“Black Mirror”

When I first found out about “Black Mirror“, I didn’t think it was for me. I mean, yes, it’s British, but there is nary a bonnet or hoop skirt or Benedict Cumberbatch’s cheekbone to be found in it, and on top of that, it’s an anthology show about our technology-obsessed world (think The Twilight Zone with Twitter.) But I decided to check it out anyway, because again, it’s British, and it looks effing insane.

Well, it is insane. Insanely good, that is. I’m not going to tell you anything about the plot, because it’s best that you go into it not knowing much, or anything at all. Each episode (there are two seasons and six episodes so far) is a standalone story, a standalone cast, a standalone world. Just as the title suggests, these stories are like twisted fables that reflect on the way we live, and show us the dark side of our current world. Much like a “black mirror”, really. And the brilliantly terrifying thing about these stories is that the technologies they present all seem too possible, like any minute now they can happen and soon we’ll find ourselves getting lost in them just like these characters. I feel the same way when I read Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother, but I like “Black Mirror” even better because of its sick (in every sense of the word) twists, and of the unflinching, cynical way it looks at the world. I believe the human race is doomed anyway, so it’s the perfect show for me.

I don’t know why it’s not as well-known as it should be; perhaps audiences now are not so used to the anthology format anymore. Still, I urge you to check this out if you can. I’m emotionally exhausted after watching just one episode, but I keep coming back because it’s that good. I’m hoping there’s going to be a third season soon!

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