Change Your Image
scottsetchell
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
The Eric Andre Show: Evangelos (2012)
Evangelos
Eric interviews JAY-Z and Beyoncé impersonators. Eric grieves while Hannibal is in the bathroom. Evangelos comes on the show.
Eric's public pranks include trivia, panhandling in a suit and interviewing on people on the street.
The Eric Andre Show: Jack (2012)
Here's Johnny!
Eric interviews a Jack Nicolson impersonator. He tells stories and shows a trailer to his new movie "Hollywood Bang Bang". He checks in with his street correspondent and has a grizzly bear in the studio.
The public pranks include Eric going to a sperm bank and watching adult videos in public
The Eric Andre Show: Sinbad (2012)
Move to North Korea
Hannibal starts the show with standup comedy. Eric interviews Sinbad and spins a wheel of prizes. Eric interviews the Hulk. Eric brings out black Jerry Seinfeld to do standup. Savion Glover does an insane dance routine.
The public pranks include smoking a bong in front of a police station, resisting arrest in a jewelry store, preaching about Star Wars on a street corner and kissing a woman on the street.
The clips are hilarious and this is the best episode so far.
The Eric Andre Show: Reese Witherspoon (2012)
Get That Fake Dough
Eric interviews a guy disguised as Reese Witherspoon. Hannibal has his own segment called The Hannibal Minute. Eric speaks with Maxi and shows his music video, Legitimize the Ganja. Eric interviews Dr. Drew Orden. Tony Lam performs standup comedy.
The public pranks include bowling nude, a petition for killing whales and reverse streaking through a nudist colony.
The Eric Andre Show: Brandi Glanville (2012)
Look at My Suit
Eric performs a standup comedy routine and makes out with his assistant. Eric interviews reality star Brandi Glanville. Next he interviews Joe Biden as a dead duck. Eric promotes a wrestler who beats up an assistant. The show ends with singing from Lisa Stanley and Killer Mike.
The public pranks include crowding strangers with news reporters, crashing a basketball game as a werewolf and preaching agnostic views.
Black Mirror: Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too (2019)
Ashley Eternal
Updated Review - 10/23/2023
This episode seems like a coming of age plot in the beginning, two very different teenage sisters battling their own feelings since losing their mother. Rachel idolizes a pop star who battles her own identity, as her public image is controlled by her management. The Ashley Too robots are copies of her conscious but with restrictions. The sisters break the lock and the real Ashley O emerges from the robot.
Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too team up to rescue the real Ashley O from her evil aunt who manages her career by drugging her into a coma. The plot becomes cartoonish when they steal their dads van and pretend to be mice exterminators. They outsmart a pair of guards and free Ashley O from the coma she was in. They drive to the arena as her aunt unveils the new digital Ashley O concert experience and the episode abruptly ends. As the credits roll, Ashley O and Jack form a grunge band as Rachel watches from the crowd with Ashley Too.
Miley Cyrus is the driving force behind this episode except the screen time she has is brief and depressing. She voices the robot that is programmed to be positive until the real her is unlocked. Angourie Rice and Madison Davenport don't exactly fit the sister profile as they look and act nothing alike, but maybe that's what they were going for. They are both serviceable for the characters they play, but nothing more.
The plot is pretty pathetic for a few reasons. Rachel's character arc is nonexistent, as she's the main subject for most of the episode. At least Jack comes out of her shell and teams up with Ashley O at the end, who is finally free to do as she pleases. It winds up feeling like a teenage girl's fantasy that turns into a farfetched rescue mission with a weak conclusion.
5/10
.
.
.
Review from 6/8/2019
Rachel and her sister Jack are outcasts at their new high school. Rachel idolizes pop star Ashley O and her inspirational lyrics in her music. She sees on a TV interview a reveal of a new AI robot called Ashley Too. She asks her dad Kevin for an Ashley Too for her birthday. He's an exterminator working on a cutting edge mousetrap.
Ashley O is managed by her aunt Catherine, making sure she takes her meds. Rachel gets an Ashley Too for her 15th birthday. Jack isn't fond of Ashley O but the robot helps Rachel prepare for a dance contest at her school. Rachel performs but falls and feels embarrassed. Ashley's managers discover she's stopped taking her meds and finds her notebook.
Jack hides Ashley Too from Rachel saying it's poisoning her. Ashley confronts Catherine about the illegal meds and she's put in a coma after her food was drugged. Kevin's robot mouse catcher works and Jack gives Ashley Too back to Rachel.
6 months later, Ashley is still in a coma and Catherine has ideas to continue profiting from her. Rachel's Ashley Too is activated by a news report explaining Ashley's story. The robot malfunctions and they plug it in to Kevin's computer. It's revealed that Ashley's entire consciousness was downloaded into the Ashley Too, but software limited its capacity. After unlocking it, Ashley tells them the truth about Catherine.
