Black Mirror (6 Viewers)

[WillieStanley]

Has anyone been watching it? Charlie Brooker is a genius!

Last weeks was immense, the first and tonight's were awesome. Did anyone see the equally brilliant first series?

 

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[scroobiustom]

You and I sir, have very similar taste in TV!

I'm watching the final ep tonight (that BT guy really annoys me, so i hope i can get over it)

I think the PM and the pig ep has been by far the best, but bring on the Waldo Moment!

Also I think Charlie Brooker wrote that three little pigs advert for the independent: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDGrfhJH1P4 not 100% though!

 

[ajsccfc]

I don't know about genius, but he's very good. His writing of the actual characters is the only real weak point, as I love the actual premises. My favourite of the run so far is the Entire History of You. Last week's was incredibly bleak. It's a shame each run is only three episodes, but I'm glad it's ongoing.

 

[ajsccfc]

(that BT guy really annoys me, so i hope i can get over it)

I hate him in those ads, but I thought he was very good in yesterday's episode.

I wish they'd have left it with the Waldo character encouraging the shoe throwing; with the credits reveal that the character had somehow taken over the world it ruined it a little.

 

[Ian1779]

Sorry to bump this... but have only just discovered it.

Compelling viewing but seriously fucked up... anyone else seen it recently?

 

[vow]

Sorry to bump this... but have only just discovered it.

Compelling viewing but seriously fucked up... anyone else seen it recently?

The first series is brilliant, only watched 2 from the 2nd as yet.

 

[Ian1779]

The first series is brilliant, only watched 2 from the 2nd as yet.

I just watched the White Bear episode this evening.... thought provoking to say the least.

 

[vow]

I just watched the White Bear episode this evening.... thought provoking to say the least.

Yes it is.
Did you have some empathy towards her at the start? I know I did.
I meant to say I've seen 2 series and only seen 2 of the 3rd series.

 

[Ian1779]

Yes it is.
Did you have some empathy towards her at the start? I know I did.
I meant to say I've seen 2 series and only seen 2 of the 3rd series.

Yeah totally.... though the idea of it being a 'theme park' is a bit 'The Purge' esque IMO.

It was a bit like the 15 Million Merits episode in S1... I was rooting for that guy throughout only for him to be a total sellout at the end

Going to watch rest of S2 and then S3 soon - the synopsis' look good.

 

[ajsccfc]

White Bear and Shut Up and Dance are the most troubling episodes, in a good way. San Junipero in S3 is amazing.

 

[RegTheDonk]

Started watching these recently, just started series 3 (looks like they have a biger budget this time too). Thought in the main it's really good - I've enjoyed Charlie Brokers "whipe" shows, and am pleased to see he's pretty good at writing this surreal type of drama. Its obviously taking a swipe at social media obsession but who's not to say technology and attitudes might go this way one day! Good stuff, enjoying it.

 

[vow]

"whipe"

Is that like Stewie Griffin's "cool-hwhip"? :emoji_smiley:



Least favourite of mine is "Playtest" in series 3 so far for me, I'm afraid. 4 episodes to go, so looking forward to watching them.

 

[vow]

Started watching these recently, just started series 3 (looks like they have a biger budget this time too). Thought in the main it's really good - I've enjoyed Charlie Brokers "whipe" shows, and am pleased to see he's pretty good at writing this surreal type of drama. Its obviously taking a swipe at social media obsession but who's not to say technology and attitudes might go this way one day! Good stuff, enjoying it.

You say that in slight jest, but remembering the very first episode around 2011-12(?) "The National Anthem" where the Prime-Minister has to shag that pig! not too far away from where David Cameron found himself in that initiation at Uni!

 

[mrtrench]

Just discovered it and watched the first series last night. Really good thought-provoking stuff and original too. The second episode in particular was a great metaphor in my opinion. Getting some flack online for being derivative of 1984 and Brave New World but I think the message is definitely different to 1984.

 

[mrtrench]

Yeah totally.... though the idea of it being a 'theme park' is a bit 'The Purge' esque IMO.

It was a bit like the 15 Million Merits episode in S1... I was rooting for that guy throughout only for him to be a total sellout at the end

Going to watch rest of S2 and then S3 soon - the synopsis' look good.

He had to sell out I think for the metaphor to work. I know everything can mean different things to different people, but I think...

Spoiler

the message is that the masses toil away. Some are happy with the crap they receive to keep them going and some aspire to more. But if you want more you need to a) Have something that others don't (they don't all make it) and b) Sell out.

