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BuzzJack Music Forum _ Television _ Black Mirror • Series 4
Posted by: lotita 28th May 2017, 09:04 AM
ArkAngel. Directed by: Jodie Foster
USS Callister. Directed by: Toby Haynes
Crocodile. Directed by: John Hillcoat
Hang the Dj. Directed by: Tim Van Patten
Metalhead. Directed by: David Slade
Black Museum. Directed by: ??
s4 CAN'T COME QUICK ENOUGH
Posted by: J▲hq 25th August 2017, 11:49 PM
GIVE US A DATE
Posted by: Klaus 26th August 2017, 10:35 AM
I'm guessing it might be coming at a similar time to last year so late October/November?
INCREDIBLY hyped though and so happy to see it continuing/growing to get the attention it deserves!
USS Callister looks very different to usual, can't ever really comment though as they always subvert your expectations!
Arkangel
Directed by: Jodie Foster
Starring: Rosemarie DeWitt, Brenna Harding and Owen Teague
USS Callister
Directed by: Toby Haynes
Starring: Jesse Plemons, Cristin Milioti, Jimmi Simpson and Michaela Coel
Crocodile
Directed by: John Hillcoat
Starring: Andrea Riseborough, Andrew Gower and Kiran Sonia Sawar
Hang the DJ
Directed by: Tim Van Patten
Starring: Georgina Campbell, Joe Cole and George Blagden
Metalhead
Directed by: David Slade
Starring: Maxine Peake, Jake Davies and Clint Dye
Black Museum
Directed by: Colm McCarthy
Starring: Douglas Hodge, Letitia Wright and Babs Olusanmokun
more big names there! Particularly excited for Georgina Campbell and Maxine Peake!
Posted by: ♡ Heezus Froot ♡ 18th September 2017, 09:10 AM
'San Junipero' won an Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie 
Posted by: lewistgreen 21st September 2017, 09:33 PM
I've only just started Series 2 as I had been meaning to watch it for ages. What a stunning show this is, had no idea a 4th series had been done!
Posted by: Doctor Blind 21st September 2017, 09:34 PM
I saw that, throughly deserved. Looking forward to a new series as well, can't believe it is already a year gone since the last one.
Posted by: burbe 21st September 2017, 09:43 PM
I'm also on Series 2 atm! Incredible show, I really should've watched it sooner. I reckon I'll be done in time for season 4 tho
Posted by: Lorderella 21st September 2017, 11:21 PM
I knew about it for ages but never got myself to watch it but omg it's one of the best TV shows now.
i cannot f***ing wait.
the other day i saw some youtube ranking of the episodes and why do they always put the boring ones at the top?! the one with memories on video and the dead guy being brought back by girlfriend in particular. okay so this calls for a full blown rankings oops
01. s01e02 15 million merits
02. s03e01 nosedive
03. s03e04 san junipero
04. s02e02 white bear
05. s03e06 hated in the nation
06. s03e05 men against fire
07. s02e04 white christmas
08. s01e01 the national anthem
09. s03e03 shut up and dance
10. s03e02 playtest
---
11. s01e03 the entire history of you
12. s02e01 be right back
13. s02e03 the waldo moment
seriously that top 10 is mindblowingly good. nosedive is probably a bit too high but i just loved the concept and i believe it's probably the closest to the actual future, or in some ways it's already the present
Posted by: UltraReputation 21st September 2017, 11:23 PM
I still need to get round to watching this!!
Posted by: Chez Wombat 21st September 2017, 11:59 PM
Was so surprised that this show won not one but two Emmys, this show was always far too under the radar for how good it was so I'm so glad it's getting a deserved breakthrough (even if it was an episode quite against the general feel that made it so!)
Posted by: Josh! 22nd September 2017, 09:09 PM
I still haven't watched all of these (and I'm watching them all out of order) but this is easily my favourite TV show at the moment. Every episode makes my jaw drop in some way and they're all so intelligently written.
Going to copy Pavel's idea and do a ranking but I'll try and see all of the episodes before Series 4 hits Netflix. I can't wait !! 
1 Shut Up and Dance
2 The National Anthem
3 Nosedive
4 The Entire History of You
5 White Bear
6 The Waldo Moment
7 15 Million Merits
8 San Junipero
9 Playtest
10 Men Against Fire
Posted by: HarryEzra 22nd September 2017, 09:58 PM
My top 10 ranking goes:
1. The Entire History Of You
2. NoseDive
3. White Bear
4. Be Right Back
5. San Junipero
6. Shut Up And Dance
7. White Christmas
8. The National Anthem
9. Hated In The Nation
10. Playtest
11. 15 Milion Merits
12. Men Against Fire
13. The Waldo Moment
Posted by: BridgeCow 22nd September 2017, 11:04 PM
Ranking:
1. Entire History of You
2. White Christmas
3. Nosedive
4. Shut Up & Dance
5. White Bear
6. Hated In the Nation
7. San Junipero
8. Playtest
9. Be Right Back
10. Fifteen Million Merits
11. The National Anthem
12. Men Against Fire
13. The Waldo Moment
The Waldo Moment is the only actually weak episode for me, still love 12 and up
Posted by: Chez Wombat 22nd September 2017, 11:14 PM
White Bear
Hated in the Nation
Fifteen Million Merits
White Christmas
Nosedive
The Entire History of You
San Junipero
Shut Up & Dance
Be Right Back
Playtest
The National Anthem
Men Against Fire
The Waldo Moment
I think that would be a rough ranking, the bottom 2 were the only two I probably wouldn't watch again and would call a bit obvious in what they were saying. We need an official rate after S4~
Posted by: Klaus 23rd September 2017, 11:32 AM
yasss good to see so many fans of the show now, it's come a long way especially after its two Emmy wins!!
Not that I've watched it yet, but if you like Black Mirror, Channel 4's new show http://www.buzzjack.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=204336 seems to follow a similar dark anthology style and has an all star cast too!
My possible ranking:
White Bear
White Christmas
San Junipero
Nosedive
Fifteen Million Merits
The Entire History of You
Hated in the Nation
Shut Up & Dance
The National Anthem
Playtest
Be Right Back
The Waldo Moment
Men Against Fire
haven't seen some of S1/2 since they were first broadcast tho so a rewatch is possibly in order soon~
Posted by: Severin 23rd September 2017, 12:06 PM
It's all about White Bear for me
1. White Bear
2. The National Anthem
3. White Christmas
4. The Entire History Of You
5. Playtest
6. Shut Up And Dance
7. NoseDive
8. Be Right Back
9. Hated In The Nation
10. 15 Milion Merits
11. San Junipero
12. The Waldo Moment
13. Men Against Fire
Posted by: danVember 13th November 2017, 07:11 PM
Just started watching with season three and Nosedive seems scarily accurate of what the future will be like. 
Posted by: dandy* 13th November 2017, 07:14 PM
I rate that post a 3 out of 5.
Posted by: danVember 13th November 2017, 09:59 PM
well fortunately I still have a four star average 
Posted by: dandy* 14th November 2017, 08:05 PM
It's really not that dissimilar to the star rating under each member on here is it?
Posted by: Liаm 14th November 2017, 08:10 PM
I need to watch the rest of this, I've seen the Prime Minster one and 15 Million Merits, both genius in their ways!
Posted by: Styles Bilinski 25th November 2017, 06:15 PM
one trailer a day followed by unannounced Friday release pls
Posted by: lewistgreen 25th November 2017, 06:28 PM
omg is it finally coming? *.*
Posted by: Chez Wombat 25th November 2017, 07:08 PM
Gah, give us a date! 
it's a lot later than last year despite trailers showing up around the same time, I certainly hope it's still this year!