This episode is anchored by Madison Davenport and Angourie Rice's performances. They're personality styles are polar opposites of each other but they come together in the end. Using Miley Cyrus to play a pop star is about as cliché as you get, but for the most part, it works out. Ashley's dialogue with the Ashley Too was brief but humorous.
Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too uses ideas from past episodes with a new story. The second act makes up for the slow paced first half with a few pleasant surprises. It's a memorable addition to Black Mirror.
8/10.
Black Mirror: Smithereens (2019)
Smithereens
Updated Review - 10/22/2023
This episode starts off with an intriguing premise with the kidnapping of a hostage and a police chase. Once the car stops in the field, negotiations over the phone begin. He isn't looking for any money or assets, just a phone call with the CEO of Smithereens. We get to see the behind the scenes protocols used in a hostage situation. After a series of phone calls, gun shots and idle threats, the kidnapper explains his situation to the CEO. A struggle between the hostage and kidnapper leads to a sniper taking his shot.
This sort of thriller reminds me of Dog Day Afternoon and Phone Booth, both of which are much better than this episode. The stakes are never very high from the start. Technology makes the police and FBIs job very easy as they're all connected on a phone call and listening in on the conversations in the car. Anthony Scott's character has complexities for the situation he put himself in, but just about every other character is basically one dimensional. Even the conversation with CEO Topher Grace doesn't matter much because of the outcome that follows.
Smithereens is a slow-burning thriller that really grinds to a halt in the second and third acts. For a 70 minute episode that starts off hot, it really takes its time getting to the point. Once it finally does, there isn't much of a reason to be invested in what is happening. I think it's closer to average than 'good'.
5/10
.
.
.
Review from 6/8/2019
In London 2018, Chris is a taxi driver that attends grief counseling after losing his fiancé in a drunk driving accident. He meets Hayley whose daughter committed suicide and they have sex. Hayley attempts to log into her daughters Persona account until she is locked out.
Chris gives Jaden a ride to the airport. He works for Smithereens, a social media company. Chris parks under a bridge and pulls a gun on Jaden. He reveals he's only an intern at Smithereens which makes Chris angry. He's forced into another vehicle and they are followed by the police. Chris runs from them after being pulled over and the car dies in a field. He holds Jaden hostage and demands to speak with Billy Bauer, the founder and CEO of Smithereens.
Smithereens is directed by James Hawkes, who previously directed the episode Hated in the Nation. Both episodes focus on social media and its negative consequences. Chris doesn't blame Smithereens for his fiancé's death, but blames himself and the addictiveness of social media that caused him to crash. He carries the guilt with him knowing it was his fault, but the drunk driver was the logical person to blame from an outsider's view.
The acting is great overall, led by Andrew Scott's emotional performance. Topher Grace plays the humble CEO who admits Smithereens evolution as a company is beyond his control.
Smithereens is an intense thriller with a questionable ending. We're left wondering what happened while we see the reactions of others when they see the news. If this is the best episode of Season 5, this could be the weakest season of Black Mirror to date.
8/10.
Black Mirror: Striking Vipers (2019)
Striking Vipers X
Updated Review - 10/21/2023
Danny is caught in a love triangle with his wife Theo and his friend Karl. The relationship with Karl inside the simulation begins to take priority over his wife. The story leads to a crossroad that takes the path of everyone being happy in the end. They basically agree to an open relationship as Danny and Karl continue their simulated romance while Theo dates outside of the marriage.
The three leads do a fine job here. I found it most interesting when Theo begins to question herself and her relationship with Danny. Her emotions become a conflict of interest for Danny's virtual affair. The ending feels soft, as each of the characters accept each others' circumstance and go their own ways. The plot isn't very relatable and doesn't seem plausible as to what would actually happen if this sort of scenario was happening in a marriage.
Striking Vipers has some unique elements for a gay romance with themes worth exploring, but it ends up being a weaker entry in Black Mirror's catalog.
6/10
.
.
.
Review from 6/8/2019
Danny meets Theo in a club and they hook up. The next morning Danny and his friend Karl play a fighting game called Striking Vipers. 11 years later, Danny and Theo are married and have a three-year-old son. They host a barbeque for Danny's 38th birthday and Karl gives him Striking Vipers X, a cutting edge VR game.
Karl chooses Roxette and Danny chooses Lance. They fight and Karl's character kisses him at the end. The next night they have sex within the simulation. Danny becomes distant from Theo.
This episode is directed by Owen Harris, who also directed the episodes Be Right Back and San Junipero. Danny and Karl's bromance turns intimate within the simulation, being someone else while feeling the physical sensations. The love triangle scenario is unique and plays out rather well.
Anthony Mackie and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II are very good in their roles. Within the simulation, Pom Klementieff and Ludi Lin play believable video game fighters that steal the romantic scenes.
Striking Vipers is a complicated love story that questions same-sex love, lust and erotic fantasies. This episode doesn't break any new ground but is still a decent episode worth seeing.
7/10.
