Find a show, binge, and repeat. I constantly find myself shuffling through various shows on Netflix. Nearing the month of December, I stumbled across the masterpiece that is "Black Mirror."
Netflix's original series have become a favorite among users with shows like "Orange is the New Black" and "13 Reasons Why." Viewers enjoy these shows because they have a certain quality that sets them apart from all others out there. However, "Black Mirror" pushes this boundary and transcends those shows being streamed as of now.
The dystopian series that I quickly added to my list originally started off just as a British television series in 2011. Two years ago, Netflix decided to pick up its unusual and addicting subject matter. Each episode is completely unique from the other with different characters, storylines and directors. People do not necessarily have to watch the episodes in order. However, there are hidden eggs of characters or concepts throughout. Several top-name actors and actresses have appeared in these hour-long episodes.
The premiere episode for season three, titled "Nosedive," is my personal favorite. This episode starring Jurassic World's Bryce Dallas Howard is a great first episode for newcomers to watch. "The Office"'s Michael Schur and Rashida Jones worked on the teleplay while Pride and Prejudice director, Joe Wright, took part as director.
Based upon every interaction, people are able to rate one another on his or her phone. Howard's character, Lacie, obsesses over getting five stars. The stars basically represent one's social ranking, which determines how they are treated and what they can access. As things go askew, Lacie's ratings go down along with her bubbly facade. Moreover, the seemingly light subject matter and comedic air set this episode apart from others.
"Nosedive" sums up the entirety of the show's subject matter by expressing society's fixation on technology - specifically social media. Not to mention, the production quality is phenomenal. Based on the length and quality of each episode, the show almost acts as a collection of movies. Each storyline portrays a realistic future that may not be too far off if humans continue to follow a codependent path. Fortunately, season four was just released, so commence bingeing.