 

[Ian1779]

He had to sell out I think for the metaphor to work. I know everything can mean different things to different people, but I think...

Spoiler

the message is that the masses toil away. Some are happy with the crap they receive to keep them going and some aspire to more. But if you want more you need to a) Have something that others don't (they don't all make it) and b) Sell out.

I think the theme of mass control is inherent throughout all the whole thing, it's just the scenario's change. Almost like we are all sheep, and have no control of our destiny.

I was reading about people's suggestion of future episode synopsis - one of them really caught my eye.

'What if plants actually farm humans and animals to use up their waste products and we actually exist to be food for them?'

 

[mrtrench]

I think the theme of mass control is inherent throughout all the whole thing, it's just the scenario's change. Almost like we are all sheep, and have no control of our destiny.

I was reading about people's suggestion of future episode synopsis - one of them really caught my eye.

'What if plants actually farm humans and animals to use up their waste products and we actually exist to be food for them?'

Love dystopian novels. Have read the Margaret Atwood Oryx and Crake trilogy?

 

[tommydazzle]

Love dystopian novels. Have read the Margaret Atwood Oryx and Crake trilogy?

Yep read them - absolutely excellent stuff. Also Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale best thing on TV in 2017 and apparently she's writing a sequel. Love bleak dystopian sci-fi: The Road still the bleakest of bleak and scary too.

 

[mrtrench]

Yep read them - absolutely excellent stuff. Also Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale best thing on TV in 2017 and apparently she's writing a sequel. Love bleak dystopian sci-fi: The Road still the bleakest of bleak and scary too.

Is that Iain banks? If so I read it but a long time ago. Agree on handmaids tale, love Atwood's work.

 

[tommydazzle]

It's Cormac McCarthy's novel probably more disturbing than the film but the film is still very atmospheric and chilling.

 

[mrtrench]

Getting confused, banks is the crow road, and I was thinking of the business by him anyway. Didn't cormac McCarthy write a novel called the road? Is it that one? Haven't read it but I think I have a copy. Will read after I've finished my current book.

 

[mrtrench]

Overlapped. Cheers, will read next.

 

[mrtrench]

Blind assassin was the first Atwood I read and although a long time ago recall it was excellent

 

[tommydazzle]

Another book I enjoyed - When the Floods Came by Clare Morrall - set in the future with a family trying to survive on their wits. Amazingly it has a scene in the Ricoh Arena!

 

[ajsccfc]

I loved The Road, I spent most of the time reading it feeling an increasing anxiety about what was coming which isn't something I'd expect to find enjoyable.

Watched Hang The DJ from the newest series so far, it's along the lines of San Junipero. Big fan.

 

[Ian1779]

Just watched Bandersnatch - well actually twice to get a handle of all the different endings....

 

[Nick]

Do you need to have seen all of the others to watch it?

Does it just pop up on the screen with options?

 

[Ian1779]

Do you need to have seen all of the others to watch it?

Does it just pop up on the screen with options?

No it’s a stand-alone episode. And yes literally that, every so often you have to choose the next step.

 

[shmmeee]

Bandersnatch is fucking amazing. Easily my favourite so far.

 

[Ian1779]

Having seen it 3 times I genuinely don’t know if I’ve seen all the endings or not?

 

[shmmeee]

Having seen it 3 times I genuinely don’t know if I’ve seen all the endings or not?

I counted 5 endings, but I saw all of them before the credits, not sure if I’ve done everything.

 

[Nick]

I read there were millions of different ways it could go?

 

[ccfcway]

loved it. Some proper grim endings

The worst was the one where he actually had the cuddly toy under the bed...

 

[Otis]

I can't watch it. Tired through Virgin and through Netflix on Amazon.

Stumped now.

 

[Otis]

Now I feel a bit of a mug.

Following the Inside no.9 Halloween episode that nearly had me with its 'we are sorry for the loss of your programme ' malarkey, I decided shenanigans were at work again with this Bandersnatch.

When I began to watch a voice announcement came up with 'Unfortunately the interactive features of this film can't be displayed on this device' I was convinced this was all part of the programme.

Tried to watch it with my daughter and I kept trying and trying and we kept watching the same thing over and over again, with the same message.

I camly said that we needed to keep playing it and eventually it would come up after a number of attempts and the programme would then start, because it was 'all part of the show '.

Ooops.