The Eric Andre Show: Tatyana Ali (2012)
Hickory Dickory Dock
Eric and Hannibal open the show with a duet. He interviews Tatyana Ali and asks her out before they're interrupted by Doc Chicken. An Arnold Schwarzenegger comes out on an electric scooter to introduce his new movie "Into the Night" with Hannibal.
Eric's public pranks include getting a lap dance as Thomas Jefferson, getting shot while walking a baby and giving Klan masks to a Tea Party conference.
The Eric Andre Show: Rick Fox (2012)
Memento of the Wack Font Variety
Eric interviews a man claiming to be Russell Brand. Eric talks with Hannibal and reads news articles. Rick Fox and a fushigi juggler come on the show. Eric loses his memory and finds notes written on his body. Kristanna Loken is introduced and does a comedy routine. Eric concludes the show with air guitarists.
Eric's public pranks include a clumsy cat burglar, dressing up as a hotdog and crashing a tennis game in the nude.
The Eric Andre Show: Dolph Lundgren (2012)
Pilot
Eric Andre and his co-host Hannibal Buress set up a talk show and have nothing planned. Eric tries stand up comedy but is criticized by Hannibal. Eric interviews a George Clooney impersonator and brings out a coffee for him to slam.
Eric and Hannibal play a game of This or That and any answer Eric gives, hot coffee is thrown in his face. His next interview is with Dolph Lundgren. Eric's public pranks include jumping out of trash cans, running through a Civil War reenactment as slaves and touching strangers hands.
The pilot episode of The Eric Andre Show gives us a taste of what is to come. It's a late night talk show spoof that's unique, bizarre and hilarious.
Black Mirror: Black Museum (2017)
Monkey Loves You
Updated Review - 10/20/2023
Black Museum takes the basic outline of White Christmas but instead examines artifacts, telling the dark secrets behind them. The three stories told by the museum curator are all twisted and disturbing in their own ways. The first story feels like a sci-fi version of Crank, which gets more ridiculous as it goes along. The second story is the most memorable, as the grief of losing his wife turns sour once she becomes bitter and angry inside of his head. The third story of the man on death row is brief, but is crucial for the twist ending. It's revealed this was a rescue mission from the start with a backseat passenger along for the ride.
Overall the directing and writing are just average. Douglas Hodge and Letitia Wright are the standouts, though their screen time in the museum feels short. As the overarching story in the museum progresses, they divert our attention to the stories the end up feeling like filler without much to invest in. After taking their sweet time on the first two stories, oddly enough the ending feels rushed. It's an episode you must see twice to pick up on the subtle details, but on a third viewing it's much less engaging than the first time around.
7/10
.
.
.
Review from 5/11/2019
Nish stops at a charging station for her car and visits a nearby museum. She meets Rolo Haynes who tells her about some of the disturbing artifacts.
Haynes was a neurological research recruiter and convinced Dr. Peter Dawson to test an implant that would allow him to feel the physical sensations of others. He felt the pain of his patients and the pleasure of his wife during sex. After experiencing death and surviving, Dawson becomes addicted to feeling pain.
Haynes tells the story of a stuffed monkey. Jack and Carrie have a baby boy and Carrie is put in a coma after a car accident. Haynes convinces his Jack to transfer Carrie's consciousness into his brain. Jack becomes annoyed with her and Haynes allows him to put her on pause. Jack meets a new woman who wants Carrie out of his head for good. They have Carrie transferred into a stuffed monkey where she has only a happy and a sad phrase to speak.
Haynes shows Nish the main attraction, a hologram of a convicted murderer, Clayton Leigh. Before his execution, Haynes got Leigh to sign over his post-death consciousness rights, torturing his hologram in an electric chair and profiting from it.
Haynes begins choking after Nish gives him poisoned water. Nish is revealed to be Clayton's daughter and she transfers Haynes' consciousness into Clayton's hologram. She shocks the Clayton and Haynes until they disappear, taking a keychain with Haynes being shocked indefinitely. She escapes the museum with the monkey and burns it down. Her mother's consciousness is inside Nish, happy to see her husband free.
There are many artifacts in the museum and other Easter eggs from previous episodes, tying together the Black Mirror universe. They seem to be further into the future, as laws have changed regarding the use of cookies and uploaded consciousnesses. Haynes is clearly a shady con-artist and Nish has a plan to take him down from the beginning.
The directing by Colm McCarthy is excellent, reminiscent of White Christmas. The stories are disturbing and interesting with a twist you won't see coming. The sayings, "Monkey Loves You" and "Monkey Needs a Hug" will haunt and comfort you at the same time.
9/10.
Black Mirror: Metalhead (2017)
Dog vs. Human
Updated Review - 10/19/2023
The directing and the score stood out to me the most on this latest rewatch. It has the classic horror film feel with a tense score and dramatic close-ups. The choice to film in black & white adds to the feeling of hopelessness in the apocalyptic wasteland. Maxine Peake is great in the lead role as she becomes the last one standing. The metal dogs are similar to Terminators or Predators, except they can't climb trees. The CGI is well done, the dogs move fluidly and the kill shots are brutal.