Posted by: BridgeCow 25th November 2017, 09:15 PM
this looks so gooooood BUT I NEED A DATE
imagine if it comes out this friday I would die
Posted by: Klaus 25th November 2017, 09:18 PM
Not going to watch the trailer(s if we get more!) as want to go into the episodes without much knowledge!
Posted by: Jack 25th November 2017, 10:10 PM
Pleeeeaaaaase this year, I have nothing to watch!
Posted by: Klaus 26th November 2017, 10:52 PM
omg the trailer for Crocodile has been released.
COULD JAHQ BE ON TO SOMETHING?? 🙏🏻
Posted by: lotita 27th November 2017, 11:17 AM
GIVE ME THIS!!!
Posted by: Klaus 27th November 2017, 07:30 PM
He replied to someone on Twitter saying Series 4 is ‘*imminent*’!!
I’m very much feeling Friday 
Posted by: Jack 27th November 2017, 07:53 PM
YASSS!!
This weekend sorted if it is Friday.
Posted by: burbe 27th November 2017, 09:25 PM
Friday PLEASE
Posted by: Christmas Cherry. 29th November 2017, 11:03 AM
Black museum looks TERRIFYING and I’m here for it
Give me a date so I can cancel all my plans
Posted by: ionderella 29th November 2017, 11:36 AM
omg my boyfriend told me there were new episodes out yesterday (which it turns out was just a couple of trailers 
) and I literally dropped everything and got to googling.
Cannot f***ing wait. Life will be put on hold when this comes out.
Same. It just ruins shit.
Posted by: BridgeCow 29th November 2017, 07:10 PM
BLACK MUSEUM LOOKS AMAZING
Posted by: Christmas Cherry. 29th November 2017, 11:51 PM
tbf the trailers are being very good in they give f*** ALL away which also frustrates me because what we see is super intriguing and it just looks so incredible
GIVE.IT.TO.ME
Posted by: Klampus 6th December 2017, 05:49 PM
FRIDAY 29TH DECEMBER.
THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
Being released in the weirdest week of the year then, fitting! It will make up for the shit UK TV Christmas schedule too!
Posted by: Christmas Cherry. 6th December 2017, 05:52 PM
Omg
Posted by: Jack 7th December 2017, 01:17 PM
Perfect timing, there's literally nothing to watch around that time as well!
Posted by: Doctor Blind 7th December 2017, 01:42 PM
I'm working that day! Grrr. But I look forward to the new series all the same - very, very excited!!
Posted by: ChristmasTreeCow 9th December 2017, 06:45 PM
I'm so ridiculously excited for this, it comes out like a week before my mocks sooo I guess I'm not revising whoops
Posted by: lewistgreen 14th December 2017, 04:00 PM
Episode sequence is as follows:
1. USS Callister
2. ArkAngel
3. Crocodile
4. Hang the DJ
5. Metalhead
6. Black Museum
Posted by: ChristmasTreeCow 15th December 2017, 04:27 PM
hmmm, I mean I haven't seen it yet, but USS Callister seems to be the least Black Mirror-y of the bunch so if people watch that as their first ever episode I hope it doesn't put them off like The National Anthem did for some
Posted by: ML Hammer95 24th December 2017, 02:50 AM
Watched two episodes of this for the first time with my mate yesterday and I've barely been able to think about anything else since!
(I watched Shut Up and Drive and the Christmas episode).
Both captivating and with plot twists I didn't see coming. Struggled to sleep after watching them idk why.
Posted by: MerryFlynnmas 24th December 2017, 04:08 AM
(I watched Shut Up and Drive and the Christmas episode).
Both captivating and with plot twists I didn't see coming. Struggled to sleep after watching them idk why.
Binge watch them all mate tbh!!!
Posted by: ML Hammer95 24th December 2017, 04:20 AM
Ngl I half want to watch them all but half wish I'd never watched what I watched.
Posted by: ionderella 26th December 2017, 08:12 PM
i'm almost counting the hours at this point
good god friday evening get here faster!
Posted by: BridgeCow 28th December 2017, 09:10 PM
Omg this is on netflix at 8AM GMT I'm so excited, I thought I was gonna have to stay up all night watching it but now I can actually sleep
Posted by: ionderella 29th December 2017, 12:34 AM
imma leave it until after work to enjoy without any stress <3
Posted by: Dexton 29th December 2017, 04:30 AM
Incredibly hyped for this, it’s one of those shows where you have absolutely no idea what to be expecting most of the time. You know there’s probabaly a plot twist coming, but you can’t tell when it will come or what it will be. The episode with the hunting and everyone on their phones (can’t remember the name but if you’ve seen it you know which one I’m talking about 
) is brilliant - Black Mirror in a nutshell.
Hoping for more like that this year, as well as some more amazing acting. Jon Hamm I’m looking at you
Posted by: Liаm 29th December 2017, 04:40 AM
I just watched that one - White Bear! I've seen all of season 1, Nosedive and that/Be Right Back and White Bear is definitely my favorite. Absolutely incredible omg
I still have to watch season 3 and have Jan exams so might be late to this but I can't wait, can't believe it took me so long to get into this show!
Posted by: UltraReputation 29th December 2017, 04:42 AM
So excited for this! I've finished season1 and half of season 3 and this is so good *.*
Posted by: lewistgreen 29th December 2017, 10:00 AM
Just watched Episode 1 and it was great!
Posted by: Yuki On Ice~ 29th December 2017, 12:17 PM
Oh god when will I find the time to see this now. All caught up so I might start a dive in tonight but I don't know if I'm prepared.
Posted by: lotita. 29th December 2017, 12:25 PM
I’m on episode 3 and holy shit
USS Calisster was a work of ART. Could already be up there as a fav
Posted by: Klampus 29th December 2017, 01:39 PM
omg USS Callister is incredible!! I'd heard all the good things about it beforehand but still hadn't been particularly excited as I'm not really into the whole Star Trek thing but oh my, that was brilliant!
I thought it started off a bit slow but once the actual plot got going, I was really gripped. Odd that you can feel sympathetic for a character only for it to be completely turned round, he was absolutely horrible! A really horrible ending for him too, being stuck for eternity in... nothing. A surprise nice ending for the crew too, would have maybe been interesting to see what happened after in the real world but I know the story wasn't really about that.
Excited for the rest, but I'm going to try and spread them out!
