Black Mirror (2011-Present)Created By: Charlie BrookerSummary: In this anthology series where none of the episodes are related to each other, everyone lives in a sort of scientific-new-age world that basically makes fun of our world today.And so in order to fully be able to talk about this show, I'm going to have to break it down by episode.Episode 1: The National AnthemWe start off with the Prime Minister (Rory Kinnear) who has a bit of a dilemma to face. The Princess (Lydia Wilson) has been kidnapped and in order to have her returned safely he must have sex with a live pig over national television. To make it worse, the kidnapper has a list of demands that makes his proposition nearly impossible to fake. This was one of my least favorite episodes. I'm not a really political person, but I get the jist of what they were trying to say with it. The main reason I didn't like it was because I didn't feel a real connection with any of the characters. They were in a shitty situation and I was just watching. I felt bad, yes, but not for him Just the fact that someone could come up with this. The ending, however, left me feeling a little bad for him and that's all I can give it feeling-wise. It wasn't a great episode for me, but left me interested enough to keep watching.Episode 2: Fifteen Million MeritsThis episode starts off with a man named Bing (Daniel Kalluya) lives in a world where everyone works out to get their money, or 'merits' as they call them. Those who aren't physically able to are basically janitors and are made fun of on the TV shows that those who work out watch as they workout. Well, Bing inherits 15 million merits from his deceased brother and kind of hates his life because nothing is real, which it isn't. I'd hate life, too, if I was him. But, soon he meets this girl and it basically changes his life.This episode blew my mind. I kind of wish that this was the first episode, but I can see why they did it like they did. They made the first episode not-so-epic to make soon for the better episodes. But the premise, the characters and the message behind it was so strong. It was like a hit in the gut and once it was over, I didn't know what was what. Episode 3: The Entire History of YouIn the season finale, we meet Liam (Toby Kebbell) and his wife Ffion (Jodie Whittaker) who live in a world where there is this thing called a grain that's implanted in people's heads that allow you to rewind back and forth through your memories. They're having a meet up sort of thing and we meet Jonah (Tom Cullen) who kind of has a thing for Ffion and Liam doesn't exactly like this.Another powerful episode. It's creepy because when people are re-watching their memories, their eyes kind of turn white and I've seen the whole is-she-cheating-or-isn't-she been done before, but adding the fact that people can see their memories give it a great twist. There's really not much to say without spoiling it, but another good episode.Season 2: Episode 1: Be Right BackAnd here we are with the Season 2 Premiere.We meet a couple Martha (Hayley Atwell) and Ash (Domhnall Gleeson) who are just your average couple and everything is well, until Ash gets into a car accident and dies. Martha then is introduced to a service where a computer scans your messages, emails and texts and mimics it into your deceased loved one. Therefore, another "Ash" is created.Because it dealt with loss, this was one of my favorite episodes. It hit me hard in a way that I didn't feel with Fifteen Million Merits because instead of me just connecting with the main character, I felt like I was her. The emotions and atmosphere throughout the episode were so casual, like this happens everyday, but there was something different. I can't pinpoint it, but it made the episode strong and hard making it one of the best season premieres ever. Plus, seeing Domhnall Gleeson was a great thing as I have the biggest crush on him. Episode 2:White BearHere we have a young woman named Victoria (Lenora Crichlow) who wake up with no memory. She starts walking around town and notices everyone around her is filming her and suddenly there are people in animal masks trying to kill her as well. No one is responding to her and she's just trying to find out what the hell is going on.I must add this to the list of one of my favorite episodes because it started out like a lame, been-there-done-that horror movie. The only different thing is that all these people are watching her, filming her and not responding. Throughout the whole episode, I was just like: "What?" And once I got to the ending, my jaw was literally on the floor. It was the biggest 'WTF' moment I've ever seen in my entire life and I just..couldn't. Great writing, great pacing, great everything. I tried to guess what was going on and every time, I was dead wrong.Episode 3: The Waldo MomentAgain, another political episode. We meet Jamie (Daniel Rigby) who is a failed comedian who controls a blue, talking bear named Waldo. Waldo is a talk show host who interviews politicians and other big-wig characters that are tricked into thinking that Waldo is just a kid's show program host. Waldo is very popular in the entertainment world, but Jamie is just very depressed with life. That is until someone presents Jamie and Waldo with the opportunity of a lifetime. This is my least favorite episode, not because it was political, but I literally felt nothing. It was a kind of bad way to end a great show for the season in my opinion, but because I am so interested with the show as a whole, I will keep watching. Overall Thoughts: Black Mirror was fantastic. With great writing and pacing, a wonderful little show was created. Although I watched this on Netflix, I would most definitely watch this on Channel Four, which I believe is the channel it comes on. It has its ups and downs, with mainly ups more than downs, but it really makes you think because even though this is a new-age, scientific world, some of this could actually happen. Therefore, go watch Black Mirror, now.
