S2E1: Be Right Back - Hayley Atwell really carries this episode and her reactions feel natural and unforced. With only seeing her in the Captain America movies, I didn't realize how talented and attractive she actually is. Domhnall Gleeson plays a good robot. I wonder if he gave Alicia Vikander tips when they were in "Ex Machina" together. The end was super heartbreaking. Everything ends up in the attic.
S2E2: White Bear - I really enjoyed this episode as I thought it was going to be a social commentary on people's first reaction to film instead of helping someone in need, but it turned out to be way more twisted. I liked that the episode made me care about the main character and then wanted me to hate her when new information was learned concerning what she actually had done and then going along with what her punishment was - a virtual hell.
S2E3: The Waldo Moment - As I'm not a huge fan of politics, I couldn't 100% get behind this episode, but I did get what it was trying to get across. To me, it felt a little too far fetched. I actually cared more about the relationships, or lack there of, between the main male and female characters as that felt more real then everyone blindly following the rants of an obscene /comedic cartoon character.
S2E4: White Christmas - Excellent episode from start to finish. Jon Hamm totally owns this episode and while his character wins, he also loses. It's heartbreaking for all characters involved, but the story is so well done that I ended up admiring it. This is definitely my favorite episode of the series thus far. And while all the episodes are self contained stories, it probably helps to watch episode 103 before watching this one.
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Black Mirror Season 1 review
S1E1 - The National Anthem: I really enjoyed this episode, but I wonder what the intent of the kidnapper was. I thought it was to humiliate the PM to enact change in the government, but the only negative consequence appeared to be his relationship with his wife. I did like the use of technology and how real it felt that once something is out there, it's very difficult to keep a lid on it. Small gripe - the guy that was in bed all day, they kept cutting to him so I thought he was more involved that it appeared. I wonder if that was intentional to throw us off as he didn't do anything else or add to the story in any way. Was the story that griping to spend 8 hours without getting out of bed?
S1E2- Fifteen Million Merits: I enjoyed this episode as well. The concept reminded me of the movie "In Time". I wonder what happens if you run out of merits. Also, I didn't understand why the other bike people didn't really talk to each other. I guess what is there to talk about, right? I understood the "jerk" character, but the other characters didn't really add a whole lot, so it was up to Daniel Kaluuya to carry the story, which he did. I never watched Downton Abbey, so I didn't know who the other actress was until I looked it up afterwards. She did a good job as well. When Daniel Kaluuya's character smashed the glass in his room, did he get in trouble? Did it cost him merits to fix? I was expecting that he'd get punished. There was no show of organization, it just was what it was. The characters made a joke about generically engineering the food, so I'm surprised they didn't mention or allude to "Compliance" being put into their food as well. Gripes aside, I thought the overall message was pretty powerful. I'm surprised Daniel Kaluuya's character could live with himself selling out. I kind of expected him to end his life at the end. Also, was their a pornography channel for the women?
S1E3 - The Entire History of You: A really cool concept, but it felt wasted that the writers decided to focus on a failing marriage. How about a doctor failing at a surgery and having to replay it in his mind to try to figure out what went wrong so he doesn't lose any other patients? They established a main character who couldn't land a job, but all of sudden he's Sherlock Holmes with his grain and puts together the pieces to figure out what was going on. My favorite scene was when they were making love, but actually just watching videos of themselves while being in a catatonic state. It felt like the writers envisioned that powerful scene/comment on society and built the episode from there. Out of the first season, this was the weakest I thought, but only because the concept felt slightly wasted on a weaker plot.
S1E2- Fifteen Million Merits: I enjoyed this episode as well. The concept reminded me of the movie "In Time". I wonder what happens if you run out of merits. Also, I didn't understand why the other bike people didn't really talk to each other. I guess what is there to talk about, right? I understood the "jerk" character, but the other characters didn't really add a whole lot, so it was up to Daniel Kaluuya to carry the story, which he did. I never watched Downton Abbey, so I didn't know who the other actress was until I looked it up afterwards. She did a good job as well. When Daniel Kaluuya's character smashed the glass in his room, did he get in trouble? Did it cost him merits to fix? I was expecting that he'd get punished. There was no show of organization, it just was what it was. The characters made a joke about generically engineering the food, so I'm surprised they didn't mention or allude to "Compliance" being put into their food as well. Gripes aside, I thought the overall message was pretty powerful. I'm surprised Daniel Kaluuya's character could live with himself selling out. I kind of expected him to end his life at the end. Also, was their a pornography channel for the women?
S1E3 - The Entire History of You: A really cool concept, but it felt wasted that the writers decided to focus on a failing marriage. How about a doctor failing at a surgery and having to replay it in his mind to try to figure out what went wrong so he doesn't lose any other patients? They established a main character who couldn't land a job, but all of sudden he's Sherlock Holmes with his grain and puts together the pieces to figure out what was going on. My favorite scene was when they were making love, but actually just watching videos of themselves while being in a catatonic state. It felt like the writers envisioned that powerful scene/comment on society and built the episode from there. Out of the first season, this was the weakest I thought, but only because the concept felt slightly wasted on a weaker plot.
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