Posted February 10, 20187 yr http://media.gizmodo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/black-mirror-620x349.jpg 19 stories. One winner. Will it be a happy ending? The National Anthem Fifteen Million Merits The Entire History of You Be Right Back White Bear The Waldo Moment White Christmas Nosedive Playtest Shut Up and Dance San Junipero Men Against Fire Hated in the Nation USS Callister Arkangel Crocodile Hang the DJ Metalhead Black Museum
February 10, 20187 yr Author 19. THE WALDO MOMENT Average: 5.45 Highest: 9 (Liam), 8.5 (Dexton) Lowest: 3 (Jack, LewisGT), 0 (jafetsgfinns) Jamie is a failed comedian and the voice actor/digital puppeteer of a cartoon bear named Waldo. Waldo comically interviews politicians and other authority figures in an insulting manner. The producer decides to make Waldo enter the election for MP to get attention but it all spirals out of control... In last place, is The Waldo Moment! It should come as no suprise as it has always generally been considered the 'least best' and Charlie Brooker himself has spoken of his regret of the episode in later years as he states that he didn't 'nail' the episode as he didn't get the stakes right. That is really where it went wrong, it was a good idea but it doesn't really feel very 'Black Mirror' and doesn't go anywhere particularly exciting. Parallels with real life: The episode was written with Boris Johnson in mind, as wel as Jon Gnarr (mayor of Reykjavik). After the episode's broadcast a candidate dressed as a penguin beat the Lib Dems in the 2012 Scottish local elections. It has also came to further prominence as it has been compared to the successful presidential campaign of Donald Trump. Apple's new 'animojis' have also been compared to Waldo.
February 10, 20187 yr Author 18. METALHEAD Average: 5.98 Highest: 10 (Lotitia), 8 (lewistgreen, Calum, HarryEzra, Iz) Lowest: 2 (Oliver), 1 (HausofTroye) a robot dog chases a woman in black and white Again, Metalhead doesn't really explore the implications of the technology in great detail which is probably why you've decided it should be at the bottom of the pile. I think it looks visually impressive with the black and white and simplicity evoking the traditional horrors, and the ruthlessness of the dog is pretty chilling but that's all there really is to say? There were some quite tense moments but, at the same time, I didn't really care that much because it was just a dog chasing a woman. The final shot was also pretty poor as it could have ended on a really strong statement if they had been trying to get something like medication imo but it ended up saying 'things are this shit now that people have to risk their lives for a teddy bear'. Why are things shit, who knows?? I didn't really care and the episode didn't really stay with me at all. Parallels with real life: early days for the Season 4 episodes but the dogs were inspired by robotics products like 'BigDog from Boston Dynamics'
February 10, 20187 yr Fair first two out, but I did enjoy both of them a lot, Metalhead particularly is really thrilling even if it's not that deep and I'd like a Black Mirror episode that deals with politics again because they're always fun to watch even if the point could have been made better with The Waldo Moment. A good political episode is sort of what we were missing from Season 4.
February 10, 20187 yr I’m pretty sure the teddy bear box was supposed to have medication or something in but the scavengers picked the wrong box out or got sabotaged or something instead. Fair play though I mean it still wasn’t too great overall, Waldo was a superb episode though but I can see why it’s not anyone’s favourite :lol: “Least best” is a good way to describe last place though, because let’s be honest each episode is amazing and gripping (usually)
February 10, 20187 yr Correct bottom 2! Metalhead really wasn't very good at all, totally style over substance.
February 11, 20187 yr Author 17. MEN AGAINST FIRE http://img2.tvtome.com/i/u/0abbbd8f92774695c6278e5ad36faa13.jpg Average: 6.10 Highest: 11 (Dexton), 9 (ionderella, Botchia) Lowest: 4 (Oliver, HausofTroye, Klaus), 3.5 (dandy*) Stripe is a soldier involved in an organisation that hunts and exterminates mutants known as roaches. Every soldier has a neural implant that enhances the processing of their senses and provides instant data via augmented reality. In one incident, Stripe kills two roaches and earns praise for his performance but he starts to see things differently as his implant starts to glitch... Men Against Fire is another episode often highlighted as one of the show's weaker points and so it is no surprise to see it near the bottom of these results. I think one of its problems is that, due to the subject matter, it can come off a bit preachy and also quite obvious? It doesn't end up going anywhere particularly exciting beyond the unsettling nature of what is really going on. It does portray a good message but one that has been told many times before I feel. Parallels with real life: the title comes from a book that states that over 70% of soldiers in WWII did not fire their rifles, even when under immediate threat and those who did fire, aimed above their enemy's head. Technology is particularly expanding for military contexts and research at Standford is exploring face-swapping technology (while Snapchat already does so). http://www.twoeggz.com/int/2017-12-21/7e900284f35d17735ac0611b991044f3.jpg
February 11, 20187 yr Author 16. ARKANGEL http://cdn1-www.comingsoon.net/assets/uploads/2017/09/black-mirror-s4e33.jpg Average: 6.63 Highest: 8 (lewistgreen, ionderella, Jack, Botchia, Josh, Severin) Lowest: 5 (HausofTroye, Klaus), 4 (Joe, Iz) After her daughter goes missing for a few hours, a single mother has her daughter implanted with Arkangel, an implanted chip technology that allows a parent to track and monitor their children and pixelate images that would cause the child distress. As the daughter grows up, Arkangel becomes a dangerous hindrance and so the mother switches it off. However, she becomes tempted to turn it on again as the child becomes a teenager, leading to serious consequences... This had a really strong premise I feel but, again, I don't feel it was realised to its full potential. It just ends up meandering along and you don't feel sympathy for either the mother or the daughter at the end. I thought they could have done more with the 'blocking images' aspect but it just ended up being the reason why it was turned off and also to give extra shock value for that ending. Something like the child not doing anything to save her granddad because she couldn't see what was going on would have added some serious implications that the episode needed. It kind of became a story that has been seen countless times before (with an overprotective mother whose daughter gets angry at her) with some sprinkles of technology added that doesn't give enough to the story to warrant it being told again. Parallels with real life: in the ever-expanding social media world, you can see exactly where your family/friends are with apps like Find My Friends and Snapchat.
