Black Mirror has found its spiritual home. The move from England's channel 4 to Netflix seems as inevitable as the choose-your-own-dystopias the show lays out for us. Netflix, after all, is a service that has made bingeing acceptable, so where better to house Black Mirror, an addictive show that tackles the fears we have about society.
The newest season of Black Mirror is so bleak that we formed a PCMag support group on Slack, where each week we'll chat about an episode from Black Mirror's third season; here's our chat about episode one and episode two. This week, Rob Marvin, Victoria Song, Matthew Buzzi, Jordan Minor, Pete Haas, and Sascha Segan discuss the Charlie Brooker-written episode "Shut Up and Dance."
Sascha Segan [2:15 PM]
I did not watch this episode. I do not need additional medical bills for mental health treatment.
I do not need a TV program telling me people are awful a day before Trump voters are prepared to overturn election results using guns.
Rob Marvin [2:16 PM]
That was a good call, as this was a 100 percent bleak and feel-bad episode. Zero redeeming qualities
Jordan Minor [2:16 PM]
also, like, not even sci-fi
Marvin [2:17 PM]
Not even a little.
Matthew Buzzi [2:17 PM]
Barely even tech
Marvin [2:17 PM]
For the loyal readers of our chats, this week our support group is tackling episode 3, "Shut Up and Dance"
which was basically an episode of Luther without Idris Elba
Minor [2:17 PM]
I remember reading stories about British teenagers killing themselves because they got caught in Skype scams like this
Marvin [2:18 PM]
Everything about this episode was pretty much plausible.
Except maybe the bank robbery
Buzzi [2:18 PM]
Must have been the inspiration. But it was just a short thriller film.
Segan [2:19 PM]
BTW psst https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compliance_(film)
Buzzi [2:19 PM]
It was like, okay on its own with a pretty crazy twist? It wasn't 'bad'. But as a Black Mirror episode, I was mostly just wondering why it was a Black Mirror episode. (edited)
Pete Haas [2:19 PM]
It didn't feel like Black Mirror at all
Victoria Song [2:19 PM]
^ agreed
It felt like one of those indie horror films
Haas [2:20 PM]
I was expecting a very different twist, though
my guess throughout was that Bronn was actually an accomplice to the whole blackmail
Marvin [2:20 PM]
I watched with buzzi and the whole time we kept asking "all the kid did was jerk off to some porn...don't rob a bank!" So I suppose in that way the twist made sense.
Song [2:21 PM]
I thought it was telegraphed way too early
Chekhov's gun and all.
Buzzi [2:21 PM]
Yeah I was thinking, I get it, as a kid that seems all-important and everything, but at a certain point you just HAVE to draw a line
Song [2:21 PM]
So I wasn't surprised by his uh, proclivities
Buzzi [2:21 PM]
I was wondering if Bronn (yes we're going with that) was in deep on it too @pete_haas
especially when he wasn't there right away after robbing the bank
well, aren't you just so smart @v.song
Haas [2:22 PM]
right, and the fact that he actually has to talk the kid into robbing the bank
Song [2:22 PM]
I am SUPER SMART
Buzzi [2:22 PM]
when did you start thinking that?
Song [2:22 PM]
I had my doubts at first, but about the time when he met the courier on top of that parking lot
Segan [2:23 PM]
Pretty sure she's been thinking that most of her life, that's kind of how you end up working here
Marvin [2:23 PM]
Thank goodness for the Bronntent in this episode. Otherwise, there would've been literally nothing positive to take away from it
Song [2:23 PM]
And the guy says "Just do what they say and it'll all go away."
I mean, this is Black Mirror
Buzzi [2:23 PM]
Haha not that, Sascha, but well played
Haas [2:23 PM]
as my brother-in-law pointed out, it's funny that Bronn is into whoring no matter what universe he's in
Marvin [2:23 PM]
Buzzi [2:23 PM]
Yea, he was basically just playing Bronn
Song [2:24 PM]
Well nah.
I think Bronn would've been like
Ok. So I whore.
And?
Buzzi [2:24 PM]
I could see the suspicion early, but I was willing to believe that alone would motivate a kid enough
Song [2:24 PM]
Well the humiliation I get, but after a bit?
Haas [2:25 PM]
yeah, I was thinking more along the lines of Compliance where the power they had over him was illusory
Song [2:25 PM]
Would you really be willing to murder and kill someone or rob a bank
Buzzi [2:25 PM]
Well when he was finally faltering Bronn rubbed in just how bad it would be and stay with him forever to push him over the edge
Haas [2:25 PM]
or again, that Bronn was the accomplice. because having someone there to coax the target along is more powerful than just sending text messages
Song [2:26 PM]
Right. Bronn's egging was realistic, but at the same time, there was just something about that kid's acting (which was great btw)
in that scene with the little girl.
Marvin [2:26 PM]
whoever it was behind the trollface, they knew how to play human nature against itself. I'll give 'em that. And Bronn's egging was ok
Haas [2:26 PM]
I'd love to know how the script for this episode changed from draft to draft. was that always the ending they planned?
Song [2:27 PM]
I have a feeling yes, because the idea that if they just do what they're told, it'll all go away
is repeated over and over again throughout the episode.
and because Black Mirror never lets you off the easy way, you have to think they're setting you up for that ending.
Buzzi [2:27 PM]
What did the twsit even tell us, we supposed to be happy that it's bad people?
Also how did he kill that dude
Minor [2:28 PM]
That cruelly punishing bad people is still cruel?
Song [2:28 PM]
Yanno, this episode felt like a less gory version of Saw.
Where there's some sort of mastermind making "bad" people jump through hoops
Buzzi [2:28 PM]
Did it even make us think it was cruel? it framed it like, gotcha! see! they deserved it!