Posted by: lotita. 29th December 2017, 03:27 PM
JUST FINISHED ALL OF IT. i'll spoiler everything below
episode rank:
1. USS Callister
2. Metalhead
3. Black Museum
4. Crocodile
5. Hang the DJ
6. ArkAngel
general thoughts/reactions:
On the whole a really, really good season. USS Callister is the huge stand out for me, probably because it took me by complete surprise. I was expecting to find that episode the boring one seeing as I'm so uninterested in Star Trek but jesus, my heart was pounding throughout and I thought the storyline was so smart, acting was fantastic with some incredible one liners and also the filmography was amazing. Metalhead as well took me by surprise, a really simple storyline but so intense and the ending was heartbreaking, especially that final shot. Black Museum also was very interesting and an intriguing choice to round off the series, the moment where she walks off with the bear at the end is iconic, I spent half the episode thinking she had walked into a death trap so to see her prevail was amazing. Crocodile got me so angry in the classic Black Mirror way, especially when they pointed out the baby was blind!!!! I was already reeling enough that she killed him. Codger wins lad of the season award :'). Hang the DJ I'm still a little confused about, is the whole simulation world just for the one couple? The final scene lost me, but on the whole it was such an interesting premise. ArkAngel, despite being last in my ranking, I can't really fault as it was very thought provoking, it just didn't stand out as much as some moments from the other episodes
Posted by: BridgeCow 29th December 2017, 04:59 PM
Ranking:
1. USS Callister
2. Crocodile
3. Hang The DJ
4. Arkangel
5. Black Museum
6. Metalhead
Wow the whole thing is so f***ing amazing, I love that this season was nowhere near as depressing or dark as the others as this year's already been a shitstorm so it was nice to have a sort of break. I was completely blown away by USS Callister, usually this sort of space opera thing a la Star Trek isn't for me at all but the plot and the way it unfolded was so smart and clever and I was completely not expecting it to have such a happy ending (also Aaron Paul at the end *.*), I could actually watch a whole spin-off series of the crew stuck in the game at the end. Crocodile also was a big surprise as we knew little about it going in and the whole memories idea wasn't really intriguing me but man it's probably one of the darkest most depressing episodes yet, the lengths she went to just to protect her status and identity, and I was sure she'd gotten away with it all to be happy with her family (I think the happy ending of USS Callister influenced me) but THAT DAMN HAMSTER WHAT, I didn't know wether to feel happy she'd gotten justice or sad that she's now lost everything. Hang The DJ really impressed me too, I had heard that it was gonna be the San Junipero of this season so I was intrigued but I wasn't expecting this, I got sooo hyped when they had the whole 'f*** the system' speech and I was rooting for them to get together (as this being Black Mirror I wasn't sure what to expect in the end), and that simulation twist completely got me by surprise and I thought it was dead clever how they bring back the 99.8 number ( I'm also intrigued by the two simulations where they didn't run off together. Arkangel was such a great character study, something BM always does best, and probably the most heartbreaking BM episode yet, as watching their relationship completely fall apart was just so hard to watch, but for some reason this didn't grab or impact me as much as the others, part of me wishes she'd killed the mother as I think that would have better stressed the idea of technology leading to the downfall of parenthood and there being no such perfect system or method of parenthood. Black Museum was really great as well and I loved the White Christmass-y structure, the first story about the guy addicted to pain, in particular, was so good and could have been an ep to itself (so could have the next one too tbf), but I found the twist a bit lacklustre and random and I think it could have been a lot better, like the museum guy wasn't exactly a very good person but he didn't deserve to die, it had a lot of potential but I think it just wasn't used that well, but the way all the stories connected together at the end was so satisfying to watch. I did like Metalhead too, I loved the artistic cinematography and it was so insanely tense the whole time, but I just feel like it needed some backstory, just some explanations about what the dogs were there for, is it a post apocalyptic world? was that due to the dogs? etc... (I've read some things about the dogs apparantly replacing police and acting as Judge, Jury and Executioner, and obviously this hasn't worked too well causing the world to be in this state), also wasn't the hugest fan of the twist with the teddy bears being the item they were trying to steal, I feel like it wasn't really necessary and causes a lot of the story's weight to be lost for me.
Overall though, just f*cking amazing tbh
Posted by: lotita. 29th December 2017, 05:09 PM
1. USS Callister
2. Crocodile
3. Hang The DJ
4. Arkangel
5. Black Museum
6. Metalhead
Wow the whole thing is so f***ing amazing, I love that this season was nowhere near as depressing or dark as the others as this year's already been a shitstorm so it was nice to have a sort of break. I was completely blown away by USS Callister, usually this sort of space opera thing a la Star Trek isn't for me at all but the plot and the way it unfolded was so smart and clever and I was completely not expecting it to have such a happy ending (also Aaron Paul at the end *.*), I could actually watch a whole spin-off series of the crew stuck in the game at the end. Crocodile also was a big surprise as we knew little about it going in and the whole memories idea wasn't really intriguing me but man it's probably one of the darkest most depressing episodes yet, the lengths she went to just to protect her status and identity, and I was sure she'd gotten away with it all to be happy with her family (I think the happy ending of USS Callister influenced me) but THAT DAMN HAMSTER WHAT, I didn't know wether to feel happy she'd gotten justice or sad that she's now lost everything. Hang The DJ really impressed me too, I had heard that it was gonna be the San Junipero of this season so I was intrigued but I wasn't expecting this, I got sooo hyped when they had the whole 'f*** the system' speech and I was rooting for them to get together (as this being Black Mirror I wasn't sure what to expect in the end), and that simulation twist completely got me by surprise and I thought it was dead clever how they bring back the 99.8 number ( I'm also intrigued by the two simulations where they didn't run off together. Arkangel was such a great character study, something BM always does best, and probably the most heartbreaking BM episode yet, as watching their relationship completely fall apart was just so hard to watch, but for some reason this didn't grab or impact me as much as the others, part of me wishes she'd killed the mother as I think that would have better stressed the idea of technology leading to the downfall of parenthood and there being no such perfect system or method of parenthood. Black Museum was really great as well and I loved the White Christmass-y structure, the first story about the guy addicted to pain, in particular, was so good and could have been an ep to itself (so could have the next one too tbf), but I found the twist a bit lacklustre and random and I think it could have been a lot better, like the museum guy wasn't exactly a very good person but he didn't deserve to die, it had a lot of potential but I think it just wasn't used that well, but the way all the stories connected together at the end was so satisfying to watch. I did like Metalhead too, I loved the artistic cinematography and it was so insanely tense the whole time, but I just feel like it needed some backstory, just some explanations about what the dogs were there for, is it a post apocalyptic world? was that due to the dogs? etc... (I've read some things about the dogs apparantly replacing police and acting as Judge, Jury and Executioner, and obviously this hasn't worked too well causing the world to be in this state), also wasn't the hugest fan of the twist with the teddy bears being the item they were trying to steal, I feel like it wasn't really necessary and causes a lot of the story's weight to be lost for me.
Overall though, just f*cking amazing tbh
i'm so glad i have someone to discuss it all with!!!!! why is no one else hard core binging
LMAO I know how you feel @ the hamster. I did actually really feel for Mia but completely lost it when she killed the baby, I literally angrily screamed at my laptop. TOO FAR GIRL. Interesting that Hang the DJ has been compared to San Junipero, I'm intruiged to read more interpretations on it's ending because I'm still slightly lost, although your post clears it up a bit more :'). Also glad to see I wasn't the only one shook when the mother actually survived, although the brutalness of it coming full circle to her actually losing her daughter was quite chilling
Posted by: BridgeCow 29th December 2017, 05:16 PM
LMAO I know how you feel @ the hamster. I did actually really feel for Mia but completely lost it when she killed the baby, I literally angrily screamed at my laptop. TOO FAR GIRL. Interesting that Hang the DJ has been compared to San Junipero, I'm intruiged to read more interpretations on it's ending because I'm still slightly lost, although your post clears it up a bit more :'). Also glad to see I wasn't the only one shook when the mother actually survived, although the brutalness of it coming full circle to her actually losing her daughter was quite chilling
ikr!!! Even my friends who watch it are only on like ep 2 or 3 and I'm like ffs finish already
It's just that when they revealed the baby was blind as well I completely lost it ahjqdbhja that ep left me an emotional wreck, when all the police walked into the school play I was freaking out, I feel like I shouldn't empathise with her but I can't help it.