February 11, 20187 yr No massive losses so far - although Arkangel feels so low down but I guess that's because of the standards of things to come.
February 11, 20187 yr I'm not disappointed by the first two out but I think Men Against Fire deserves to be a little bit higher. Although the twist was very obvious, I still found it really enjoyable with some impactful moments. I hope Crocodile is soon, really dislike that episode.
February 11, 20187 yr :o Seriously?? Men Against Fire is my favourite Black Mirror episode to date. USS Calister has become a close second and yes the Top 10 is all pretty close (:P) but MAF is a classic Black Mirror episode with deep themes and a disturbing twist. It’s definately one I would recommend to a first time watcher and is one I can go back to and watch. Arkangel isn’t as much of a shock exit though. It was good and I liked it, but it was pretty predictable for the most part (although the death wasn’t expected :o) and isn’t anything new like other Black Mirror episodes often are. I feel like Arkangel would’ve been much more appreciated if it had a better ending with some added emotion or soemthing. Much like Metalhead the episode just kind of stopped after a small peak of action and it didn’t effect me like manny other BM episodes do
February 11, 20187 yr Yet to see Arkangel, but Men Against Fire is my least fave of the first 3 seasons. It was pretty dull, and I agree with maybe a bit preachy. It's the only one I've seen where j was a bit bored and kept checking the time to see when it was finishing :lol:
February 11, 20187 yr Two of Season 4 out already, oops. Arkangel was pretty dull though. Men Against Fire was the clear weak link in a very strong season 3. Powerful message but the way the plot developed was too predictable and didn't really offer anything new to say on the subject, which for a show that prides itself on making you think in new ways was a bit of a disappointment. Perhaps if one was recommending an order to these it should be early on so that the viewer isn't wise to what it offers because coming as it did after a string of incredible groundbreaking episodes in concept, disturbingness and feelings it felt so ordinary.
February 12, 20187 yr Author 15. THE NATIONAL ANTHEM Average: 7.45 Highest: 10 (Severin) 9 (Iz) Lowest: 6 (BridgeCow. Calum, LewisGT, Klaus) 5.5 (dandy*) Princess Susannah has been kidnapped and her kidnappers only have one demand, for the Prime Minister to f*** a pig live on TV... I'm not sure if there has ever been a bolder start to a TV series than this, an episode focusing on a Prime Minister f***ing a pig. Well, it was bold in the innocent days of 2011... It is a statement episode, and one that could have well turned off plenty of viewers and yet it is also quite separate from all the other episodes that were to follow. If you were to give a person one episode that 'defined' what Black Mirror was, this would be at the bottom of the pile. It was still an episode that showed some interesting aspects, through the political dynamics as well as the reaction of the public. I think the ending is also very devious as the Princess is released 30 minutes before the sex act yet no one notices as everyone is too busy watching someone f*** a pig. Parallels with real life: this ones obvious as in September 2015, allegations arose that David Cameron, as part of his Bullingdon Club initiation, put his willy inside of the mouth of a dead big. http://www.adnradio.cl/images_remote/293/2939769_n_vir1.jpg
February 12, 20187 yr I actually think National Anthem is brilliant, even if it doesn’t feel as Black Mirror as it the show is now. I agree with Lotti Arkangel should be the lowest of its season.
February 13, 20187 yr The National Anthem is such an astounding episode. I never expected him to actually do it and then when he did it shook me to think someone would actually do that, no matter the reason or the consequences. The ending was brilliantly horrifying too - the release of the princess / suicide / ruined marriage. I wouldn’t recommend this as a first-time watch for someone looking to get into Black Mirror, but it’s also not an episode to skip out in either
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