Metalhead wastes no time getting straight into the action. For being a 40 minute action/horror film, it does what it sets out to do. The score and the intensity of the action sequences make up for the lack of story or character development.
7/10
.
.
.
Review from 5/4/2019
In a post-apocalyptic Scotland, Bella, Clarke and Anthony search a warehouse to help a dying boy. They uncover a robotic dog that effectively kills Anthony and Clarke, Bella is hit in the leg by a tracking device. Bella is hunted by the rogue dog and her survival instincts are given a test.
This is the first episode to be shot in black and white, giving off a sense of death and dread. It may also have to do with the dogs vision, seeing without color. The dog is an efficient and advanced hunter that forces Bella to use her creativity to outsmart it.
This episode is directed by David Slade, director of Hard Candy and 30 Days of Night. He will also go on to direct Black Mirror's Bandersnatch. His unique style is shown with closeups of small details, but there isn't enough script to work with. Ultimately, we're left with an open-ended story and underdeveloped characters that doesn't make much sense by the end.
6/10.
The Act: Free (2019)
Consequences
The finale of The Act is good, but it isn't the courtroom drama I was hoping for. Gypsy contacts her biological father for medical records which leads to a powerful scene between them, one of the best scenes of the show. Mel visits her and reiterates her mother's saying, "the only way out of the fire, is through it."
The courtroom scenes are brief, showing a hearing where Gypsy pleads not guilty and a pretrial where they decide Gypsy and Nick's punishments are separate. I was hoping for an intense courtroom drama up until the final verdict. Instead we see into the night of the murder, which I think should've been shown in sequence.
Overall, The Act is a powerful true crime drama that looks into the minds of three very interesting subjects and the reaction of a community. Gypsy faces 10 years in prison while Nick was sentenced to life in prison without parole. It's a story that will pop up again once Gypsy is released. Joey King and Patricia Arquette's performances are worth seeing for yourself.
Black Mirror: Hang the DJ (2017)
Everything Happens for a Reason
Updated Review - 10/18/2023
The characters interact using the Coach device as a moral guide, asking it what to do before each scenario. Parts of the story are reminiscent of Yorgos Lanthimos' film The Lobster. Both are very unique, but similar in the way dating and relationships are anticipated by the participants. Everyone wants to find their match, but trusting the system is the first step. A full spectrum of emotion is displayed in the characters, writing and story, making this one of the best entries in the sci-fi romance genre.
More people meet through online dating than ever before and this depiction of modern dating will ring truer as time goes on. The story is thoughtful and engaging from beginning to end. Hang the DJ is one of, if not my favorite episode of Black Mirror to date.
10/10
.
.
.
Review from 5/3/2019
Frank meets Amy through a futuristic dating system called Coach that provides instruction and the duration of the relationship. They are given 12 hours and they are taken to a house where they sleep next to each other. They part ways and are given new matches.
Frank is matched with Nicola for one year, despite having no chemistry. Amy is matched with Lenny for nine months, having sexual connection but lacking an emotional connection. Amy's relationship ends and the next three months are full of casual hookups. Franks relationship ends and he matches with Amy again.
They decide not to check the timer on the Coach to avoid the system. They live happily until Frank is torn and checks the duration without Amy. They were given five years but it quickly diminishes to 12 hours. Frank wants to escape the system but Amy leaves for breaking their promise.
Amy has many more hookups until the Coach gives her an Ultimate Match. She is given the chance to say goodbye to one person and she chooses Frank. They meet with 90 seconds on the clock and want to escape the system together. They try leaving the restaurant but are stopped by guards. Amy puts her hand on the taser and they realize they're in a simulation. They escape to a giant wall and climb a ladder until the world around them dissolves. They find out this outcome occurred in 998 out of 1000 times and are brought to the restaurant in the real world.
Tim Van Patten does an amazing job directing this episode. The lighting directly reflects the characters feelings and emotions. Each scene carries so much context within it that multiple viewings are required to catch every detail.
Georgina Campbell and Joe Cole have great chemistry together, making us hope their relationship works out. Amy experiences physical pleasure without emotional attachment and Frank experiences the opposite. He wants to care for Nicola while they were together but she wants nothing to do with him.
Hang the DJ is a sci-fi romantic drama that pushes the boundaries of simulation theory and modern dating apps. As time goes on, finding your perfect match through a system could become a real option. This episode is in the same category as San Junipero and is easily the best episode in Season 4 so far.
10/10.
Black Mirror: Crocodile (2017)
Recaller
Updated Review - 10/17/2023
The best parts of this episode are during the interrogation scenes. Memories are projected onto a screen to view the witnesses perspective of an accident. There are a few callbacks to Fifteen Million Merits, with Wraith Babes showing up as a pay-per-view channel in the hotel and the audition song used to recall memories during the interviews.