I think Hang The DJ's ending is supposed to be like they run 1000 simulations like this for every single possible couple and they see how many end up together in order to work out how compatible the couple are, I thought it was dead clever and such a neat idea
Yeah tbf when she walked out of the house screaming for her, like when she lost her originally, was just so painful to watch, she was just trying to protect her daughter and that's how it ended up
I think Arkangel will be one to grow on me in the future Posted by: lotita. 29th December 2017, 05:33 PM
It's just that when they revealed the baby was blind as well I completely lost it ahjqdbhja that ep left me an emotional wreck, when all the police walked into the school play I was freaking out, I feel like I shouldn't empathise with her but I can't help it.
I think Hang The DJ's ending is supposed to be like they run 1000 simulations like this for every single possible couple and they see how many end up together in order to work out how compatible the couple are, I thought it was dead clever and such a neat idea
Yeah tbf when she walked out of the house screaming for her, like when she lost her originally, was just so painful to watch, she was just trying to protect her daughter and that's how it ended up
I think Arkangel will be one to grow on me in the future THAT MAKES SO MUCH MORE SENSE!!!!!! oh my god that is so clever and really deep!!!
yeah i feel like i need to watch them all again, maybe next time i'll space them apart
overall i'm so impressed though, i'm just still so shook by USS Callister
Posted by: BridgeCow 29th December 2017, 05:49 PM
yeah i feel like i need to watch them all again, maybe next time i'll space them apart
overall i'm so impressed though, i'm just still so shook by USS CallisterI neeeed to watch them again, I should probably space them out next time too lol this is affecting me too much, i'm still shook by pretty much all of them tbh I'm a mess rn
Posted by: ionderella 29th December 2017, 07:56 PM
is it weird that i don't want to even start it?? it's like if i start it i will binge it and watch the entire thing before tomorrow and what do i do next??!
on the other hand i won't be able to NOT binge watch this
decisions decisions
Posted by: lotita. 29th December 2017, 08:10 PM
binge
Posted by: Klampus 29th December 2017, 08:12 PM
I can’t binge it, at the end of every episode I have so many thoughts in my head that I need to take a break because it has such a lasting impact
plus it means i can saviour it more as who knows if/when we’ll get Season 5
Posted by: ionderella 29th December 2017, 08:18 PM
OR
you can binge it and then in a year's time rewatch it again
Posted by: ionderella 29th December 2017, 08:27 PM
in hindsight it's ridiculous how i left half of season 3 unwatched last year (i started it with my boyfriend but he's not a binger so we didn't finish it) until only a few months ago when i watched the remaining episodes of previous seasons as well.
Posted by: dandy* 29th December 2017, 08:34 PM
I'm two episodes in... loved the opener, the second episode was good but felt much more like a typical Black Mirror story.
Posted by: BridgeCow 29th December 2017, 08:37 PM
This happens to me too, but I still binge it so I get 6x the amount of thoughts and turn into a complete mess
Posted by: Winter Wombatland 30th December 2017, 02:07 AM
USS Calister was BRILLIANT, it was the one I was least looking forward too going by the promo, but ofc. it was completely not what I expected I loved how the reveal went from something as innocent as a seemingly harmless introverted guy playing a fantasy game at first, before you realise the crew are actually aware of everything and he's an all out psychopath, very classic Black Mirror at heart even though it was done in a completely different way, I'm glad the crew got a relatively happy ending, I'm never sure if the show will give us that sometimes! Pretty harsh for Daly as he's essentially dead, but then he was pretty horrible. Also loved the casual office speak fit to space :')
My thoughts on the rest will come soon~ (I could never watch the whole series in a single day, like Klaus said, each episode leaves too many thoughts spinning that I need time to digest it! Also, why would you want to finish it that quick? D:)
Posted by: UltraReputation 30th December 2017, 02:15 AM
This is utterly incredible, just finished the first two episodes *.*
Binging the rest of the season now, f*** knows what time I'll be up until 😂
Posted by: UltraReputation 30th December 2017, 05:59 AM
My ranking:
1. USS Callister
2. Arkangel
3. Hang the DJ
4. Crocodile
5. Black museum
6. Metalhead (the only one I didn't love)
My thoughts on the episodes will come later today!
Posted by: Jack 30th December 2017, 11:45 AM
I liked USS Callister but I didn't think it was AMAZING as some on here thought. Seeing everyone put it at their top is almost putting me off .
Posted by: ionderella 30th December 2017, 06:27 PM
oh my god
oh my GOD
OH MY GOD
OH MY GOD!!!
CROCODILE.
i am traumatised. holy shit!!! I think I need a moment or two to digest this episode. I didn't think they would go this far.
and that juxtaposition of such incredible cruelty and intensely beautiful scottish landscapes.
Posted by: ionderella 30th December 2017, 09:57 PM
i just finished this.
ranking:
1. crocodile.
good god I didn't expect it to have such a profound effect on me. I was SHOOK during the last 10 minutes. such a fantastic ironic ending with the hamster. you look at the bigger picture trying to not get caught but forget details. heartbreaking story with incredible beauty of Scotland serving as a kind of counterweight to the brutal dark nature of the episode. work of art.
2. hand the dj
i was a huge fan of san junipero and it instantly gave me those vibes. the silly 'we're just inside a simulation' and 'why is it always 4?' comments really got me thinking too and turns out yeah it was a simulation. little hints were giving away everything if you could take a closer look. either way this was an amazing episode. the idea is fantastic. and the concept of your consciousness being transferred from vessel to vessel like it's water goes throughout the entire show - previous seasons included (white christmas anyone?). of course we don't know for sure if it's their real self in the simulation or just some rough outline but i'm thinking since the simulations are that complex, it could be the former.
3. arkangel
probably the strongest and most relevant idea to the current world. how things have changed throughout the past few years for the parents and it will keep changing. i suppose this is the future. either way, the episode was amazing. not knowing where to draw the line is a theme for like half of the episodes this season! but it's hard to judge the mother even though what she did is unforgiveable. despite the age we are all separate human beings with the right to private thoughts experiences and feelings.
4. uss callister
i don't think he was a full-blown psycho. if he was he would probably try to act it out in real life. it's more like a combination of lack of confidence, cowardice and not realising the extent of what he's actually doing. it's also quite hard to feel bad for the rest of the characters as they positioned themselves as real asses in the office. the happy ending was a bit of a let down. i wanted something a bit darker. but then again we got plenty of that later with arkangel, metalhead and crocodile :')
5. black museum
even though it's second to last here it's still an amazing episode. it just wasn't flowing as well as the rest. i guess this is down to there being many different flashbacks and sub stories. i loved that they serve as kind of mini BM episodes but the addicted to pain story was a bit of a filler which could've easily made for a standalone episode like was previously mentioned. the 'monkey wants a hug' part killed me though. that alongside the white christmas personal helper story is like my nightmare.
6. metalhead
still f***ing good. the only thing is lack of strong storyline other than your basic post-apocalyptic rising of the machines thing. but then again i don't think BM have explored that territory much yet. some of the acting from the main character was slightly literal with all the 'ouch', 'ooh', etc. but other than all is good
Posted by: ionderella 30th December 2017, 10:00 PM
i f***ing love all the elements scattered throughout the episodes connecting them to older stories and tying everything up together too! and not just in black museum. the wraith babes film from crocodile for example! i'm sure more will come up on repeated viewings of old and new episodes. i don't believe they passed up on a chance to include some of the things from earlier seasons
Posted by: lotita. 30th December 2017, 10:05 PM
I was really impressed by this too!!!! The attention to detail is amazing
Posted by: lotita. 30th December 2017, 10:05 PM
Also I thought crocodile was filmed in Iceland?!
