The sci-fi and dystopian elements of Black Mirror have given audiences the best of the hypothetical world that so wonderfully depicts modern society in crumbs
Speculative fiction compels viewers to imagine worlds or scenarios that differ from the present reality. "Black Mirror," by Charlie Brooker, has made a unique niche in contemporary television by offering candid, satirical look at modern society and its relationship with technology. As a series of standalone episodes, each narrative serves as a speculative fiction piece, exploring the potential consequences of technological advancements. The series often employs a dystopian tone, but it is not without moments of hope and humanity, a glimpse of which is found in the episode "San Junipero."
"Black Mirror" has been praised for its incisive social commentary and imaginative storytelling, and, well, some of its episodes are absolute riot!
What begins with a seemingly harmless and innocent premise with an American traveller participating in a new gaming system, proceeds to get tangled up in the mire of the immersive VR tech world that constantly blurs the thin line between reality and projection. Cooper, the American, is left in limbo in the end. He does not know if he has escaped or not. The viewers are given to savour horror in a pretty straightforward way with the ending being more tragic, twisted, and impactful.
White Bear runs parallel to the theme of the twisted and suspenseful that the genre entails. At the heart of the events is a mysterious mind-controlling broadcast and the society’s penchant for some bone-chilling public punishment, few can deny the brilliance of the many twists and turns the narrative takes without any dilly-dallying. The episode raises questions about identity and the possibility of redemption. Viewers are kept in a moral dilemma deciding whether Victoria deserves the punishment without any memory and understanding of her past. In essence, the erasure of her identity serves as a metaphor for the erasure of humanity in the pursuit of retributive justice.
The episode spanning 1 hour and 36 minutes is a landscape of post-truth with hate mongers and social media justice on the rise. The gem of this episode is critically appreciated and well-equipped to be a standalone work of art; a commentary on the pathos of contemporary society. The cautionary tale of sci-fi in society and where it is headed elevates the storyline to a sacred and revered pedestal.
The episode is filled with intelligent cues from the 80s and 90s era culminating to Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” so slyly integrated into the scenes. The unsettling character revelations with the vibrant nightlife of the city reverberating in the background sets the mood. It is relatively a lighter episode from the series yet not shallow. At least not with the mind-boggling technological twerks, which go on to unfurl a series of truths. San Junipero is hailed as one of the smartest shows on TV if the portrayal of romantic love and a satire on tech are concerned. At the end of the episode, one flounders with the possibility of a romantic bond snapping off when stretched too thin.
This episode bravely carries the legacy of an exceptional third season that had viewers hankering for more. The episode is built on the premise of a video game designer who codes a private universe resembling a popular space exploration game that he had designed previously. This world is populated by people, and the rest awaits several watches and [perhaps a sequel.