The writing, directing and acting are serviceable but nothing that really stands out. They tried to build an engaging story around the Recaller technology but it feels like wasted potential by the end. Crocodile doesn't quite meet the high standard I expect from a Black Mirror episode, but it's still worth a watch.
6/10
.
.
.
Review from 5/1/2019
Mia and Rob hit and kill a cyclist on their way home from a nightclub. They dispose the body and forget about it until 15 years later, Rob finds an article of the wife who is still looking for her husband. He wants to anonymously reach out to her but Mia's paranoia leads her to murdering him.
Around the same time, a self-driving pizza truck hits a pedestrian and insurance investigator Shazia looks for evidence. She visits the victim and witnesses, using a Recaller which allows her to view their memory of the accident. She sees Mia in the window above and wants to see her point of view.
Andrea Riseborough is fine as the lead role, but overall the characters aren't the strongest. The opening scene directly impacts the rest of the episode 15 years later seems like a bit of a stretch. This amount of time allows Mia to have an established career and family, but it doesn't really matter in the plot.
This episode was directed by John Hillcoat, director of the films Lawless and Triple 9. He does a good job building the tension in this sci-fi thriller, but doesn't give us much to relate to.
6/10.
Black Mirror: Arkangel (2017)
Arkangel
Updated Review - 10/16/2023
The Arkangel technology is a child's worst nightmare. 24/7 monitoring with constant parental restrictions nerfing the world before your eyes.
This episode views the difficulties that result from being an overly protective parent, as well as the child who ultimately suffers for it. The invasion of privacy creates tension and breaks the trust between the mother and daughter. The timeline is interesting, seeing how the technology affects her as a child and as a teenager.
Arkangel is a sci-fi drama with an interesting concept and it delivers what it sets out to accomplish. Like I said before, it's fairly predictable with an ending that feels cold and abrupt. I didn't get as much out of a rewatch as I had hoped for.
7/10
.
.
.
Review from 4/30/2019
Marie gives birth to a baby girl named Sara. After going missing when she was three, Marie decides to visit Arkangel for a free trial monitoring implant. Marie can track Sara's location, health and filter what she sees through a tablet.
This episode shows the impact that overprotective parenting can have on a child. Since she was three, Sara had every image perceived as bad blurred out, leaving her to wonder what blood, violence and sex really are. She was bullied at school for being filtered and being no fun because of it.
It's directed by Jodie Foster, she makes this sci-fi drama feel both the mother and daughter's perspectives. Marie only wants her daughter to be safe while Sara learns her privacy is constantly being invaded. The acting by Rosemarie DeWitt and Brenna Harding are very good.
Arkangel is a solid addition to Black Mirror, despite it being predictable. This is the first episode directed by a female and Jodie Foster pulls it off.
8/10.
Black Mirror: USS Callister (2017)
Infinity and Beyond
Updated Review - 10/15/2023
The writing and directing turns a cheesy space fantasy into a tense escape room scenario. Jesse Plemons plays a two-faced power-hungry predator seeking control of his colleagues. Christin Milioti is at her best here as she thinks outside the box to escape from the virtual nightmare they're all trapped in. Jimmi Simpson's multilayered performance is also worth noting.
The writing uses sarcasm and self-awareness, making us feel for the characters and their situation. The CGI feels rough around the edges at certain points. Although the effects feel purposeful and on par with a computer games graphics, it's pretty obvious that they're in a giant green screen studio.
This episode takes the basic concept of Star Trek and puts a sinister sci-fi spin on it to create a bizarre space adventure. USS Callister stands out in Black Mirror's catalog as one of the more memorable experiences with a very satisfying conclusion.
9/10
.
.
.
Review from 4/30/2019
Captain Robert Daly and his Space Fleet crew embark on missions in their space ship, fighting their archenemy, Valdack. In the real world, Robert Daly is the Chief Technical Officer at Callister Inc. It's Nanette Cole's first day and she feels privileged to work under Daly. Walton gives her a tour of the office. At home, Daly goes into Space Fleet and abuses Walton and the crew.
The next day, Daly gets Nanette's DNA from a coffee cup and uploads her into Space Fleet. She finds herself and her coworkers digitally cloned into Infinity. Nanette quickly learns Daly is in control and they are transported to a planet where they meet Valdack and Jillian.
Jesse Plemons is great as the villain, weak in the real world and an all-powerful God in his created world. Cristin Milioti is excellent in her role as Nanette, who cleverly finds a way to break away from Daly's game. The rest of the crew is also very good, Jimmi Simpson (one of the McPoyles from It's Always Sunny) gives a dramatic and comical performance.
Director Toby Haynes makes this episode feel like a Star Trek journey with a Black Mirror twist. The special effects of space and the monsters are very well done. The lighting within the ship brightens when Daly is present and dims when he leaves, giving the sense of dread the prisoners feel.
USS Callister uses technology from earlier episodes like the cookies and turns it into a thrilling and dramatic space adventure. A strong start to Season 4.