Posted by: lotita. 30th December 2017, 10:05 PM
Talking of film locations was hang the DJ filmed in stourhead?!
Posted by: ionderella 30th December 2017, 10:38 PM
oh didn't know that. that makes more sense now although the accents were clearly british so i thought it was scotland coz snow oops
Posted by: dandy* 31st December 2017, 12:21 AM
Just finished Metalhead and I'm not sure I understood the ending at all... was it supposed to be a reference to White Bear or something? It had crossed my mind that they were part of some sort of 'real life' hunt show but I'm guessing not... was it just supposed to show that there is nothing precious left and everyone wants something nostalgic or comforting?
Posted by: ionderella 31st December 2017, 01:12 AM
i thought it was supposed to show grim and hopeless reality of that world. if people risked their lives for a teddy bear it means there's not much left of anything including hope. That couple laying in bed kind of gives you that impression too
Posted by: lewistgreen 31st December 2017, 09:15 AM
Ok so just finished. Loved them all but I think Hang the DJ was probably my favourite, but only by a margin as they were all so damn good. 6 EPISODES IS NOT ENOUGH CHARLIE.
Posted by: Klampus 31st December 2017, 11:51 AM
omg crocodile. SO dark!!
Once again, so interesting how your sympathy for a character can just dissolve throughout an episode. It's actually quite funny that she ends up getting caught by a hamster! The acting was superb though, she came across as increasingly cold but still aware (and regretful) of what she'd done. The final scenes at the play were particularly amazing from her.
Arkangel was solid but perhaps a bit too seen it before ie hands off my daughter, daughter gets mad at parents, although of course it did the whole Black Mirror spin on this! I thought it started out really well but I thought they were going to do more with the filter ie its dangerous to completely block children from seeing harm. I thought they were going to do something with the Grandad suffering a stroke and that he might die due to the daughter having no idea what was going on.
Posted by: dandy* 31st December 2017, 02:09 PM
Ah okay, that would be a sensible interpretation. The actress in that one gave a really good performance I thought, especially as she managed to shake off my initial OMG it's the young one from Victoria Wood's Dinnerladies!
Posted by: Iz~ 31st December 2017, 05:00 PM
I saw USS Callister last night so I'm just going to comment on that without reading beyond page 3 because WELL, that was one of the best Star Trek satires I've seen and as a Trekkie I've been aware of more than a few (sorry can't hardcore binge yet). Although to be fair what self-respecting Trek nerd that can go into what is effectively a holosuite of their favourite TV show doesn't at least make it Next Gen focused?
But that was quite the way to reintroduce the series, what with people being trapped in a computer game (anime did it well with Sword Art Online, but this did it better), really quite horrific and opens up a ton of debates as to whether the people we were watching on the USS Callister were really real people or just facsimiles created by the AI of the program that THINK they have the memories of the people in the real world. The latter seems more realistic and actually more horrifying if AI gain intelligence, think they're real people and think that humans are torturing them for their own amusement. So many layers and that it had a fairly light ending for a Black Mirror episode doesn't change that this seems like one of the darker episodes of the series in its ramifications
Will be watching the rest when I get a chance, I hope they're as good as that.
Posted by: dandy* 3rd January 2018, 10:21 PM
Finished them all now. I was convinced before it began that I was going to be freaked out by Black Museum and, whilst it wasn't entirely freak out free, I really enjoyed it and found it to be one of the best episodes of the series. It's a difficult one to rank, I really enjoyed Hang The DJ, Black Museum and USS Callister. I enjoyed the other three also but they didn't stay with me in the same way and I'm not sure I'd rush back to watching them again. It's probably no coincidence that the three I preferred all have happier than anticipated endings. I think Metalhead was probably the worst of the bunch for me, possibly because it had none of the thing mentioned in the spoiler tags to balance it.
Posted by: dandy* 3rd January 2018, 10:21 PM
URGH - that moment when you type Metalhead and a dog barks in the fields behind your house
Posted by: Klaus 3rd January 2018, 10:25 PM
I’m nervous to watch Metalhead because so far the order seems similar to Season 3 aka 01. big budget ep, 02. more traditional black mirror ep nothing too standout 03. rootable person turns out to be evil with a very dark ending 04. happy love story ep sooo that might make Metalhead the shit one
and I’ve heard literally nothing about Metalhead which was the exact same for Men Against Fire
Posted by: dandy* 3rd January 2018, 10:33 PM
Oh it's better than Men Against Fire - dive on in...
Posted by: Dexton 4th January 2018, 07:19 AM
I really want to talk about this and read what everyone else has to say but I've only seen USS Callister & Arkangel so far (which are both f***ing briliant).
Posted by: ionderella 4th January 2018, 08:55 AM
I really liked Men Against Fire, don't see why it gets so much hate
But yeah that similarity is pretty bizarre and I wonder if that was intentional...
Posted by: LewisGT 4th January 2018, 02:01 PM
I've finished the season. I thought it started off well with USS Callister, and Arkangel was alright but a bit average.
But I absolutely hated Crocodile. Black Mirror has done some pretty out-there episodes but it has always still felt realistic for me. But this episode didn't at all. When she killed the first guy it felt so odd and out-of-place. I didn't even realize what she was doing for a few seconds. And the killing of the blind baby felt cheap.
But the show won me back over completely with Hang The DJ. I'm usually more into the dark episodes, I seemed to be the only person who didn't love San Junipro last year as I thought it didn't feel like Black Mirror. But this season the 'happy ending' one is easily my favourite. The concept was cool and the acting was brilliant. I really wanted them to get together.
I found Metalhead ok. The ending felt a bit underwhelming. I know they were trying to leave it open-ended but it didn't work for me. The dogs were cool, I wanted to know where they came from. And what was the teddy bear all about, we're the going to transfer someone's consciousness Black Musuem style?
But Black Musuem was an amazing episode that really felt like classic Black Mirror. The Doctor story was my favourite part. I would watch a whole episode just based on that. I also loved how all the stories intertwined with the development of the human consciousness technology increasing with each one. All the nods and references to other episodes were cool as well.
Overall I think the season did not quite live up to the standards of the previous but it was still always a fascinating and immersive watch and I can't wait for it to come bkac. Or for just anything from Charlie Brooker, I was very disappointed that the Wipe Of 2017 got cancelled.
Posted by: ionderella 4th January 2018, 06:06 PM
But I absolutely hated Crocodile. Black Mirror has done some pretty out-there episodes but it has always still felt realistic for me. But this episode didn't at all. When she killed the first guy it felt so odd and out-of-place. I didn't even realize what she was doing for a few seconds. And the killing of the blind baby felt cheap.
Do you mean it was unnecessary to kill that guy? It felt pretty logical to me. The technology of looking into memories already existed and there was quite a chance they would find him and see that he had an accomplice. And imo killing of the baby was necessary to actually fully show Mia's character. After that scene you had absolutely no doubts about her anymore. Unless you mean something else.
Posted by: HausAlone 4th January 2018, 06:08 PM
USS Callister was a brilliant opener - wacky, absurd and twisted. It's not a favourite of mine, in fact it'll rank fairly low in the grand scheme of things because I prefer the GRIT the show delivers but it was a really strong experiment and executed pretty flawlessly.
