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Black Mirror (1 Viewer)

Why would his system get updated when it wasn't connected to the network?

A genius coder would create a system that he can't get out of?

I really think it would've been better had they swapped out the temple connect piece with one that was hacked...thus eliminating his ability to get out of the system.

After a few days of being stuck in there...he'll die of dehydration.
They said it was actually connected to the network

 
I'm still in season 3, but this is a pretty epic show so far.  I love the pitch black tone that it maintains most of the way.  (That was my only complaint about San Junipero -- I would have preferred the obvious dark ending that they could have chosen instead).

 
I'm still in season 3, but this is a pretty epic show so far.  I love the pitch black tone that it maintains most of the way.  (That was my only complaint about San Junipero -- I would have preferred the obvious dark ending that they could have chosen instead).
It certainly says a lot about the show where the San Junipero ending is arguably the happiest ending.

 
It was trying way too hard to be clever. More than any other episode, it reminded me of Twilight Zone, but not necessarily in a good way. 
I mean it was obvious but I was entertained nonetheless.  The only episode I haven't watched is arkangel and apparently I'm not missing much there. 

Liked shut up and dance, metalhead, the dating app one and the horror video game one. McAllister was so campy I couldn't take my eyes off the screen even though the story was convoluted. Even the ones like black museum that are meh are still better than the average walking dead episode

 
Shut Up and Dance was so damn sad and awfully realistic. No happy ending, not gotcha twist, just sad. :(  

 
Yeah she abandons her husband of 47 years for a newbie. I thought it was uplifting
I don't think she abandon's her husband. He chose to just die with no "afterlife". They were going to be separated no matter what she chose to do.

 
We finally watched them all.  I loved every episode.  They were all As or B+s to me.  People say Metalhead didn't fit into the overall theme of the series, but I think it does.  I don't need the backstory.  I can take the story right were it is at face value.  The end was a weird twist for me that the Vox review of that episode really fleshes out better than I could.

I also disagree with a few folks here on their view of Archangel, but I don't know how to do spoilers, so I'll just shutup.  It would be cool if we had a test forum to figure out how to do spoiler tags.
Agreed.  I loved Metalhead until the last shot (the teddy bears), which I thought undermined the whole thing.  But whatever.  The reason why I replied is that Archangel is one of my favorite episodes, and also one of the most timely as a critique of helicopter parenting and our unwillingness to let kids live their own lives and learn from their own mistakes.

 
I like the shows but not sure I can keep watching. White Bear and White Christmas were both solid shows but I don’t know if I can keep watching such a depressing series. I stopped at the end of season 2. Solid shows and acting for the most part but damn not something I feel like watching anymore. Maybe down the road. 

 
Shut Up and Dance was so damn sad and awfully realistic. No happy ending, not gotcha twist, just sad. :(  
I had watched the first two seasons and wanted to introduce my wife to the series when Season 3 came to Netflix. At the time, I hadn't watched any episode from that season. I did some searches and it seemed Shut Up and Dance was getting highest ratings so I chose that one.

It remains the only Black Mirror episode she has ever seen.

 
phandango said:
I had watched the first two seasons and wanted to introduce my wife to the series when Season 3 came to Netflix. At the time, I hadn't watched any episode from that season. I did some searches and it seemed Shut Up and Dance was getting highest ratings so I chose that one.

It remains the only Black Mirror episode she has ever seen.
Every chick I've seen San Junipero with has loved it.

 
Season 4 repeated a lot of the ideas that have already been explored -but did it in interesting ways, so I enjoyed it (except for USS Callister).

 
Season 4 repeated a lot of the ideas that have already been explored -but did it in interesting ways, so I enjoyed it (except for USS Callister).
I disliked USS Callister initially but as it went on, it grew on me. Campy for sure... but it settled into it's own as an interesting departure from the norm for the series. I can respect the chance taken. 

 
Star Trek nerd?
I like Trek but I just found that episode to be really derivative of previous ones. The whole "consciousness within a computer" thing is played out.

But I'm not very consistent I guess because (and this really is a spoiler, so beware)

I liked Hang The DJ.

:shrug:
 
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I like Trek but I just found that episode to be really derivative of previous ones. The whole "consciousness within a computer" thing is played out.

But I'm not very consistent I guess because (and this really is a spoiler, so beware)

I liked Hang The DJ.

