Charlie Brooker's BLACK MIRROR

watched season one. 'The Entire History Of You' is instant classic science fiction, filled with so many horrifying details. Most films running with the scenario would build the plot around the totalitarian aspects, and I basically assumed this was going to follow the lead of a film like Gattica, opening with scenes of an annual performance review hinging on managers rescreening his last year's worth of life, or going to the airport & getting his last week of life ffwded through on a tiny screen by a stranger at customs, but instead they get all of that out of the way in the first five minutes and move on to relationships. the density of the script, the number of scenarios they play out in the way a couple's arguments will progress given instant access to recordings of every second of each other's lives -- replaying micro-clips, edited to make their points, forcing people to watch things, demanding to see the other's memories. definitely needs to get mentioned in conversations with things like Coming Apart / The Conversation / Brainstorm.

the other two episodes I was far less impressed with, just as brutal but with far less insight or detail. but even though this thread doesn't make it seem like season two picks up the slack, still worth watching.

interesting that was the only one brooker didn't write. it was jesse armstrong from peep show (being made into a robert downy jr film iirc)

but yeah, classic science fiction. like i said above, would be so great if the uk produced a series to rival 50s twilight zone - quite possible off the back of TEHOY, but not so much the rest

Watched the first two last night - the first is good, audacious, etc.; but the second is goddamned draining and exhausting. Can't wait to watch the third tonight.

'The Entire History of You' is the high point of the series. even though it's a living nightmare, anyone who uses a computer should watch it.

I like the second one because I like that song that sounds a bit like the flamingos.

finally broke down and T0RR3nt333333333DDDDdddd
v v curious

i mean as much web love as this got in 2013 it is amazing it has pretty much no US distribution

It is weird that Netflix US couldn't make this deal happen. Mirror, Shadow Line, Utopia ... I mean if they can get Engrenages they should have been able to get this going

I kind wish Brooker would intro each ep on the DVD with cig in hand Rod Serling-style

Maybe it'll show up on Youtube complete. The 2013 Wipe and 25 Games specials are both on there, which is how I got to watch them from over here without torrenting.

yeah not sure why neither this nor utopia have wound up in the US. I t0rr3nt3d too. they were great.

could have something to do with the film option on the one episode that Robert Downey Jr has maybe

iron man shagging a pig

would watch

jesus christ the pig fucking episode

what in the fuck

White Christmas, 16th December, ch4

That was pretty good.

Yeah, nice format, unusual for TV.

Not mind blowing but, you know, a decent hour and a half of television.

can't wait to see this, just rewatched the first 2 series over the weekend.

this was pompous sophomoric trenchant social commentary bullshit just like the one episode of this I endured a few years back (and nearly everything the nearly useless charlie brooker produces) but it's improved slightly in terms of watchability

Not avail legally in the U.S.?

netflix streaming.

can't find the new thing on there tho

it only aired here last night.

From the bits of half-watching I did it seemed to be the usual 1984 type bollocks.

jeez do you guys hate fun? this was like a solid mid-level episode of the Twilight Zone, i.e. fun, except with an extra layer of Brooker's pointless cruelty which i could have easily done without

I like fun but I especially like being accused of hating it because that is the last refuge of someone who knows they're defending something shit & it's nice to get reassurance

"It's like mid-level something old, but much worse!"

ooh fun

the prosecution rests you ornery old git

I just happen to catch bits of it and am allergic to a lot of Orwell. Then again I am not interested in fun.

=]

I don't know if I buy the last few minutes of "The Waldo Moment" - it reads more like the comedian's worst nightmare than "reality," it's just too...cartoonish (heh).

Just watched S1 ep1. Seemed like I missed the payoff at the end? The story comes to an end pretty much like you would expect from the setup. I guess I'm missing the magic. Just a depressing story.

My sense of this show - episodes are good to great - is that the biggest aim is to leave a viewer with a bit of nasty aftertaste and food for thought. Like, tons of conversation should follow. After watching all seven of these I'm just bursting with ideas and fears and wanting to talk to other people about it all.

I didn't really like the American idol concept one, except for the vending machine graphic when he bought an apple of "People who purchased your item, also liked [banana pic]"

I don't think I often see such varied opinion on which episodes were best or worst. For me, the one with the recorded memories dragged the most of all.

banana graphic def a hilight of that one

ok if I'd have known the first episode was "fortyfive minutes of guy being forced to fuck a pig" I wouldn't have watched it

I feel like we need a separate Black Mirror thread for people who want to discuss it instead of hate on it

caught this on a stopover in london. guardian ran two reviews, one disgusted three stars, one disgusted four stars. it sure was uncomfortable. but if you liked Black Mirror!

http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/mar/08/game-review-mike-bartlett-voyeurs-audience

was the first episode directed by banksy? does this get better?

1st ep is a series lowpoint IMO but maybe it has extra appeal if you're english c.2012? -- I was told not to bother with it & went straight to S1E2 "Fifteen Million Merits" -- sorry I couldn't warn you in time

series lowpoint IMO

correct

was the first episode directed by banksy?

basically, yeah

e01 reads like an extended dramatisation of one of brooker's one-liners. didn't really merit being made into a whole episode.

dayo the only ones really worth watching are s01e03 s02e01 and the christmas special. and even those have an annoying DO U SEE? quality

Charlie Brooker has an annoying DO U SEE? quality.

i liked S01E02 but it was sentimental in a Christmassy way that might not work in summer.