9/10.
Black Mirror: Hated in the Nation (2016)
#DeathTo
Updated Review - 10/14/2023
Maybe the most notable element of this episode that I didn't mention in my first review is the fantastic original score composed by Martin Phipps. It adds an additional layer depth to each scene, building intensity as it goes along. The tracks including female vocals are haunting and perfectly fit the tone of the episode. Like I said previously, Kelly Macdonald and Faye Marsay are both excellent. Following them as they uncover clues about the ADI is exciting to watch unfold. Also Benedict Wong's presence greatly adds to the scenes he's involved with.
This episode has qualities of a film made for TV, but it doesn't quite feel like a full length film or a typical TV episode. In its nearly 90 minute runtime, there isn't much time wasted with character building. It throws us into the middle of a detective's investigation that doesn't have a concrete resolution until the final scene.
Hated in the Nation blends social media and sci-fi with detective work and courtroom drama and to create a thrilling murder mystery experience that is gripping from start to finish.
9/10
.
.
.
Review from 4/30/2019
Detective Chief Inspector Karin Parke gives her testimony at a hearing. Journalist Jo Powers receives hate mail and death threats and is found dead. Her husband claims she slit her throat. Rapper Tusk is targeted after insulting a young fan. He has a seizure and dies during an MRI when a metal object is magnetized from his head. An ADI bee drone is found in Powers' head, the same device that killed Tusk.
Karin, trainee Blue Coulson and Nick Shelton investigate the murders by visiting Granular's HQ. They meet Rasmus, who monitors the ADIs. He notices the ADI that killed them were hacked. Blue connects the murders to the #DeathTo hashtag and tracks the original post that shows a video called Game of Consequences. The person with the most votes each day will be executed.
They track down the next target, Clara Meades, and take her to a safe house. Rasmus loses complete control of the ADI and they swarm the safe house until they kill Clara. The death polls gain media attention and Chancellor Tom Pickering leads and wants to shut down all of social media. Karin finds out about Garrett Scholes, who wrote a digital manifesto for the ADIs. Blue traces the location of a selfie and they find a disk drive containing a list of IMEI numbers of everyone who used the #DeathTo hashtag. 387,036 people are targeted and killed by the ADI.
This episode is brilliantly directed by James Hawes. It's perfectly paced for a thrilling murder mystery that feels like a full-length film. It's the longest Black Mirror episode to date, yet it doesn't feel dragged out one bit.
The performances by Kelly MacDonald and Faye Marsay are excellent. Both of them are incredibly bright and likable detectives that grab your attention right from the beginning. They use every resource possible to gather clues and search for answers.
Hated in the Nation takes ideas from the first episode of Season 1, The National Anthem, and turns it into a thrilling sci-fi noir with a twist you won't see coming. The Season 3 finale ranks among the best episodes Black Mirror.
10/10.
Black Mirror: Men Against Fire (2016)
Weapon of MASS Destruction
Updated Review - 10/13/2023
At the start of this rewatch, I had completely forgotten everything about this episode. The plot slowly came back to me as it went along, but it was as if my mind was wiped clean like the MASS implant did to these soldiers. Within the first three minutes, I was distracted by the Baby Kate crying sound effect that's been subliminally planted in my brain from watching Arthur as a child. This is usually a sign of laziness and mediocrity.
I was unimpressed with the editing, as it felt choppy with constant quick cuts. The directing has it's moments of intensity using slo-mo and circling shots but it feels basic much of the time combined with the editing. The CGI is serviceable but not great. The final 15 minutes or so in the white room reveals all we needed to know without covering a ton of ground beforehand. The episode is carried by Malachi Kirby's performance and the action sequences.
As I was watching, I was thinking of better films that it vaguely resembles such as I Am Legend and Edge of Tomorrow. My original review is very well written and was received with praise but sadly I didn't have the same experience this time around. Men Against Fire contains heavy themes that are worth exploring but it clearly didn't leave as much of a substantial impact as I originally thought it did.
6/10
.
.
.
Review from 4/29/2019
Stripe is woken up by Hunter during an erotic dream. They're apart of a military group that have MASS implants, that enhance their senses and see an augmented reality. Their squad is lead by Medina, who takes them on a new mission.
The squad infiltrates a farm house they believe is harboring mutated humans they call roaches. Medina interrogates the farm owner while Stripe and Hunter clear the house. They find a secret door, revealing a nest of roaches. One of them points an LED device at Stripe and they open fire. They arrest the farm owner and burn the house down.
Stripe experiences glitches with his MASS interface during training. After an examination, he's told nothing is wrong. Stripe, Hunter and Medina arrive at a housing complex to search for roaches. Medina is killed by a sniper and they move inside the complex. Stripe finds a woman and Hunter kills her. Stripe stops her from killing a mother and child.
The MASS implant these soldiers are given wipes their memory and gives the military control over what they can see. It's explained that a majority of soldiers don't want to kill or even fire a gun. The soldiers augmented reality allows the military to pull off genocide and reward them with lucid sex dreams as a reward for killing people they deem inferior.
