Think about it. When was the last sci-fi anthology series that actually worked since The Twilight Zone? There have been some series over the years that have caught our eye, but nothing really compares to the 1960's series that we all can recall at least one or two distinct episodes from. Or maybe until now.
To be quite honest, I did not get on the Black Mirror bandwagon until this year. But once I started, I was hooked, and couldn't stop.
I originally started with the third season first (as it was recommended to me and I would recommend it to others); however, it truly does not matter where you start since each (yes each) episode is completely different and singular from the others. Each episode is a stand alone story that starts and ends in the one sitting you watch it in. Basically like short films. How's that for satisfying?
Each episode feels really meta relative to what we have been accustomed to in this day and age. Episodes like "Nosedive" or "Hated in the Nation" from Season 3 show us how our addiction to technology, and how each of us interact with others via social media, influences our outlook on life.
At the core, many of the episodes express what it means to have a meaningful interaction with one another. With all the minutia we experience in our day-to-day lives, and with all that we go through as individuals, it can be hard to come to terms with what genuine communication actually is anymore in the 21st century.
What we can all appreciate about Black Mirror is that it is giving people, who wouldn't normally go for this type of genre, a taste of what Sci-Fi is. What people don't always understand is that Sci-Fi is such a wide spectrum that it can range from something like "Her," to "Inception," all the way to the "popcorn" type of Science Fiction movies like "Star Trek."
Yes Sci-Fi has a tendency to demand more from an audience, and there are times where it can be too cerebral for regular, laid-back TV consumption. But because each episode of Black Mirror feels like a breath of fresh air in what you would normally see on TV, it can suck you into this existential train of thought and keep you on an all-night binge.
What sets this show apart from the rest is that most episodes gives you at least one recognizable actor that keeps you invested in what each new ep will continue to offer.
Black Mirror is doing something TV shows don't always explicitly do. It's giving people a foreshadowing into what their behavior and actions now could possibly lead to in the near future.