Arkangel was one of my favourite technological explorations but my GOSH it failed to deliver. My main issue was the casting - the girl aged 15 played by a 21 year old who looks like she's in her mid 30s. Some really choice moments throughout with the dialogue, pacing and acting and all together i'd blame it on Jodie Foster's directing rather than the idea at heart. The ending was a complete joke too AND I sided with neither party involved (mother and daughter).
Crocodile was phenomenal. It was the show at its most gripping with twists and turns throughout.
Hang The DJ was up there with San Junipero - a truly stunning piece of cinema. Perhaps the strongest acting i've seen on the show since it debuted. A beautifully crafted story, so modern yet so timeless. The ending had me gagging and researching all over the internet for alternative interpretations.
Still to watch the final couple ~
Posted by: Klaus 4th January 2018, 06:45 PM
I’m going to do a Black Mirror rate in a few weeks time or so, giving everyone time to watch Series 4!
Re Crocodile the first killing (of her ex) appeared more accidental for me and came from a form of anger and the realisation she needed to quieten him and it does come from the coldness of her character too. Then it just spirals out of control as, the more you try and cover things up, the more ‘plates’ you have to spin so to speak and I found it fascinating to see that downward spiral follow the cold character!
Hang the DJ was a superbly acted story but I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as everyone else seems to have done. It’s certainly not on San Junipero levels for me!! Is it just me who despite finding the ending happy, it can also be interpreted as very dark. There were ONE THOUSAND versions of them existing in that virtual world. The fact we have USS Callister in the same season highlights that darkness for me, because those 1,000 versions all have minds of their own and have had to suffer ‘the game’ I guess of the app.
Yesss this is my thoughts! The premise looked to be so good, it created a lot of interesting questions but it just fell flat for me and underwhelmed me.
Posted by: LewisGT 4th January 2018, 07:16 PM
I think it was the speed in which she decided to kill him that felt a bit weird. She literally went from asking him to not to say anything to murder at ultra speed. She just seemed a little to unconcerned about killing her own friend. She also didn't seem to know much about the memory technology which made me think that wasn't the reason she did it.
Regarding the baby, it was really the choice to make it blind that felt cheap, it didn't really add anything to the plot over than just try to make the audience feel a little bit more disgusted I felt.
Posted by: HarryEzra 4th January 2018, 07:55 PM
Rank
1. USS Callister
2. Hang The DJ
3. Metalhead
4. Black Museum
5. Arkangel
6. Crocodile
USS Calister - I was a bit skeptical going into this due to it not sounding Black Mirror esque but it ended up being my favorite. I started off liking the main character but as he became quite evil in keeping them in the video. I was very glad they escaped and that he got his comeuppance.
Hang The DJ - I adore this episode like San Junipero just quite simply stunning filmmaking wise and the story actually being quite happy for once. I was shipping them two together and yes that made it quite predictable even with the virtual world. The ending though...still don't fully understand it but was very good.
Metalhead - One of the more avant-garde episodes they have done. I loved how tense it was. The ending was very open to interpretation which I feel like was needed for this ep if it was closed I it wouldn't have gone with the story imo.
Black Museum - I loved the main story with the girl and the guy. What was even greater was that they had little hints to the final story in the first two subplots. The first sub-plot was alright but the second I wish was explored in its own story it would have been like White Christmas meets Be Right Back. The final story I feel like was a bit rushed left me to struggle to care about the killer/his wife and daughter. YES to the easter eggs in this episode too.
Arkangel - Hmm tricky one to rate I love the premise and was excited about this as I LOVE Jodie Foster. However, it falls a bit flat. I side with both the mother and daughter. Of course, you don't want your children to see horrible things but at the same time, I believe that shielding them can cause more harm than good. Especially when you meddle with your child's personal life. Overall I can't help feeling it could have done MORE especially with that awful ending.
Crocidile - Now don't get me wrong this episode isn't weak per say in fact none of them are. They all are strong and have got good things about them. Its just I feel like with this type of story you should empathize with the protagonist but she was really unlikeable. First of all, she is a bit dumb she doesn't want to go to jail for something that happens a long time ago but commits more murders to add to her eventual sentence?? . I sort of agree with someone that said that the killing the baby felt cheap and what I think he means is it felt really like shock value for the sake of shock value. That felt very not like Black Mirror to me. In fact. I was more interested in the insurance storyline and would have loved to see that lady come out on top and send her down for the murders.
Posted by: HausAlone 4th January 2018, 08:20 PM
Metalhead is a complete non event? Nothing happens in it, I didn't think once about any subtext or anything!? Why did we care about the woman trying to run away? Nothing to it at all the ending was a cop out too, but omg black and white so arty~~!!1
I'm glad it's the second lowest rated on IMDB (second only to Waldo :'))
Posted by: Klaus 6th January 2018, 12:57 PM
Wow Metalhead was a very simple story, I liked how it was trying to evoke a horror film but I'd have preferred it to have explored more about the dogs, learn more about what the three were trying to achieve. Why were they taking the van as well? Did they know the dogs would be there, there didn't really seem to take precautions? I guess it was quite tense with the determined unstoppable nature of the dogs but it is one of the only episodes where I've not really cared/thought about it afterwards.
Black Museum was superb although I wasn't as keen on the first story as everyone else. I much preferred the second one, definitely gave me White Christmas vibes which I got chills about and, like Pavel, that idea of a consciousness living quite uselessly forever is one of my worst nightmares, particularly when she's stuck in the bear and has lost all communication. What does Nish plan to do with the bear though, surely it's more humane to kill it but if it's illegal?? (although she has just killed someone and committed arson so... ) The consciousness thing aside, it obviously did mirror White Christmas through the storytelling techniques and, if I'm comparing, I do think that was more successful overall. I felt more connected and interested in both the main characters in that than the one here and I felt the stories flowed a lot better in WC. It was still a step up from Metalhead and very solid overall. LOVED all the references to other episodes and made me glad I watched it in the Netflix order as you can see the stuff from Arkangel and Crocodile there!
My ranking:
01. USS Callister
02. Crocodile
03. Black Museum
04. Hang the DJ
05. Arkangel
06. Metalhead
Solid overall but I prefer Series 3 in terms of the Netflix series! A RATE will be on it's way soooooon!
Posted by: ionderella 6th January 2018, 02:42 PM
sorry couldn't help it
:')
Posted by: Klaus 6th January 2018, 02:51 PM
omg that teaches me to be lazy
Posted by: Botchia 6th January 2018, 05:18 PM
Finished the series today - overall it was a pretty good one but Season 3 edges it for me as a whole collection.
Ranking:
01. Hang The DJ - really fantastic from start to finish. I definitely got those San Junipero vibes from it with the uplifting nature of the ending.
02. Crocodile - I've seen people really pan this for being too bleak but you can't deny it was a very gripping episode from start to finish! It's definitely the one episode I was absolutely hooked to and loved the twist at the end. I felt so conflicted whether I should be rooting for her or not and that's always what makes a great character for me (kinda like Cersei in Game of Thrones).
03. Black Museum - All three stories were brilliant and loved the way everything linked together! Stanning the teddy mum tho <3
04. USS Calister - I'm surprised to be ranking this as low as four but it was a very enjoyable episode and loved the ending!
05. Arkangel - It was good but just felt like they could've done so much more with the premise.
06. Metalhead - Whilst I love Maxine Peake and enjoyed the episode, it was certainly the most frustrating as there's so much not explained and it all felt a bit pointless if we didn't know the motivations behind anything or what the dogs were.
