I have just watched the
first season of Black Mirror and I find it hard to contain my excitement about
it. I hardly ever say that I am blown away by a TV show but I think I will say
it this time:
"I am blown
away!"
Those who share my
techno-paranoia will also be pleasantly surprised by these inspired episodes.
But I am going ahead of myself. Let me explain what the series are about first.
Created by Charlie Brooker,
Black Mirror is a British TV series which explores the dark life that lurks
beneath an overdose of technology. Each episode casts different actors (some of
the names will indeed surprise you and some faces you will remember from
underrated, yet valuable works), each episode takes place in a different
setting and each episode is unique in its own way. Sublimely directed, with an
utterly inspired story down to every detail, the first season was a sensation
in my opinion.
I can easily say that it is
along the lines of the works such as "The Time Machine" and "The
Machine Stops" in its satirical, futuristic gloom. What becomes of the
humankind when he uses technology at every insignificant need? Does one survive
the technology itself when he can remember and relive every single memory
through a chip planted beneath his ear? How does one cope with a hungry audience who
will watch anything that appears on his screen? How does he move past it when
technology compels him to commit despicable, irksome acts? How does technology
both elevate and find a way to crush our dreams?
Such are the questions you
are going to ask yourself while taking a break between episodes. But probably the most important question you are going to ask is: "Can we resist technology?"
It had been a long time
since I last watched a series with my husband and got into a philosophical
discussion afterwards. At best we usually both agreed that the series were
good, at worst we laughed at it or turned it off because we found it completely
unbearable. This time we found ourselves talking and talking, sharing opinions, pointing out
scenes one of us would miss and enjoyed a deep conversation full of intellectual perspectives.
If you like what you have
read so far then watch it and you won’t be sorry that you did.
With a heavy heart I read these lines today...
He was a talented actor and a talented director and to end up in your apartment in New York with a needle still hanging on your arm is such a sad way to go. According to sources it was not a suicide attempt but an accident of overdose.
May he rest in peace. He had more to give, so much more to accomplish but drugs won the day today.
Farewell Philip Seymour Hoffman and my condolences to all he left behind...
