It can be difficult to keep up with different television shows since tons of new titles have been added to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and Youtube regularly. Some may pass your radar entirely. “Black Mirror” is a show that completely went over my head at first. But after a night of committed binge-watching, it’s quickly become one of my favorites.
“Black Mirror” is a British anthology series created by Charlie Brooker. The show is set in a world of fantastical science fiction. It satirizes aspects of modern society and the human condition - namely our dependence on technology and the consequences thereof. The stories are wildly dark yet imaginative, and are so unforgettably compelling that I was hooked from episode to episode. And while I recommend the series as whole, there are five episodes in particular that everyone should see.
1. "The Entire History of You"
Season one finishes strong with a tale about the power of memory and erosion of trust. This episode stars Toby Kebbell and Jodie Whittaker as Liam and Ffion Foxwell, a couple who lives in a world where an implant gives you the ability to record everything you see. Memories can then be projected on a television screen and watched as home videos. Not only is the concept super creative, but it blends perfectly with the idea of trust. With specific moments from the past easily accessible, can a secret really be kept? In the case of Mr. and Mrs. Foxwell, can betrayal be kept a secret?
2. "Be Right Back"
The kickoff for season two is by far the most heart-wrenching episode on this list. Martha (Hayley Atwell) and Ash (Domhnall Gleeson) are a young couple who move into a new house in the middle of the countryside. All seems fine and well until Ash is tragically killed. Deeply overwhelmed with grief, Martha tries an experiment in which Ash can be carbon-copied as an android. The performances from both actors is great, and Atwell’s portrayal as a mourning lover is especially phenomenal. The episode perfectly captures the emotions that come with losing a loved one. Most of all, it makes you wonder what you would do if you were in a similar situation. If you could recreate a fallen friend or family member, would you?
3. "Nosedive"
Social media is a dominant force in modern culture. People tend to base their self-worth on the amount of followers they have or the number of likes their selfie gets on Instagram. The season three premiere adopts the idea and takes it to the upmost extreme. Directed by Joe Wright (“Atonement” and “Pride & Prejudice”), this episode stars Bryce Dallas Howard as Lacie Pound, an insecure woman trying to attend the wedding of a conceded childhood friend (Alice Eve). Lacie lives in a pastel society where individuals rate each other using a mobile device. Popularity is crucial, since ratings function as a matter of social classism. Lacie’s quest is both pathetic and sympathetic, but it also highlights the utter nonsense of how our dependence on social media can shape us into something we’re not.
4. "San Junipero"
I’m not one for mainstream love stories. They’re bland, predictable, sappy and sporadic and seem to only feature the most beautiful people. I prefer romances that examine complexities of love, and present it in a quirky, interesting way. “San juniper” is my cup of tea (and I don’t even drink tea). A shy woman named Yorkie (Mackenzie Davis) walks into a club in 1987 and is instantly smitten with a party girl named Kelly (Gugu Mbatha-Raw). The characters feel real, the setting is beautiful and the whole thing feels genuinely romantic. Their relationship doesn’t feel superficial, nor does it feel forced. As we watch their relationship blossom into something more, the episode also explores the issues of fantasy vs reality, what happens after death and identity. While a majority of the show criticizes, this one explores.
5. "Hated in the Nation"
Trolls. They’re everywhere. Comment sections, Twitter feeds, online chat rooms, social media pages. Internet hatred can spread like a common cold, infecting a wide range of people in a short amount of time. It’s a pandemic in our society. Worst of all, the perpetrators are rarely perpetrators. The season three finale, “Hated in the Nation” provides somewhat of a catharsis. Karin Parke (Kelly Macdonald) and her partner Blue (Elizabeth Berrington) investigate the murders of two public figures, both of whom became targets of online scrutiny after doing or saying something stupid. When the body count threatens to skyrocket, the detectives work against clock to find the invisible culprit. This episode plays like a feature film, and anyone who’s a fan of detective thrillers will absolutely love it. It’s not too complicated to follow, it’s emotional and it’s disturbing to say the least. The episode rolls a bunch of different themes into one - the nastiness of the Internet, the question of whether trolls deserve harsh punishment, government surveillance and control and even the scarcity of honey bees. Nevertheless, you’ll be on the edge of your seat from start to finish.