Posted by: HausAlone 6th January 2018, 05:45 PM
Ranking:
01. Hang The DJ - really fantastic from start to finish. I definitely got those San Junipero vibes from it with the uplifting nature of the ending.
02. Crocodile - I've seen people really pan this for being too bleak but you can't deny it was a very gripping episode from start to finish! It's definitely the one episode I was absolutely hooked to and loved the twist at the end. I felt so conflicted whether I should be rooting for her or not and that's always what makes a great character for me (kinda like Cersei in Game of Thrones).
03. Black Museum - All three stories were brilliant and loved the way everything linked together! Stanning the teddy mum tho <3
04. USS Calister - I'm surprised to be ranking this as low as four but it was a very enjoyable episode and loved the ending!
05. Arkangel - It was good but just felt like they could've done so much more with the premise.
06. Metalhead - Whilst I love Maxine Peake and enjoyed the episode, it was certainly the most frustrating as there's so much not explained and it all felt a bit pointless if we didn't know the motivations behind anything or what the dogs were.
This is basically my exact ranking and thoughts on them all too :')
Although I'd have USS above Black Museum.
WE ARE COMPATIBLE
Posted by: Botchia 6th January 2018, 05:45 PM
Although I'd have USS above Black Museum.
WE ARE COMPATIBLE
!!!!!!
Posted by: Jay ☆ 7th January 2018, 11:04 AM
I'd rank them like so:
1. USS Callister
2. Black Museum
3. Hang the DJ
4. Metalhead
5. Arkangel
6. Crocodile
USS Callister is a masterpiece. I'd essentially be repeating all of the praise you guys have given to it, so... I concur. x This, San Junipero and The Entire History of You would be my trinity. 
Black Museum - absolutely compelling from start to finish. All three stories were so clever in the way they ultimately interlinked. I think I tend to lean towards episodes of Black Mirror that are clearly dark/twisted in tone, but ultimately have a somewhat positive & satisfying ending (i.e. she avenged what her family had gone through at the hands of this mad man), so this really ticked all the boxes for me.
Hang the DJ was a cute watch with its slight San Junipero vibe, and I warmed up to the two of them pretty much instantly - I was rooting for them to end up together. Admittedly the ending confused me at first, and it was only after I read a review that I realised that they were actually algorithms in a program, determining whether the "real world" versions of them (seen right at the end) were actually compatible. (I suppose that was obvious with the fading of the wall they were climbing at the end, but it didn't click with me at first, oops ). Black Mirror definitely likes to explore the theme of "feeling like you're the real you, but you're actually not", and it was done in an effective/interesting way here. They didn't doubt their own existence, but they were sceptical of the system, and that driving them to escape in order to be together was them effectively passing the test for their real life selves. Deep! ;o
Metalhead - I enjoyed the apocalyptic setting/tone to the episode, and it was highly suspenseful! That robotic dog made me feel so anxious. :') I feel like it could have done with some more back story though, I'd love to know exactly how this situation came about... although I suppose that wasn't the point. I suppose the main theme of this was ultimately about humanity. i.e. the lengths you'd go to for a loved one. Not exactly sure how she'd have roped those two guys into going with her for the sake of a teddy, mind you. I think it'd have been better if they were going there in search of vital medicine.
Arkangel seemed like it was only scratching the surface with its themes (monitoring someone / effects of explicit material on a young mind), and it definitely suffered from a miscast actress that I simply didn't believe in (she was meant to be 15 years old, really? :') ... also, her smashing her mum's face with the device was beyond extra and just made me laugh, rather than sympathise with either of them ). Disappointing.
Crocodile sadly didn't do it for me. I found the theme of "attempting to piece together vague memories in order to solve a case" to be a bit dull (Black Mirror has previously explored the theme of accessing memories in far more interesting and effective ways). The main character going on a killing spree didn't entertain me at all, so the main bulk of the episode left me pretty cold. To end on positives - I did like the character of Shazia and felt so bad for her getting into that situation (if only the car had started 
). Nice scenery as well. x
Posted by: Klaus 7th January 2018, 11:08 AM
I thought Metalhead was going to be about then trying to retrieve medication and so i thought it was going to be a really great commentary on sort of private healthcare etc?? but teddy bears makes it weaker than I think it tried to be
Posted by: ionderella 7th January 2018, 12:14 PM
private healthcare? that's a stretch lol
Posted by: Klaus 7th January 2018, 12:26 PM
Not really, they could be risking their lives for a simple medication. The medication could have been ridiculously expensive cos of capitalism and the guard dogs are there to stop anyone stealing it despite it being a really simple and easy way of helping someone’s illness.
Posted by: ionderella 7th January 2018, 12:41 PM
makes sense but that would have never crossed my mind haha
Posted by: HausAlone 7th January 2018, 01:33 PM
Klaus should've directed Metalhead tbh.
I felt absolutely nothing for the woman in it. It was just her running away from a robot for 40 minutes looking scared I'd rather feel hatred for a central character than nothing.
Overall this season doesn't compare to S3 but it's still solid.
Posted by: Joe. 7th January 2018, 01:50 PM
1) USS Callister
2) Hang The Dj
3) Crocodile
4) Black Museum
5) Metalhead
6) Arkangel
USS Callister was an absolute masterclass in TV and I personally can’t understand how someone would not have it as their #1. It had a great very Black-mirrrory concept but felt really epic at the same time and was worthy of being shown in the cinema. The detail was beautiful and the character development was some of Black Mirror’s strongest ever.
Hang the Dj was also really great with its concept and character development and was beautifully paced. But those are the only two that I loved. Crocodile although slightly off with the way it took off, I think is somewhat underretad. It was indeed quite harrowing but I liked the way it built from you rooting for her to wanting her to be caught. The guinea pig exposing her was oddly endearing in a very dark episode. Arkangel was, I think, one of Black Mirror’s very worst episodes ever, it was undercooked, had terrible writing and wasted what was actually at its root a very interesting concept. Black Museum was full of highs but also lows, it was a bit...messy, but still enjoyable. Metalhead was a great watch but there was little there beneath the surface, it felt like something I’d expect from Black Mirror season 1, not 4.
Posted by: Dexton 7th January 2018, 02:31 PM
I've now watched the first four, my rating would probably be the same as most of everyone elses right now
Posted by: Chez Wombat 7th January 2018, 02:46 PM
I finally finished this last night! My order (kinda the same as Jay's with a few swappings) There is spoilers below so please scroll past if you haven't yet seen it (but again why are you reading this thread if you haven't~)
USS Callister > Hang the DJ > Black Museum > Metalhead > Crocodile > Arkangel
So yeah, it peaked early, that's a slight shame. My thoughts on USS Callister are earlier in the thread but it is easily the best~
Hang the DJ was great, definitely got the San Junipero vibes (though that was prominent throughout the whole series in all honesty, a bit more on that later) and it was a really enchanting story with great characters and definitely holds a lot of relevance which makes it quite widely appealing. I was really starting to question how the world worked as the couples didn't seem to actually DO anything other than be together and be in the same place, so that twist that it was all a simulation certainly added a classic Black Mirror twist that also made quite an intelligent comment on 'compatibility'. It was in some way a dark ending as well, I guess like USS Callister, the focus on actual copies rather than real people adds a twist
Black Museum was also very good, loved all the Easter eggs ofc. (I didn't spot/read any for Nosedive or Entire History of You though D:) and it was three stories that very much went to extremes - the doctor story was the show at it's most sadistic and the monkey tale might just be the saddest story they've ever told, worse still we're kinda left wondering what's happened to her now I liked that they shifted the focus from technology being the villains to humans exploiting it that are. It was a bit more traditional good vs evil in that sense, but I feel like there was still hints that both sides are corrupted by the hidden enemy of technology (like Nish actually having her mother's soul in her head felt very dark even if it might not have been portrayed, how long has she been in there? It's like she was also corrupted by a technology ultimately that she was facing). It felt refreshingly humanist for an episode of Black Mirror (and I noticed a lot of anti-racism undertones as well!)