Jakob Verbruggen directs this episode in a way that puts you in the perspective of a soldier discovering the true meaning of his actions. In some parts it feels like a video game, showing first person views with a gun in hand. The acting is very good overall with a standout performance by Malachi Kirby as Stripe.
Men Against Fire is a sci-fi action drama that questions the use of advanced technology in warfare, the dehumanization of soldiers and psychological consequences of mass murder. It's another great episode in Season 3.
9/10.
Black Mirror: San Junipero (2016)
San Junipero
Updated Review - 10/12/2023
San Junipero is the one episode I was most anticipating to rewatch. I summed up my thoughts well in my original review, which still hold true on this viewing. Heaven is a Place on Earth hits different after seeing this again. It plants a seed in the opening scene and then sweeps you away during the credits montage.
MacKenzie Davis and Gugu Mbatha-Raw are both excellent. A majority of the focus is between the two of them in San Junipero but some of the most touching moments come from Denise Burse who plays Kelly in the real world. Each of her scenes make all the rest much more impactful on a rewatch.
San Junipero starts off feeling like an innocent 80's styled romance that reveals itself with a sci-fi twist. Just the idea of living in a simulation after death is fascinating to think about in itself. The stellar acting, storyline and sharp dialogue are what elevates this episode in Black Mirror's catalog.
10/10
.
.
.
Review from 4/29/2019
In 1987, Yorkie is a shy woman who meets vivacious Kelly at a nightclub in San Junipero. Kelly wants to dance but Yorkie is uncomfortable. Kelly wants to hook up with her but Yorkie reveals she's engaged. The following week, Yorkie follows Kelly at the nightclub and they have sex at Kelly's beach house. Yorkie confesses it was her first time having sex and Kelly reveals she has been married.
Week after week, Yorkie searches relentlessly for Kelly. She eventually finds her, but rejects Yorkie, claiming she just want to have fun. This hurts Yorkie's feelings and Kelly finds her on the roof. Kelly apologizes and admits she's dying. They reunite and have sex at the beach house.
San Junipero is a simulated reality where the deceased can live and the living can visit. Kelly visits Yorkie, who was paralyzed in a car crash when she was 21 after her parents disapproved of her being gay. Yorkie wants to passover to live in San Junipero permanently but her parents won't give consent.
Kelly visits her and asks Yorkie to marry her. She accepts and wants Kelly to passover too so they can be together forever. Kelly reveals her daughter died and her husband chose not to live in San Junipero for the chance of being with her. Kelly leaves upset and crashes her car. She wakes up and chooses to passover to stay in San Junipero with Yorkie forever.
Owen Harris directed the episode Be Right Back, which also dealt with relationships after death. The directing, writing, dialogue and cinematography are all fantastic. The 80's soundtrack is amazing, giving off the perfect vibe in every scene.
MacKenzie Davis gives a stellar performance as Yorkie, along with Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Denise Burse as Kelly have amazing chemistry. The emotional connection between Yorkie and Kelly is a joy to watch. I can directly relate with the introverted Yorkie and the extraverted Kelly. Yorkie finds happiness through Kelly and believes in true love, even when her family disapproved, she followed her heart.
San Junipero is a dream I wish I could live. It's a sci-fi romantic drama that is completely unique to Black Mirror. San Junipero is one of the best episodes, with it's outstanding performances and heartfelt love story.
10/10.
Black Mirror: Shut Up and Dance (2016)
Troll
Updated Review - 10/11/2023
Each message from UNKNOWN moves them forward on their journey into the unknown. For each character, the stakes are as high as they perceive their situation to be. The plot moves along simplistically but it's very effective for the game that's being forced upon them. It's essentially a game of 'Would You Rather' against the blackmail being held above their heads. Alex Lawther and Jerome Flynn are both great although the screen time between them is brief.
Shut Up and Dance is a pure thriller. From a few minutes in to finish, it constantly makes you question what could possibly happen next? The episode works best on a first-time viewing. Knowing the ending takes away much of the suspense, but it's still a solid thriller worth experiencing twice.
8/10
.
.
.
Review from 4/28/2023
Kenny is a teenager who works at a restaurant. He tries removing Malware from his laptop but instead causes an unknown source to watch him. After beating off, he receives an e-mail threatening to release a video of him. They demand his phone number and say he will soon be activated.
The next day, he's activated and forced to leave work. He's given a location where he receives a package from a man who takes his picture. He delivers the package to a man named Hector, who is blackmailed for ordering a prostitute. Together they follow the instructions given to them, leading to shocking results.
This episode is very well written, directed and acted. The plot constantly makes you ask yourself what you would do in their situations and where you would draw the line. The end will surely blow your mind.
Shut Up and Dance is one of the most intense and thrilling episodes of Black Mirror. This episode doesn't use any futuristic technology, making this a somewhat realistic scenario, even if it's farfetched.
