Black Mirror Season 6: Reviews of Episodes 1-3
Ah, the Succession-void-filling sixth season of Black Mirror, a collection of five thought-provoking episodes that have captured my attention. As I review the first three installments, I find myself in the midst of three distinct stories. Allow me to share my reviews of these remarkable creations.
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
Episode 1: “Joan is Awful” starring Annie Murphy, Salma Hayek
Directed by Ally Pankiw
Written by Charlie Brooker
The teaser poster for “Joan is Awful”.
The first episode, titled "Joan is Awful," initially, the tone was of a different ilk than I usually subscribe to. It felt too casually modern, in tone and setting.
I just wasn’t believing the world to be realistic. I don’t mean realistic to the real world, but realistic within the constructs created for the “Joan is Awful” world. As the plot line progresses, my views changed because the conceit is that this world they were portraying actually was not real in the world of the episode, so this tone that was not working actually became a feature of this episode, not a bug.
I commend it for its remarkable creativity and its ability to provoke introspection long after it ends. Its exploration of artificial intelligence in our AI-filled era is timely and makes it more compelling to watch.
Although some scenes stretched believability, they remained consistent with the episode's unique narrative logic.
“Joan is Awful” is a thought-provoking exploration of artificial intelligence that sparks introspection even after the credits roll, showcasing remarkable creativity.
The show's dedication to its chosen world and characters, committing wholeheartedly to their established rules, represents the bare minimum requirement for a good show. However, true excellence lies in crafting something enlightening within the observed circumstances, be it through innovative storytelling, filmmaking techniques, or unforgettable plot details.
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However, there were a few things in the episode that briefly took me out of the story. For example, Salma Hayek showing up at Joan's doorstep seemed a bit unrealistic, and the dialogue didn't feel natural. But upon reflection, I came to realize this was disciplined writing showcasing what the quality of the AI-generated portrayal of these films would be like. It seems like this would be a hint that it is surface-level subtext at all, and would make this episode very self-referential and in a way self sacrificial to those who would not take the time to absorb this meaning.
Upon reflection, I realized that the unusual elements in the episode, like Salma Hayek's unexpected presence and unnatural dialogue, were deliberate. They showcased the AI-generated portrayal's quality and self-referential nature, encouraging viewers to explore its deeper subtext and meaning.
The fact that what we were watching in that scene was an AI-generated version of source Joan’s life is a last-minute twist, so I refer to them writing the dialogue poorly knowing that this is the order of the films narrative logic and would simply have the viewers absorb this without knowing it’s has an effective purpose that doesn’t hit until later is and awesome way to be meta about this specific topic of AI creative writing.
With these considerations in mind, I rate "Joan is Awful" a solid 8.4 out of 10.
Episode 2: “Loch Henry” starring Samuel Blenkin, Myha’la Herrold
Directed by Sam Miller
Written by Charlie Brooker
The teaser poster for “Loch Henry”.
Moving on to episode two, titled "Loch Henry," it surpassed my expectations and became my personal favorite among the trio, at least until I started writing this. As you’ll see, my opinions change on the ranking of these three episodes as I sort out my thoughts.
Episode two’s deviation from the typical emphasis on technology in Black Mirror was a positive aspect for me. The gradual revelation of the mother's undisclosed secrets, resembling the artistry of a well-crafted crime drama, fascinated me.
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Additionally, the episode delved into the intriguing realm of creating a documentary about a murder, adding an extra layer of fascination to the narrative.
"Loch Henry" left an indelible mark on my psyche, thanks to its palpable tension.
Episode two's divergence from Black Mirror's tech-centric approach intrigued me with its gradual revelation of the mother's undisclosed secrets, evoking the artistry of a compelling crime drama.
The pivotal reveal, executed masterfully when Pia discovers unsettling contents within the videos, stands out vividly. The episode evokes terror without relying on conventional horror tropes, anchoring itself in the complex motivations of the formidable mother, Janet.
Symbolic elements like the video tapes and the shepherds pie heighten the impact.
I would rate this episode a commendable 8.3 out of 10 for its weaving of tension, terror, and thought-provoking symbolism.
After a few more days of thinking about it I have moved this to the third ranked of the three. This is hilarious because I thought it was my favorite before thinking deeply about all three as I write this article. But in the writing process, I’m finding that I like the symbols and the pure storyline or the subject matter, but the themes and deeper meaning are less poignant because the story is so rich - with things like the documentary-maker becoming the documentary and the mother and father being secret monsters.
This episode skillfully evokes terror by avoiding typical horror clichés and instead delving into the intricate motivations of the formidable mother, Janet.
There is a lack of ambiguity that is right for this episode that makes it less complex when pondering it as compared to “Joan is Awful” and “Beyond the Sea”. But it should not be to say that this is a bad episode of television. On the contrary, it is actually really great.
Episode 3: “Beyond the Sea” with Aaron Paul, Kate Mara, Josh Hartnett
Directed by John Crowley
Written by Charlie Brooker
The teaser poster for “Beyond the Sea”.
The third episode, "Beyond the Sea," starring Jesse Pinkman, I mean Aaron Paul, and Josh Hartnett, proved to be a truly captivating experience. Its story weaves through themes like grief remedies, relationship intimacy, and mind uploading, striking a wide balance between technological involvement, star power of its cast, and psychological exploration.
The interplay of these themes, along with Aaron Paul's remarkable portrayal, elevated the stakes. All of the actors were pretty much flawless.
The episode's expansive setting, incorporating a murder scene reminiscent of the Manson murders and venturing into the vastness of space, gave it the scope of a remarkable feature film.
I appreciate its original and innovative storyline. It was complex while maintaining simplicity and straightforwardness, which felt refreshing.
With its expansive setting, encompassing a Manson-like murder scene and venturing into the vastness of space, the episode takes on the grandeur of a remarkable feature film.
The acting was excellent, and although some parts of the plot were predictable, the premise had a captivating element. It cleverly explored the idea of a guarded man (Aaron Paul) needing to open up and be vulnerable, revealing the profound impact it can have, not even in the extreme and specific result that happens in the form of whole families being murdered, but also in smaller more common aspects such as an unhappy home or a lack of passion and creative fulfillment in a seemingly happy household.
The episode's original and innovative storyline struck a balance between complexity and simplicity.
This episode can be likened to a triangle, where each corner represents the collective consciousness of two families: the Hartnett and Paul families. Hartnett and Paul’s space station coexistence is at the vertex.
The show explores their coexistence in the same space, their individual family lives, and the interconnectedness between them. The energy in the episode moves rapidly, like a stream of electricity flowing between the corners of the triangle, with each corner influencing and impacting the others.
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With all these considerations in mind, I confidently rate this episode an impressive 8.9 out of 10, making it my current favorite of the three. This, of course, is liable to change.
Anyways, what did you think of the first three episodes?