While I enjoy the concept of the story and appreciate the message, the main reason I find this a tad boring is that it isn't anywhere revolutionary - the message is relevant and poignant, sure, but it's nothing new. It certainly sets itself up as if it is though, and also, I assume, sees that as a valid reason to be a bit lacking in characterisation.
This episode is so painful. Very dystopian.
Best episode of the show. One of the best episodes of television, period.
this is fucked up, man.
We are only a few years away from the gamification of every activity. This is what meaningful television looks like.
I can't say anything more than this was the most painful, awfully truth hurting and exceptionally reality modeling episode I have ever seen...
We are used to the typical imagined repressive dystopia, where our movement is limited and our will is repressed. But what if what happened is the reverse--a world where we willingly surrender our will, because of, as Huxley aptly put it, our "infinite appetite of distraction"?
That's what this episode is. A very good satire on a media-saturated world, where we . A world where everything is consumed as pure entertainment, and what we worked hard through and through (the endless cycling) ultimately is to reach the goal of consumption. It is a world where distraction is structurally offered in every chance--a world full of copious amount of advertising, that we cannot resist or even reject, as rejecting makes it our loss (literally, as skipping commercial costs a dime here).
As it is a world of mass consumption, as its consequence, it is also a world restraining for women. As women is judged first by her look and second by her other qualities. Abi, a good singer on her own, nevertheless has to submit as a porn actress as she is deemed too pretty and too hot. Even the woman judge has to agree, though she must shed her tear in silence.
The ending strikes as powerful as it reinforces the whole theme of the episode. As Bing attempted to kill himself after pointing out all the fault in the world--the facade and the inauthenticity--then judge is then silenced. But only for a brief moment. They then continue to judge and value the amusement of Bing's speech as an entertainment--a "performance"--as the shocked audience then also greet Bing with a thunderous applause when the judge offered Bing his own show for a heart-breaking speech. Eventually, the supposedly revolutionary Bing agreed with the offer. Bing became Che Guevara of his world, but even more ironic is the fact that he commoditize himself--he ended up being as the very reason of the existence of the farce he criticized.
The biggest problem with a show like this is, if you can see clearly, than those stories aren't that shocking. Personally I stay away from all this crap anyway and I don't need a reminder of how sick this all is. And if you don't see what's happening in the world then the point is lost on you anyway.
In any case this episode was too long. Could have been done in half the time.
there's so many symbolism that I can't even start where.. but it's pretty much how the society works even nowadays. the need for fame over dignity, body shaming, white washing, looking up at people who aren't even worth it at all, people who thinks they are better than you but in reality, they aren't..living lives in a box, there's just so much to take in in this episode.
This is like the saddest Black Mirror ever got. Every character is so chronically lonely that it makes you wanna cry. They are so socially inept that it brings out an almost disney-esque cute tone when they interact with one another, which is pushed further when Abi shoots for the stars and enters a talent show in hopes of becoming a star all thanks to Bing. It's an insanely cute relationship but the episode makes sure to always have a slight underlying darkness to it all. Really, they were so bored that they're doing this almost as just 'something to do' and the so-called aspiration is completely dictated by the commercials they are being sold on their own personalised TVs.
It then, of course, gets very dark and intense and the pornography ad that oddly kept popping up throughout the episode makes a full return and kills any chance of happiness for anyone, including us.
Leading man Daniel Kaluuya is remarkable - that speech is iconic and does such a good job portraying a man who is so depressed, almost never showing emotion or sign of life, until he finally snaps in a fit of rage which he and his forehead vein pull off perfectly...and then the actual ending/cut to credits is thought-provoking in seminal Black Mirror fashion, and even slightly meta too.
This episode is becoming more and more true to life every year.
Brilliant episode. Scaring. To consumers. Period.
This show keeps feeling really high-brow. There's nothing about this series that can be judged on the surface, but rather deeper and meta. There's an entire iceberg under the surface of after-thoughts associated with this show, and I love it. This is so, so discussion-worthy. The second episode holds one of the best speeches I've heard on a television show, and a sadder message that we all can relate to, regardless of the fact that this episode takes place in a more dystopian, futuristic reality.