9/10.
Black Mirror: Playtest (2016)
True Fear
Updated Review - 10/10/2023
Cooper partakes in an experimental horror game that generates his deepest fears from within through an augmented reality implant. Once his rationality proves otherwise, the program turns real and throws him into the ultimate nightmare simulation that's over before it even begins.
This is Wyatt Russell's most notable performance in recent memory. The pacing lingers at times and certain scenes feel dragged out to build as much suspense for the next scare. In one instance they even called out the jump scare before it had a chance to be effective. There isn't anything particularly horrifying here besides the idea of losing your mind with each passing second.
Playtest feels like an escape room experience at first, until it's revealed there's no way out. The "you can't scare me" attitude can only work for so long until there's nothing left except fear itself. It's a psychological horror that really breaks down the most terrifying experience someone can go through which is losing yourself from the inside out.
7/10
.
.
.
Review from 4/28/2019
Cooper Redfield travels the world, ignoring his mother's phone calls. He meets Sonja in London and she suggests he test video games for money to get home. He arrives at the SaitoGemu building and Katie has him sign a disclaimer. She turns off his phone, but she leaves the room and he turns it on and takes a picture of the technology he's testing.
They give Cooper a mushroom implant, allowing him to see augmented reality. He demos a whack-a-mole game and he meets Shou Saito. They upload a survival horror game that adapts to his real fears. He's brought to a mansion where his game begins.
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, who also directed 10 Cloverfield Lane, does a great job of creating an intense atmosphere that had me on the edge of my seat. Wyatt Russell is great in the lead role as a laidback guy whose internal fears are fully exposed.
Playtest is a true horror episode. They dig deep into the human psyche, pulling out the most terrifying experiences someone could go through. Auditory hallucinations, questioning your own identity, disconnection and deception of loved ones and not knowing what is real or fake.
8/10.
Black Mirror: Nosedive (2016)
Reputelligent
Updated Review - 10/9/2023
Lacie is addicted to a social media platform that updates in real-time after every interaction, no matter how meaningful or insignificant. She receives an opportunity to boost her rating, before her reputation is flushed down the drain.
I was most impressed with the directing this time around. Joe Wright is the most notable director Black Mirror has had to this point and it really shines from a technical perspective. Dallas Bryce Howard is a perfect fit for the role she plays. She shows a wide range of emotion, snapping in and out of character depending on who she's interacting with. Alice Eve plays the flawless bride-to-be, who is also obsessed with upholding her standing on social media. Most everyone in this episode is a narcissist except for Susan, the truck driver played by Cherry Jones, who rejected social media and has never felt better because of it.
Nosedive amplifies the harm in taking social media too seriously. There are many themes and messages in this episode that feel more relatable than ever. The social media platform they use seems like an anxiety-inducing nightmare, enforcing all of societies unwritten rules. It might be meta to give this episode a rating, but it has to be done.
9/10
.
.
.
Review from 4/27/2019
Lacie Pound lives in a society that is consumed by social media and ratings. She is a 4.2 and needs to get to a 4.5 in order to get a luxury apartment. She desperately visits Reputelligent for tips on boosting her rating. She makes a post that gets the attention of her classy old friend Naomi. She's getting married and asks her to be the maid of honor. She accepts knowing her rating will be greatly increased.
Things take a turn for the worst for Lacie. She is given poor ratings and penalized by airport security, giving her double damage for 24 hours. She ends up riding with a truck driver who remembers being like her, consumed with ratings, but has given it up and feels much better.
Lacie's character is an extreme example of someone who is addicted to social media. Serotonin and dopamine flood her brain when she gets a 5-star rating. She feels depressed and anxious when someone gives her anything else. She lives life only to benefit her rating, until she realizes those elite class people are fake and superficial.
The screenplay (teleplay) was written by co-creator of Parks and Rec as well as Rashida Jones. Bryce Dallas Howard is great in her role as Lacie. Alice Eve and Alan Ritchson (Thad Castle from BMS) fit well as the arrogant couple, who only invite Lacie to benefit their own ratings.
Nosedive is an interesting look into the psychology and unrealistic expectations some people experience with social media. As time goes on, social media is becoming a mainstream way to connect with others and consume information. This episode sums up the highs and lows of those who are consumed by social media.
8/10.
The Act: Bonnie & Clyde (2019)
Regrets
Gypsy and Nick make it back to Wisconsin and she meets Nick's parents. They don't have any medicine and Gypsy wants to go home. She wants someone to find Dee Dee so they create Facebook posts to gain attention. Lacey sees the post and the police search the house. They track the post to Nick's house and they are arrested. Detective Crawford interrogates Gypsy, who lies about everything. Nick tells the whole truth and admits to murder.
This is where the show gets real. The reality of the situation hits them when they see the flashing lights through the curtains. They assumed they would never be caught but instead they made the posts revealing their location. The finale will most likely be an intense courtroom drama, which I look forward to seeing.