Metalhead I was kind of mixed on - on the one hand, I liked the black and white aesthetic and it did find it very thrilling to watch and the performance(s) were great, I think they were deliberately going for a 'back to basics' approach and a straight out battle of man vs machine like sci-fi films of old and it was quite refreshing on the one hand, but there's only so much you can do with this - and at this stage, it just feels TOO empty of back story and simplistic to be a classic. Like the last shot was meant to be emotional (as presumably it was all for a child rather than something really important), but it doesn't really work as we didn't really get to know the back story of the characters or world well enough and it was too short to really develop much of a meaning or commentary. I get what they were trying to do and I liked parts of it, but I don't think it quite worked out like they wanted it to.
Crocodile was clearly intended as the White Bear/Shut Up & Dance of this season, but I didn't find it anywhere near as effective as those. Mainly as they also made you really think about yourself and society after the final twist, this....didn't really have anything to say, no matter how uncomfortable it got to watch. The technology on offer was ground they've covered before better and wasn't especially interesting and the violence didn't serve any point other than to for added shock value...killing a baby and then the revelation she didn't need to anyway as it was blind was the crux of it and being found out by a hamster was ridiculous for such a dark episode and I actually felt a bit annoyed by it than anything else. I loved some things about it which is why it isn't last...the scenery was fantastic, the acting good and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't completely hooked throughout. It was great as a Scandi-noir thriller, but as a Black Mirror episode, it disappointed me. I love it when Black Mirror goes dark, but it's best when it has a deeper, thoughtful reason for it other than shock value.
Arkangel is last for much the same reason as everyone else has said in this thread. It had a great concept and could've said something really profound about how far parenting goes, but it was predictable in how it turned out (which is something you definitely can't say often for Black Mirror which made it even more of a disappointment), had some quite hammy performances and it was clearly heading towards the 'wanting too much for them leading to your worst fear confirmed' sort of storyline, and it was slow to move at points so it wasn't even that entertaining either. One thing I do think it did well was the foreshadowing and motifs throughout - like it coming full circle at the end and the dog in the garden gradually going from scaring her to her embracing it.
Overall, a good series, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit disappointed but then Series 3 did set the bar quite high! It definitely felt like the bleak storylines didn't quite deliver and the happier than expected endings actually made the best points so it did feel quite refreshing in that sense as technology clearly isn't always the worst thing ever. I'm still very interested where they take it for S5 (presuming there is one) as there's still so much they can explore!
Posted by: Dexton 9th January 2018, 02:25 PM
Whilst USS Callister, Hang The DJ, and Crocodile are absolutely brilliant in their own ways, Arkangel and Metalhead are kind of the opposite. Black Museum I haven't watched yet but I hope it's better than Metalhead just was.
The whole time I was watching Metalhead I was just constantly asking "what are the dogs? where are they? why are they being hunted? what was in the box?" and, like others have said, I ultimately didn't feel much empathy towards the central character (who didn't have a name? or if she did I missed it). The black and white is a nice effect but considering the fact the rest of this episode was pretty empty and without much detailing, I feel like a bit of colour would've helped it's case. I get the whole point was to be simplistic but I'm still not a big fan of b&w style of Metalhead.
It also bugged me with the contents of the box. I assume they thought the box had important medicine in otherwise they wouldn't be risking their lives and then the reveal at the end of the box actually containing teddy bears, thus meaning that the three of them died for no reason in a classic Black Mirror twist (you know, where the central character goes to the absolute extremes only to find out shortly afterwards it wasn't necessary. See Crocodile's ending for a recent example). But since we knew nothing about the people, we don't really know anything about the situation without guessing. Were the three of them given a fake box ID by someone back at camp (?) in order to purposely get them killed by dogs? I'm often left questioning myself after a Black Mirror episode, but not like this 
The same thing can be said about the dogs. What are they? Who made them? What is their goal/mission? Are they actually the 'good guys' in a "Men Against Fire" type plot twist? I know in the end a lot of this doesn't matter but even just a little bit more context for the episode would have gone far.
Posted by: Iz 18th January 2018, 09:10 PM
and I'm finally finished so I can give a brief ranking of the episodes and head over to the rate.
1. USS Callister
2. Hang The DJ
3. Metalhead
4. Crocodile
5. Black Museum
6. Arkangel
Callister was amazing of course, I stand by what I said in my first post, so many questions opened up by that and I feel it's the only one of these that really brought something NEW. In a future of weird robotics and device gadgets that turn us all into an asshole in a dystopian future and don't see the consequences, Callister actually felt a lot more realistic - a guy getting so worked up by his real life that he becomes an sociopath in his off time, you see that a lot, can see it if you browse the danker corners of the web, all those guys who could be like Daly given the tech skill.
Hang The DJ was really nice but a little bit predictable, and it felt kind of like an amalgamation of two other Black Mirror episodes, I was enthralled by the system and the two mains were great leads to have so much chemistry together, and though the twist felt a bit obvious by the end it was just rather pleasant to see. And again, like with Callister, that I can definitely see happening... as an abstraction in a program but still.
Metalhead... well I'm quite into my horror lately so while it was so basic as a setting the fear worked. Plus the ending gave me a little bit of a gutpunch.
The TECH in Crocodile wasn't so amazing, the characters were - I felt for everyone involved, even Mia at the beginning before she started doing horrific shit.
Black Museum, I liked that it had so many callbacks to previous Black Mirror episodes, as one might have guessed from the title. But White Christmas had me more enthralled in the setting, this, though it brought all its technologies together well, didn't really do that as much. Perhaps I'd have liked it more if they'd used technology from other episodes in it as well, they clearly had the setup for it and were doing very similar things to White Christmas at times.
Arkangel didn't really work that well, it was just a standard drama where bad parenting ruled the day so I wasn't too impressed.
I was worried about this, I feel like San Junipero was SO well received last season that they kind of overdid it on the happy vibes (but only going halfway for some of them) and really only Metalhead and Crocodile felt really dark as a result. Not that that's a bad thing overall as my two favourites both had rather good ends but there's a shift in tone from the truly depressing things that make you think to something that doesn't leave a whole lot of impact in the end as it half-asses both sides. It was never going to match season 3 but it's fallen a little short
Posted by: Liаm 24th January 2018, 02:19 AM
Ik this is season 4 but f***ing hell I've just finished San Junipero and I don't think I'm ever going to stop weeping.
Posted by: Liаm 29th July 2018, 05:59 PM
http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/black-mirror/feature/a780434/black-mirror-episodes-ranked-charlie-brooker/
White Bear 12th :') christ
Posted by: Klaus 29th July 2018, 06:09 PM
That list offends me.
Playtest 3rd??????
Posted by: BridgeCow 29th July 2018, 06:21 PM
Oh god I hate everything about that list (aside from number 1 tbh) Crocodile at 15??? Wtf
Posted by: Conderella 2nd August 2018, 09:03 PM
be right back and the entire history of you are beyond overhyped. so boring
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