Black Mirror

TV Series

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.