Black Mirror, Season 5, reviewed, AR VR, social media and plenty more shocks

By @SimonCocking review of Black Mirror Season 5 which features three all-new stories from mastermind Charlie Brooker and executive producer Annabel Jones.

Black Mirror is an anthology series that taps into our collective unease with the modern world, with each stand-alone episode a sharp, suspenseful tale exploring themes of contemporary techno-paranoia leading to an unforgettable – and sometimes unsettling – conclusion. Without questioning it, technology has transformed all aspects of our lives; in every home; on every desk; in every palm – a plasma screen; a monitor; a Smartphone – a Black Mirror reflecting our 21st Century existence back at us. The series is created and written by Charlie Brooker, and executive produced by Brooker and Annabel Jones.

Black Mirror, Season 5, reviewed

Having moved the series from Channel 4 to Netflix one of the questions was around what could Netflix bring to the equation. In terms of a lush, vivid locations and budgets episode two, Smithereens certainly squeezed in a spectacular US extreme location for its tech guru extreme ten-day retreat in the middle of the southwestern US desert. Across all three episodes, there was some good, confident handling of deep tech issues, delivered in an accessible way for a wider audience, while also showing a good understanding of many of the failings that the new media giants of FANG and beyond that we are currently experiencing.

Beginning with Striking Vipers it was an interesting working through of what the future might bring for us in terms of gaming. As we already see a world with humans deeply locked into the world on their screens it is only natural to wonder and question, might this, very soon, be even better than the real thing. Especially for those who are not actually getting any of the real thing.

With the longer length for the episodes it does give Brooker, Jones and the guest director for each episode, the opportunity to dig deeper into the ideas and issues being discussed. The look and quality is definitely on par with many movies, and with the around 1 hour length we are into novella / mini movie territory.

We watched Striking Vipers with two keen gamers, and they appreciated the retro yet future enhanced aspect of the game that was being served up. When things went weird, the natural premise for a Black Mirror episode, it was then interesting to observe their teenage reactions too. As the characters themselves then questioned, when their awesomely augmented avatars took them deeply into something physical far beyond fighting, ‘does this mean we are gay now?’

People are asking similar questions about online porn in general, is this cheating? Is it cheating if, in the digital world, your avatar has sex with someone, what does it mean about your real world sexuality if you chose, online a different gender to the one you prefer in the real world? What about another species?

These are all questions that we may not have any meaningful answers to yet, but we have probably already reached a point where people are experiencing these things, and are unsure what it says about themselves. The tech has raced ahead of our comprehension and our ability to make sense of it. Interesting times or scary times? While some may debate if this series is as cutting edge as previous ones, in terms of being provocative and thought provoking, it is on the money.

Episode two was well acted and watchable, and the knowing references to existing, over knowing social media companies were well drawn. As Andrew Scott moves towards his clearly foreshadowed nervous breakdown. He comments, as he tearfully relays he death of his fiance due to him using his phone while driving ‘I’m just giving you some user feedback here’ – it is both tragic and also darkly wry and humorous too.

In the real world the composite companies that Smithereens is based on, are rightly getting severe criticism for their money first and people’s privacy second approach, if this episode helps to increase this debate, then it will have been worth doing.

The third episode was for us the most fun. Slightly silly, and yet plausible, Miley Cyrus is a natural and great casting choice for such a fed up, oversold teenage girl icon. ‘Just be yourself’ the mini me doll says, before later slipping into ‘take that f@@king cord out of my arse’ which you can imagine Cyrus was delighted to deliver.

It is a fun, Goonies-eque type of caper, and you always knew that her catch song was ultimately going to morph into the Nine Inch Nails version we all know and love. Watch it, it’s fun, and almost one for all the family.

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