Black Mirror

An upgraded blend of Instagram and Tinder that turns the world into a rosy, sunny little hell. It’s a very unpleasant dystopia, even for the standards of this superb series. Or a return firing on all cylinders. The Czech made me happy. :D (23.10.2016)

As a horror fan, it pains me that the most horror episode of the new season is the one that have to rate as the weakest of this six-pack. The idea is alright, a bit like Inception, but with virtual reality instead of dreams. The atmosphere is also good. The climax is nice, too, with good black humour on top. But why the hell did the main character have to be such an insufferable person? His unnatural and hysterical behaviour within the game permanently ruined the impression of an otherwise well-made episode. (23.10.2016)

One of the few episodes of Black Mirror where the fictional world doesn’t differ in any significant sci-fi way from ours. It’s basically a classic techno-thriller where the main character gets in a conflict with internet extortionists. The plot is worth four stars, but the final exposition takes it up a notch. (23.10.2016)

Certainly the best episode of the third season, and one of the best of the series as a whole. And even though, or precisely because, it is so different from the all the others. The idea is brilliant, as well as the way the script works with it, gradually revealing what it is about. The climax is euphoric. (23.10.2016)

A thought-provoking, weighty parable that unfortunately gets a little lost in the end, which relies unnecessarily much on a literal explanation of what has actually happened. (23.10.2016)

Did you also get that X-Files vibe? A very disturbing idea about the very current topic of social networks as a breeding ground for evil (but that applies to every Black Mirror that doesn’t address traditionally simple topics). The music deserves special praise too, at least the main score, which can generate an almost apocalyptic atmosphere every time you hear it. Another point goes for the occasional humour (“You are Batman” :D). Unfortunately, I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the climax. Instead of properly escalating, it sort of fizzles out, even though the events that end up taking place could have been the basis of an extremely strong series finale. (23.10.2016)

The best episode of the fourth season (and for me the only one this time that’s getting five stars). A great idea, a great antagonist and perfect lines that blew me away in some cases. In this episode Booker combines a dark statement about the perverted aspects of people with humour and lightness, in such way that it really doesn’t matter that strict logic doesn’t apply to the plot and that the rules of that fictitious world are loose, as if they were put together on the go. (29.12.2017)

A solidly executed premise about excessive maternal care. However, as soon as the viewer figures out what technological gimmick they will have to use, nothing will surprise them very much until the end. In short, it somehow leads to the conclusion that it was supposed to lead to. The direction is rather plain and it’s not possible to create a bond with the main characters; you can understand them, but they are both pretty unlikeable. (29.12.2017)

The darkest and most vicious episode of the fourth season. It’s dark, maybe unnecessarily so, and the last shocking twist is already downright superficial. It gets an extra point for the excellently chosen snowy setting, which strongly enhances the atmosphere, but it looses a point because of the slow start and the ten-minute long repetitive part around the middle. (29.12.2017)

It seems that after the responses of the third season, which almost unanimously praised San Junipero (which I happily joined), Charlie Booker decided that the fourth season will also feature an optimistic episode. I have nothing against that in general, but compared to San Junipero, Hang’s DJ is a weaker contribution. The idea is OK, but overall, it’s light entertainment rather than something that would emotionally move the viewer. The resolution is pleasant, though not surprising, for me personally. (29.12.2017)

The first episode of Black Mirror without any surprising points or twists? Or rather, the first episode of Black Mirror without any core ideas? Like, what happened to this series and why? A simple, black and white, post-apocalyptic chase with a robotic dog where even the modest forty-minute run was too much. I was all the time expecting something interesting to happen, but nothing does. If it was at least tense, but not event that. The most pointless episode of all. (29.12.2017)

Three stories in one, or an anthology within an anthology. The curator of a museum of criminal curiosities (the artefacts are Easter eggs from some of the previous episodes) is guiding a lonely visitor, telling her the stories behind the exhibits. A genre stew that combines horror, comedy, drama, revenge film, grotesque, romance and I don’t know what else. I won’t lie, it didn’t leave me with a very coherent impression. The individual stories are all pretty good and keep their heads above the water of interesting ideas. Unfortunately, IMHO, what they all have in common is that they would’ve been better if each of them had their own dedicated episode. It ends up being meh! It’s impossible to get acquainted with the characters, which prevents the possibility of a real experience from their sad or scary fates. And, at least in the first and second story, the voiceover of the narrator really pulled me out of the plot. (29.12.2017)