SPOILER ALERT: This article reveals some of the secrets behind the magical land of San Junipero.
The unique Netflix original series "Black Mirror" has stirred up a lot of conversation in the public and media. Named by Vogue as the potential "Twilight Zone of the digital age," the series consists of a number of somewhat unrelated episodes— each taking place in an alternate reality where a different form of life-altering technology exists.
Whether you're a fan of the show or not, there's one thing you can't deny: "Black Mirror" is intriguing. It challenges the viewer to think about how they would react to the positives and negatives of different technologies and if they would grow to love or hate them. The show's "San Junipero" episode, in particular, had me debating these questions...
"San Junipero" is a stand-out episode of Season 3. While most of the show's episodes focus on the dark side of technology, this episode focuses on a possibly positive technological advancement for the world. It tells the story of two characters who meet while visiting the town of San Junipero, a sort of man-made heaven that technology allows people to travel to after they pass away.

Although San Junipero only exists through technology, everything the people encounter there seems real to them. The distinct differences between this place and the real world are that people can seemingly decide to travel to the town during any decade they like, can opt to never be physically hurt or killed— and will always appear to be in their youth. It doesn't get much better than that, does it?
Although the lively, beach-side town exists primarily so that those who have already passed away can continue to feel as though they're living, people are allotted a certain amount of hours to visit San Junipero while still alive as well. This way, they can decide whether they would want to opt in or opt out of becoming a full-time San Junipero resident after they die instead of just be "gone," as one character puts it.
Now let's rethink your decision. Would you opt to live in San Junipero? Would you give it a trial run? Would you go if your loved ones chose to opt out or didn't get the opportunity choose? Are you confident and loyal enough to your uphold your religious beliefs about a supposed afterlife to pass up a practically perfect and guaranteed afterlife? Who knows what technology could bring us in the future— especially if it means that when the time comes we'll have to make these types of decisions.


























