Alright, so now that I’ve watched the whole season, I can say this time the show packs a light punch. Most episodes are more heartfelt, and sure, they show how tech is tied into our daily lives and just not in the usual Black Mirror way.
Eulogy:
This episode is one of those that makes you wonder, what would it feel like to revisit memories you’ve buried? The good ones… or the painful ones. Trying to recollect moments with someone you once held dear, someone you may have loved more than yourself. It’s honestly heartwarming in a very real, quiet way.
Hotel Reverie:
You know how AI taking actors’ jobs has been a big debate few years ago? We saw a hint of that last season, but this one takes it to a new level with the ability to recreate black and white classics in real time, using modern actors and tech to update the story. Of course, with tech, things are bound to go wrong and that’s Black Mirror for you. But it’s not the usual kind of “what did I just watch?” chaos. Instead, it’s wild in a feel good way, a different flavor, but not a bad one.
Bête Noire:
Children, teenagers especially can be a lot. Picking on easy targets, sacring them with words and humiliation, it can’t be just fixed with a simple apology. That’s where this episode shines, when you mess with school tech nerd, years later they are just hell bent on changing the reality to make you feel what’s like to be an “easy target”.
Plaything and Common People:
These two felt like the old Black Mirror the dark, twisted, and rooted in that “you gotta do what you gotta do to survive” kind of narrative. They were well executed and left me wanting more. There’s real depth in both that could totally lead to sequels in future seasons. But even if we never get that, letting our imagination fill in the blanks isn’t such a bad thing.
This season was honestly enjoyable. Nothing over the top, not like the old days, but it tried something new and that’s always welcome.
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