:shrug:
...hobgoblin of little minds

 
Black Mirror fans may be interested in watching Electric Dreams.  It's an anthology series with other similarities (dystopian, future worlds) to Black Mirror.  Phillip K ****'s name is stamped on this; I'm not sure how much of his hand actually had in creating it, but I can say after watching 4 or so of these you can see his fingerprints on these universes.  Don't expect massive twists or heavy ethical lessons like BM, they are compelling nonetheless.  It's on Amazon Prime, so all you FBGs likely have access to it. :thumbup:

 
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My rankings

1.3    "The Entire History of You"
2.4    "White Christmas"
3.1    "Nosedive"
3.2    "Playtest"
3.3    "Shut Up and Dance"
2.2    "White Bear"
4.4    "Hang the DJ"
1.2    "Fifteen Million Merits"
3.4    "San Junipero"
4.1    "USS Callister"
3.6    "Hated in the Nation"
4.3    "Crocodile"
1.1    "The National Anthem"
4.6    "Black Museum"
4.2    "Arkangel"
4.5    "Metalhead"
3.5    "Men Against Fire"
2.1    "Be Right Back"
2.3    "The Waldo Moment"
 

 
The "jump the shark" moment apparently happened between seasons 3 and 4. Two of the ssn 4 episodes were mediocre, the rest were terrible.

 
The "jump the shark" moment apparently happened between seasons 3 and 4. Two of the ssn 4 episodes were mediocre, the rest were terrible.
I wouldn't say terrible, but not as original, which is to be expected with this type of show.

 
I wouldn't say terrible, but not as original, which is to be expected with this type of show.
My son like season 3 so I might watch those. Really liked a couple in season 2, but so damn depressing I stopped after White Christmas. Had a death in the family and company got bought right before the end of the year so wasn’t really in the mood. Not so grim anymore, but I may not even bother after season 3. Based on your list seems like if I watch the first 3, I might as well stop there. 

 
My son like season 3 so I might watch those. Really liked a couple in season 2, but so damn depressing I stopped after White Christmas. Had a death in the family and company got bought right before the end of the year so wasn’t really in the mood. Not so grim anymore, but I may not even bother after season 3. Based on your list seems like if I watch the first 3, I might as well stop there. 
But that's just, like, my opinion, man.

 
Watched first episode of Electric Dreams.  I can tell I'm going to be in for a big disappointment after Black Mirror. And while I think season 4 wasn't as good as the others, still way better than most other TV.

 
Watched first episode of Electric Dreams.  I can tell I'm going to be in for a big disappointment after Black Mirror. And while I think season 4 wasn't as good as the others, still way better than most other TV.
I'm watching Electric Dreams now. Quality isn't as high as Black Mirror, but I also don't sink into a dark fog of depression and despair afterward, either. 

 
But that's just, like, my opinion, man.
The season 1 and 2 shows are pretty much where I’d rank them except I might put the White ones up top. I trust your judgement since we basically agree on what I’ve watched including the meh ones. 

 
My rankings

1.3    "The Entire History of You" - 9/10 - Fantastic episode, can't argue with 1.  Even relatable in spite of it's futuristic concept.  
2.4    "White Christmas" - 10/10 - the most mind-fak of all the episodes imo. John Hamm is fantastic in this - one of the better performances of the entire series.  This is a 2 or 3 watcher to fully get everything on a deeper level.
3.1    "Nosedive" - 6/10 - Good, because so relevant, but I thought this was weak compared to the rest of the show. It was very enjoyable though.
3.2    "Playtest" - 4/10 - Not a fan of this trope because I find it a bit lazy compared to others. 
3.3    "Shut Up and Dance" - 6/10 - Agree it's better then Metalhead and Crocodile as far as these types of stories go, but I found it a little bit pointless - for lack of a better term.  Still thrilling.
2.2    "White Bear" - 7/10 - Scary, worthy of a top 5-6 ranking for me.
4.4    "Hang the DJ" - 4/10 - I never got into it, need to rewatch.  I found the story itself, the filler/the middle to be predictable. 50 minutes of :zzz: for a VERY good 3 minute payoff.  But the most predictable episode of the series (not the ending, but the middle 40 minutes, a lot of people could have written. I would add 2 points to my rating just for the song during the final season and the hotness of the chick. 
1.2    "Fifteen Million Merits" - 9/10 - Cool concept, I love the futuristic/dystopian concepts I guess judging by my favorites.
3.4    "San Junipero" - 6/10 - While I recognize the amazingness of the episode, and the first 20 mins or so are fantastic, I'm not much of a sap, and these kinds of stories arent as appealing to me.
4.1    "USS Callister" - 10/10 - The best episode IMO to encapsulate what this series is.
3.6    "Hated in the Nation" - 8/10 - I suck but I watched this one well over a year ago and only once, and need to rewatch - all I remember is really loving it.
4.3    "Crocodile" - 6/10 - see: shut up and dance. Pointless is the wrong word though, it's just a short movie with a thriller type story - no real deep think which I prefer, no mind-####. 
1.1    "The National Anthem" 3/10 - the 2nd weakest of all episodes to me. It's a cool introduction to the show though, it's just that once you watch the rest, this doesn't stack up
4.6    "Black Museum" - 8/10 - We disagree a lot on this one. I thought the concepts, while partially recycled from earlier episodes were executed magnificently. 
4.2    "Arkangel"- 5/10 - a little too predictable....a lot too predictable, still enjoyable though.
4.5    "Metalhead" - 6/10 - I read an interview with the director on the episode that made me appreciate it a lot more. This one is a touch underrated by the community IMO
3.5    "Men Against Fire" - 2/10 - The worst episode for me
2.1    "Be Right Back" - 3/10 - Agree with the low rating
2.3    "The Waldo Moment" - 3/10 - Agree with the low rating but gets a point for originality when laid against the rest of the series. Sometimes the change up is nice in the middle of a season where you're gasping for breath watching or trying to comprehend things.
 
