Black Mirror Reflects On Technology Dependence
February 5, 2018
By definition, an anthology is a published collection of works, poems, short stories, plays, or even songs. When asked to give an example of a good anthology show, you’ll probably be more than likely to say The Twilight Zone. However, a new anthology show has presented itself to challenge The Twilight Zone’s established name; Black Mirror.
In December of 2011, a science fiction anthology television show, created by executive producer Charlie Brooker, was aired on British television. The show’s aim was to provide commentary on society’s dependence on technology, and the effects that it has on our lives.
Each season of the show is relatively short, with the first season consisting of a mere three episodes. Although these seasons are short however, each episode makes up the difference with their unique directors and separate casts making the most of their lengthy runtimes. The first season alone boasted three well-written stories built around an intriguing premises.
The first episode, “The National Anthem,” tells the story of the kidnapping of a member of the Royal Family, and the Prime Minister’s mental battle over whether or not to meet the demands of her captor; he can either do nothing and let her be executed, or save her life by broadcasting himself having sexual intercourse with a live pig on television.
The premise of the next episode, “Fifteen Million Merits,” details a society where everyone has been enslaved to generate electricity on exercise bikes. Working on these bikes earns their users “Merits,” a form of currency that they can then spend on basic life necessities and more intangible rewards, such as outfits for their digital avatars, different videos to watch while on their bike, and mandated pornography.
Episode three of the first season and my personal favorite, “The Entire History of You,” is a soap-opera about a married couple in a world where everyone has a chip implanted behind their ear that records each and every single memory they make. These memories can be rewatched on the user’s eyes at anytime, and can even be played on other screens to share with others.
Black Mirror’s core focus on criticizing society’s technological dependence shines through its obviously high production value. A slew of new actors appeared in each episode, with talent from the likes of Rory Kinnear and Toby Kebbell contributing towards the show’s believability and authenticity.
Even though the execution of Brooker’s vision was done tastefully, some aspects of the show’s release could have been planned better.
For example, when introducing the brilliant overarching concept of Black Mirror to an audience, it should not be with the episode of the British Prime Minister deciding whether or not to have sex with a pig. At multiple times throughout this episode, I found myself taking breaks to audibly laugh at the outrageously comical stakes at hand, despite understanding the gravity of the characters and their conflict.
This issue however, was a minor complaint of mine that only arose a couple times. The show actually ended up providing another interesting sub-theme that I didn’t realize until hours after watching it; an analysis on the role that sex and romance plays in life, and how powerful it can be in manipulating one’s actions or viewpoints.
As previously mentioned, Black Mirror’s first episode is about potential sex with a pig in front of the world. No need to elaborate on that here. Sadly, not much can be said about this sub-theme’s role in “Fifteen Million Merits” without spoiling anything. But the third episode wears this theme on its shoulder as it deals with a jealous husband investigating the details of his wife’s past.
Overall, my favorite aspect of Black Mirror is how seriously it takes itself. During my initial viewing, no department of production felt obviously neglected to me. The entire cast and crew of actors, writers, directors, cameramen, costume designers, set designers, graphics producers, and sound designers, all worked so cohesively together that the unique universes of Black Mirror were able to effortlessly cement themselves in the realm of the viewer’s believability—one of the most important feats to accomplish when creating a work of fiction.
I honestly enjoyed watching the first season of Black Mirror, and I truly appreciate the lack of laziness and amount of effort that clearly went into bringing the project to life. However, I do not think I would continue to go out of my way to finish the series. Maybe once in a long while I’ll watch an episode to kill an hour, but the lack of a consistent narrative won’t succeed in pulling me back in to watch the next episode as soon as I get the chance. To anyone looking for a small collection of sci-fi Ray Bradbury-esque short films that will make you think about the impacts of technology on society, I highly recommend that you give Black Mirror a shot.