Haas [2:28 PM]
yeah, what jordan said. unfortunately, this is at least the second time that Black Mirror has toyed with that concept and this time they did a worse job of it
Marvin [2:29 PM]
There wasn't a whole lot to take away. This was ultimately maybe the most forgettable episode of the show I've seen to date
Song [2:29 PM]
I mean...I had some complicated feelings. Yes the kid had an extremely taboo proclivity, but as far as the audience knows, he never acted on it in the sense he abducted a little kid. These are people with a serious mental illness...and...what is the show trying to say about that?
Minor [2:29 PM]
I think the idea of putting not-an-adult in a situation where they are peeing themselves robbing a bank is supposed to be seen as cruel
regardless of larger context
Song [2:30 PM]
Btw, I'm not like...condoning what the character did do.
Buzzi [2:30 PM]
It is, but the ending doesn't really drive that idea home. If you knew they were bad from the start, and then made you feel sympathy even for bad people, that would do what you're saying (edited)
Song [2:30 PM]
But i felt the whole "twist" and the "punch" was a bit....it fell short somewhere in what it wanted to say about "bad people."
Or maybe that was the only way they felt they could leave it off--by being vague.
Marvin [2:31 PM]
"People are bad. The people who did it to them are worse. Cover your webcam." *fin*
Haas [2:32 PM]
"everyone is terrible and so is this episode"
Song [2:32 PM]
New Etsy stores selling webcam covers.
Minor [2:32 PM]
Great title tho
Marvin [2:32 PM]
^
Song [2:32 PM]
Also good acting.
Haas [2:33 PM]
yeah, the main duo in this episode is really strong
Marvin [2:33 PM]
The main kid's acting was superb. And Bronn provided great Bronntent.
Buzzi [2:33 PM]
Any particular moments stand out? Was just sort of watching horrified the entire time, really
Haas [2:33 PM]
I would probably have liked this episode more if it was a film rather than a Black Mirror episode. because the fact that it feels shoehorned into the show bugged me
Song [2:33 PM]
Tbh, their chemistry is probably the only thing that makes this episode work at any level. In my binged all-knowingness, however, I gotta say I think this the weakest episode of the season.
Minor [2:33 PM]
That bit where they drive with the guy's sister or something?
Song [2:34 PM]
That was good!
Buzzi [2:34 PM]
Oh that was pretty good. The tension of trying to act normal as she chatted
Song [2:34 PM]
The "soccer mom" who didn't know when she'd overstayed her welcome
Marvin [2:34 PM]
That was as lighthearted as it got
Haas [2:34 PM]
or when the boy is explaining that they filmed him masturbating and bronn's like "...well everyone does that."
which was funny before you know the truth. it was a very bronn reaction
Marvin [2:35 PM]
I also liked the shot of the kid walking up the hill in the dark to the final battle in the forest, for some reason. Just a well-framed shot.
Song [2:35 PM]
@pete_haas another clue!
Minor [2:35 PM]
What if it was Chris Hansen on the phone?
Song [2:36 PM]
The collective exhaustion after having watched this episode is apparent.
Haas [2:36 PM]
and they ruined a perfectly good cake
Buzzi [2:36 PM]
It just didnt fit at all
Marvin [2:36 PM]
This was the Barb of Black Mirror episodes. Let's just leave it in the upside down and stop looking for it
Buzzi [2:37 PM]
Yes
Song [2:37 PM]
OMG. LEAVE BARB ALONE.
Buzzi [2:37 PM]
Exactly
Marvin [2:37 PM]
Haas [2:37 PM]
I agree. leave barb alone in the upside down
Buzzi [2:37 PM]
Alone in the upside down
Pete gets it
Song [2:37 PM]
ANYWAY
Minor [2:37 PM]
I do think the fact that this is literally a thing happening right now is interesting, if sad
Marvin [2:38 PM]
The webcam thing, for suuuure. So many horror stories about that nowadays
Minor [2:38 PM]
but like specifically the webcam sex blackmail stuff
Haas [2:38 PM]
Black Mirror is usually good about taking some piece of current-day tech and then stretching it to horrible proportions. I was hoping they'd do the same with ransomware/blackmail here
Marvin [2:39 PM]
I suppose it was horrible enough as it is. They didn't need to embellish much
Haas [2:39 PM]
it feels like they threw in the drone at the end because they got a producer's note that there's not enough tech in the episode
Buzzi [2:39 PM]
S1E1 did the blackmailing better, I guess
Song [2:39 PM]
Marvin [2:40 PM]
^which we just watched! Slowly catching Buzzi up on the old eps
Song [2:40 PM]
I think S1E1 made the ethical "What would you do?" Point a lot better
it was arguably more unrealistic (until David Cameron proved us all wrong), but it was a better thought exercise for sure
Haas [2:40 PM]
I guess we're also getting to the point in Black Mirror's lifespan where it's going to repeat itself a bit. this episode just pales in comparison to older episodes with similar notes
Buzzi [2:41 PM]
Luckily, next time we can talk about episode 4!
Song [2:41 PM]
FINALLY
Marvin [2:41 PM]
Yep, I think that's about all I have to say about that.
Haas [2:41 PM]
Episode 4: "What If Something Good Happened?"
Buzzi [2:41 PM]
wow~
Minor [2:41 PM]
Ep 4 (futuristic, hopeful, good) is the complete opposite of this
Song [2:41 PM]
Episode 4: Like Star Wars, you're done with the prequels. Here's the stronger three episodes.
Though to be fair, I did enjoy Nosedive quite a bit.
Buzzi [2:42 PM]
I liked the first yeah
This was so strange though
At any rate, let's close this depressing book
Marvin [2:43 PM]
What did you think about Shut Up and Dance, Bronn?