Good list

USS Callister is my favorite episode so I'd have it higher. There was something about it - I think it's the quintessential Black Mirror show, the one I tell them to watch if they want to get into it because it has everything IMO.  Comments on the others above.

I had to be really generic and simple with responses to not have to type spoiler tags after everything but would def discuss more if people want to debate.

ETA: I've been watching these since the beginning and have seen most of them at least 3 times other than my lower ranked choices.

 
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They were meeting for the first time in real life. They had an app on their phones that instantly ran 1000 simulations to see if they were compatible. What we watched earlier was one of those 1000 simulations. 
I also did not understand the ending.  Is this spoiler true? 

 
I also did not understand the ending.  Is this spoiler true? 
Yes. From wiki:

The two make it to the wall. As they climb it, the lights below them go out and pixelated blackness engulfs everything, revealing that they were part of a simulation. They reappear on a virtual plaza with the number 998 above their heads, surrounded by hundreds of other similarly numbered duplicates of themselves. They look up and fade out of existence in awe, as a digital counter announces that out of 1000 simulations run, 998 rebellions have occurred.

The camera then flips into the real world, where the System and its simulations are all part of an online dating app's matchmaking algorithm, with the app on their phones scanning everybody around them and identifying Amy and Frank as a 99.8% match. Amy and Frank smile at each other, as the lyrics "Hang the DJ" from the chorus of "Panic" by The Smiths plays in the background, and Amy begins to approach Frank.
 
I need to rewatch the series because while I remember the episodes when you guys are just referring to them easily by title, I am mostly lost. 

 
John Bender said:
Good list

USS Callister is my favorite episode so I'd have it higher. There was something about it - I think it's the quintessential Black Mirror show, the one I tell them to watch if they want to get into it because it has everything IMO.  Comments on the others above.

I had to be really generic and simple with responses to not have to type spoiler tags after everything but would def discuss more if people want to debate.

ETA: I've been watching these since the beginning and have seen most of them at least 3 times other than my lower ranked choices.
Good write up.  I'll have to give Callister another chance.  I watched it one night when I was tired/inebriated and thought it was too long.

 
Big fan. Thought it was more exciting in the beginning before they started recycling ideas but it was still exhilarating to start new episodes which hasn’t happened to me since Breaking Bad. 

 
Black Museum plays more like a Tales From the Crypt episode than a Black Mirror episode.  Really dumb plot.

 
Watched first episode of Electric Dreams.  I can tell I'm going to be in for a big disappointment after Black Mirror. And while I think season 4 wasn't as good as the others, still way better than most other TV.
Only half way through Season 1 of Electric Dreams, but I like it quite a bit more than Season 4 of Black Mirror. 

 
Only half way through Season 1 of Electric Dreams, but I like it quite a bit more than Season 4 of Black Mirror. 
USS Callister is well beyond anything I've seen in Electric Dreams.  Overall, I've been disappointed in Electric Dreams though.  The tension isn't as gripping when the twists are so predictable.

 
I watched USS Callister last night and didn't love it as much as most of you. It was good, but not in my top tier of Black Mirror episodes (White Bear, Nosedive, Fifteen Million Merits, Hang the DJ).
It seems like there have been so many Virtual Reality themed shows/movies that the idea has been diluted.

 
I've watched every episode except for Waldo. based on the description and the fact everyone hates it, I've never bothered.

they're all pretty good in their own way. I'm not sure what would be my favorite...I may have to rewatch season 1 to remember.

but what I do know is Crocodile is messed up, man. darkest episode among some pretty dark ones.

 

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