I almost titled this ‘The Best Show on Netflix’; and while I could make that argument, my goal is not to argue with you. My goal is to bring some much-deserved attention to an incredibly smart and well-done Netflix series. The show I’m talking about is…
If you’ve already experienced Black Mirror (and it IS an experience), I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. If you haven’t seen Black Mirror yet, you’re missing out. I’m going to do my best to pique your interest without giving away any spoilers; because part of the appeal of Black Mirror are the unexpected twists in each episode that will take you completely by surprise.
To give you a short, spoiler-free description; Black Mirror is a dark, sci-fi techno-horror that hits a little too close to home by perverting technology (much of which already exists) for purely evil intent. Each episode will leave you uneasy at how uncomfortably close we are to the tragic world depicted on the screen. You will see yourself in the characters. You will wonder if these things could actually happen; and more importantly, could they happen to you? In many cases, the answer is “yes”… and it’s terrifying. In fact, the show reminds me a lot of the Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits.
Before you start down the rabbit hole, I have an odd piece of advice: DO NOT start with episode one. Just don’t. It’s a disturbing introduction to the show that will turn some people off. I know what you’re thinking; “I’ll just start from the beginning anyway. How bad could it be?” Trust me… don’t. Just don’t. I’ve warned people, and they ignored my advice, and every… single… one of them came back and said “You were right. I should’ve listened.” So just trust me, DO NOT start with episode one.
“So where should I start?” you’re probably asking. Good question. The good news is that you can start anywhere because each episode features it’s own unique story, independent of the other episodes (again, similar to the Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits). So, with the goal of having Black Mirror cast it’s disturbing reflection on your own life, here are a few suggestions on where to start:
- If you’re obsessed with photographing and/or recording every moment of your life, start with “The Entire History of You” (Season 1, Episode 3)
- If you’ve ever worried about hackers gaining access to your webcam, start with “Shut Up and Dance” (Season 3, Episode 3)
- If you’re concerned about what happens to your online persona after you’re gone, start with “Be Right Back” (Season 2, Episode 1)
- If you really need to get ‘likes’ on social media, start with “Nosedive” (Season 3, Episode 1)
I could keep going on and on, because this show covers a lot of topics, but if you really want my advice, I recommend starting with my personal favorite episode; “15 Million Merits” (Season 1, Episode 2) which is a disturbing look at consumerism and the entertainment industry. After watching this episode, and then gradually recovering from your cocoon of depression, you’ll wonder aloud in horror; “My God, if episode two was this disturbing, what could possibly happen in episode one?”
You’ll see.
Until Next Time,
Rogue Hippo