth for one last moment to say goodbye. Together, they decide to rebel and climb the wall to leave - having discussed their theories together that what they're in is not real. The revelation comes as they climb the wall, and the simulation is stripped away to reveal they have attempted this break-out 998 times - and as a result are ready to leave. That moment when everything clicked into place has to be one of my favourite TV moments of 2017 - and the final scene in the bar with 'Panic' by The Smiths ended the episode beautifully.
Joe Cole and Georgina Campbell are the heart of this episode, and their performances are truly mesmerising. They have a natural chemistry together, which makes their awkward first date scenes both heartwarming and hilariously funny. The set of the episodes society is very visually stunning also - again, reminiscent of San Junipero. And admittedly, as a fan of Charlie Brooker's darkest stories possible, I cannot deny my love for this episode - a refreshing break from season 4's darkness up until this point.
To wrap up, Hang the DJ is a brilliantly beautiful episode of Black Mirror with, in my opinion, one of the most relevant and positive messages of the series run. For me, this is season 4's standout; an all-round fantastic television experience.
Black Mirror: Crocodile (2017)
Crocodile gives us a disturbing look into the mind of a desperate woman; with a Black Mirror technological twist
Crocodile is an episode sure to illicit a reaction of utter disgust - in the same vain as season 2's White Bear, and season 3's Shut Up and Dance. This is the kind of twist I expect from the mind of Charlie Brooker and here he does not fail in making me feel totally drained come the end of this episode. However, my issues with this episode are many unfortunately.
Crocodile follows Mia Nolan. A woman who, one night after leaving a club with her boyfriend, gets involved in a hit and run on a stretch of lonely highway. Terrified, the two decide to dispose of the body and forget the event ever happened. Fifteen years later, Mia is a successful architect with a husband and son. However, her past comes back to haunt her during a trip away when her ex-boyfriend, Rob meets her in at a hotel; consumed by guilt he's desperate to confess. After a violent encounter, Mia's life is further thrown into a tail-spin with the witnessing of a hit and run on the street, which leads investigator Shazia on her trail.
Where do I start with this one? It's definitely one of the most sickening episodes of Black Mirror. What contributes to this is the character of Mia; she's arguably one of the dislikable characters Black Mirror has had as its lead. We know that Mia is a heinous person, however we feel her anxiety as she scrambles to cover her tracks. For a moment, I asked the question: are we meant to hate her? She's a mother desperate to keep her family in-tact. However, any sympathy I had for Mia is disposed of during the final act of Crocodile, as the crime - or rather crimes - she commits are so monstrous - with that final revelation nothing short of depressing. However, what lessened the effect was the sheer implausibility of elements of the ending - you know what I'm talking about if you've watched the episode.
Despite a stellar performance from Andrea Riseborough and some excellent Icelandic cinematography, the episodes story is its detriment. There's nothing particularly special about it and, at this stage in Black Mirror's run, to me it felt dark for darkness sake - along with a number of inconsistencies and questionable character decisions. What started well in the opening flashback of this episode faltered and resulted in a mediocre effort from Charlie Brooker.
Black Mirror: Arkangel (2017)
Arkangel is a cautionary tale of motherhood; lead by a powerhouse performance from Rosemarie DeWitt
The negative reception this episode is receiving is honestly baffling to me. While the season 4 opener, USS Callister took a much more out there approach; for me Arkangel is classic Black Mirror and Charlie Brooker, and its simplistic and stripped down approach works to great effect. Upon hearing that this episode had an indie feel to it - along with having Jodie Foster directing - I couldn't have been more stoked.
Here we follow Marie, a single mother who, after losing her three-year old daughter Sara at a park, decides to take part in a prototype technology. The company, Arkangel allow Marie to take part in a free trial; this includes her daughter being chipped, which gives Marie access to not just Sara's location, but the ability to see through her eyes. However, as her daughter ages, Marie finds that the added feature with the Arkangel product - the ability to shield Sara from so-called "harmful" images - becomes an issue after finding Sara self-harming. From here, the relationship between mother and daughter is strained as Sara's curiosity grows, and Marie's obsession deepens.
This may be one of Black Mirror's most thought-provoking episodes. It tackles the topic of helicopter parenting in such a dark yet wholly realistic manner. It's definitely the acting that aids in this; Rosemarie DeWitt is incredible as struggling mother, Marie - and the actresses who portray Sara throughout the years are great, too.
Unlike USS Callister which, while fantastic, lacked the deeply disturbing factor that many Black Mirror episodes include. Arkangel includes a good dose of downright uncomfortable imagery and scenarios; most notably in the powerful yet wholly traumatising climax - which demonstrate just how dangerous helicopter parenting can get when a child's privacy is imposed upon. And as for the final scene? Well, that's one I'll be thinking about for a while.
All in all, Arkangel is a classic episode of Black Mirror - despite some predictability. With great direction by Jodie Foster, a poignant story to tell, and a climax that made me feel weak. Arkangel is an episode of Black Mirror that won't leave me for a while.
Black Mirror: USS Callister (2017)
Black Mirror season 4 hits the ground running with this space epic; USS Callister is one of the best yet
The first episode of Black Mirror's fourth season, entitled USS Callister is one I was extremely excited to see; I was immensely curious as to how Charlie Brooker would incorporate advanced technology into a seemingly space centric episode. Upon finishing the 76 minute episode, I was very pleased to see Brooker taking a leap with this episode. It's definitely the most cinematic episode of Black Mirror's run so far; and the story it has to tell - and the questions it asks - is one I was not expecting to see.
The episode centres on Robert Daley, a reserved and bullied CTO and an advanced gaming company; he's the butt of all jokes, targeted by his superior. So to cope, he retreats to a fantasy world: an in-depth simulation of his favourite TV series, 'Space Fleet' where is the captain of his own ship - with the company members he feel have mistreated him as his crew for him to rule over. Complication comes in the employment of perky Nanette Cole, a great admirer of Daley's work; upon Daley's insertion of her consciousness into the game - after she rejected his attraction - she decides to aid the crew members in fighting back against him to escape.
One of the questions this episode asked that I found so thought-provoking is this: is Daley the villain? Come the episodes end, I found myself conflicted on the topic of Daley's real life fate. In his defense, he's a man slighted by most he encounters at the company he has built - in particular his superior, who's taken the attention for the game that truly Daley deserves. However, does that defend his actions? This is one of the episodes strongest points; as Daley is left trapped in the game - and as a result left in a coma like state in real life - I found myself thinking that it all didn't seem fair.
From a technical stand-point, aforementioned this episode is the most cinematic of Black Mirror's run. The 'Star-Trek' inspired look of the game is great fun, and aids in the many comical scenes this episode includes. The performances to are great; Jesse Plemons, Jimmi Simpson, Michaela Coel and Cristin Militia the definite stand-outs here. And the writing, especially the ending, left a lot up for interpretation - classic Black Mirror.
Overall, USS Callister is a grand start to Black Mirror's fourth season. With a thought-provoking moral dilemma, light-hearted humour and a nice dose of Black Mirror's token darkness, USS Callister starts the season on a high.