I had to be strong to be able to finish watching this episode, the story takes place in a poorly built universe, in which peoples' lives are basically biking and interactions with game-like interfaces looking like a Kinect game. Also, you are left with almost no information about the rest of it and how it works, and the only signs the show gives makes you think the whole thing takes place inside a single building constraining people in a reality show.
Messed up episode..
I felt bad for Abi
When you think the guy will revenge his lovely oneitis and make a revolution in the system. he just joins the system and makes a confortable life too. It's a TL;DR of every revolutionary.
Very good introduction to the series. This should've been episode 1 imo.
Really loves the world, but the episode makes the characters feel such pawns to the plot and world-buildings instead of fully realized characters (I know the situations mean the people in this story are subservient, but it would be nice to have them extend beyond their archetype details so the horror of this story hits home more), so that I wasn't quite the whole way emotionally engaged, although the world disturbs me in a good way.
Really speaks as to how our society works and how people usually lack the spine that is needed to make something of yourself in this mad world. Great episode and great show so far!
Screw Judge Wraith. Like seriously.
Heart breaking. The ending was a bit soap boxy, but how it plays out reinforces that feeling. Makes me glad I stopped watching porn and regretful for some of the videos I have seen. Pacing was done well.
Traveled in this episode, I loved it, very good form it showed.
Personal Ranking.
Last 30 minutes are amazing.
hahahaha it's fck!ng amazing I really like it.
7.5/10
So Good
This show is so
Frickin Awesome
and the ingenious way it
is written means it's
ageless and Timeless
it always remains so
Relevant and current.
in fact here's a little
Relevant story from
2023.
I know a girl right who is
Great looking, i mean hot
but who is also
very very intelligent and
driven.
She went to university
to study Law,
She put the years and
hours in their to become
a very successful Lawyer
but before she completed the
Degree she followed what all
her friends did and dropped
out to become an overnight
Internet sensation
With an
"Only Fans" page
To which she now earns
a 7 digit figure every couple
of months for taking her
Clothes off and performing
on request Sexul acts
over the Web. She's
actually in
the top 1 percent of being
The best and highest paid
on Only Fans right now.
"True Story".
Sad really when you
Think about that,
what she gave up
with hard dedication
to simply throw it all
away so she can
Take her clothes off
for millions of people
and make more money
than most of us will see
in our lifetime.
Everyone is free to do
what they choose as long as
no one else is getting hurt and I'm not
Judging her but for the relevance of this particular
episode just thought I'd share this story for how
Spot-On
Black Mirror
actually is with it's
dark reflection on
the world at large.
(plus I've just finished
this year's BGT
and started AGT).
We all want to be free from the chains of this world. That's how selfish we are. We do what is convenient for us even if it is harmful.
I want the page to enter my, you moron.
My favourite episode of Black Mirror so far!
"I have a dream, a song to sing. To help me cope with anything.
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale.
You can take the future even if you fail".
I watched this episodes last year and instantly knew Daniel Kaluuya was something special, especially the mental breakdown scene.
Great idea and script but not impressed too much as it my first Black mirror's episode i watch.
That awkward moment when you're spitting game and Wraith Babes comes on...
This episode is so good! It's really eye-opening to how our society works. No thanks to this episode, I can't stop listening to "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)" by Irma Thomas.
Dignity > Fame & Comfort
How awesome that it didn't end in any other way but this. Brilliant writing.
Fuck! This is so good. What about this TV junk? Perfect!
Amazing TV, best of Season 1 for sure.
Wow, I found this to be very disturbing.
McLuhan would have loved this. In a painful way I guess..
Shout by NimazakiBlockedParent2018-02-01T22:58:17Z
I feel weird saying this while most people seem pretty hyped up about the show; I get the idea. This is a good episode regarding the concept. But did it really have to be this lengthy and tedious? I got bored out of my mind halfway through the episode, same as the first one. Except, well, the first episode was simply disturbing and traumatic.