Black Mirror

Living Bobbeh · 12-06-2011, 05:33 AM

Black Mirror, Charlie Brooker's new three-part mini-series, began on Sunday and follows the dark-satirical Brooker has became known for since 2008's Dead Set. Inspired by The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror takes the story-with-a-twist idea and applies it to society's relationship with technology and the media.

The National Anthem, the first episode, follows the Prime Minister as he negotiates the release of the kidnapped Princess Susanna, the nation's idol. The ransom: Commit bestiality on live television with a pig at 4PM.
The ransom video, having been posted on Youtube, goes viral within minutes of being uploaded. The show then follows the government's attempts to track the kidnapper, how news channels cover the events despite being gagged by the government, and how the public goes from supporting the Prime Minister to baying for blood, eventually shaping the actions taken by the Prime Minister.

The show maintains a great pace and level of tension throughout the episode, with story beats ramping up the action to an amazing degree. While the actual premise of the episode being blackest of black comedy, the show treats the precedings with the utmost seriousness, making the show's closing moments absolutely harrowing. The Government's and the Internet Hivemind's actions are realistically portrayed, with parallels between this and Gordon Brown's apology to the "bigoted woman" being readily apparent, making the show just as enjoyable as a political cover-up story as it is as a piece of satire.

While there are a few moments of fridge logic with the premise ( How could a singular person kidnap a highly protected Princess?), I highly recommend the show to those who want bit of bite to their satire and I look forward to the next episode, which is being deliberately positioned immediately after The X-Factor Final.

Here's a trailer

12-06-2011, 05:33 AM	#1
Living Bobbeh That's NumberWang! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Twenty X'DY six! Posts: 1,127	Black Mirror Black Mirror, Charlie Brooker's new three-part mini-series, began on Sunday and follows the dark-satirical Brooker has became known for since 2008's Dead Set. Inspired by The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror takes the story-with-a-twist idea and applies it to society's relationship with technology and the media. The National Anthem, the first episode, follows the Prime Minister as he negotiates the release of the kidnapped Princess Susanna, the nation's idol. The ransom: Commit bestiality on live television with a pig at 4PM. The ransom video, having been posted on Youtube, goes viral within minutes of being uploaded. The show then follows the government's attempts to track the kidnapper, how news channels cover the events despite being gagged by the government, and how the public goes from supporting the Prime Minister to baying for blood, eventually shaping the actions taken by the Prime Minister. The show maintains a great pace and level of tension throughout the episode, with story beats ramping up the action to an amazing degree. While the actual premise of the episode being blackest of black comedy, the show treats the precedings with the utmost seriousness, making the show's closing moments absolutely harrowing. The Government's and the Internet Hivemind's actions are realistically portrayed, with parallels between this and Gordon Brown's apology to the "bigoted woman" being readily apparent, making the show just as enjoyable as a political cover-up story as it is as a piece of satire. While there are a few moments of fridge logic with the premise ( How could a singular person kidnap a highly protected Princess?), I highly recommend the show to those who want bit of bite to their satire and I look forward to the next episode, which is being deliberately positioned immediately after The X-Factor Final. Here's a trailer __________________ Be confident, Wear a Cape! Last edited by Living Bobbeh; 12-06-2011 at 08:07 AM.