Black Mirror

[distortiondave]

Disappointed a bit by the latest series, as I was the one before.
Like series 6, series 7 has good episodes and in isolation is perfectly fine, but nothing that gives me the creeps about technology, the nearest being downloading adverts to cure brain tumours. Even the Callister episode, which is totally enjoyable, doesn't have the sense of dread the first one had.

So, am I now inured to technology to the extent that frightening tech is no longer frightening, or like most TV, is it not quite as good as it used to be?

[colne-claret]

I also didn’t think it’s been as good. Watched the first four so far and common people was probably my fave out of them. Final two yet to watch.

[Pickles]

It's the first part of your second paragraph, in my opinion. The latest series of BM is some of the best telly you'll find. I watched every one of the new episodes the day they came out and I agree with you that Common People is the best. It does what BM does best, in focussing on the human reaction to and interaction with tech. Brooker has often said that the tech is neutral, it's the humans in his stories who are the antagonists and protagonists.

This series does what previous ones have done in both making predictions about future tech and riding the wave of current trends and buzzes. It's particularly impressive to be so on the nose and ahead of the curve when you consider writing and production of episodes begins at least a year before they go live.

[Pickles]

Will add though that I felt Hotel Reverie was trying a bit too much to tap into the same vibes as San Junipero, and I saw the twist in Eulogy a mile off. Although a version of the tech in both of those episodes is something I can see us having in the real world some point relatively soon.

[JohnMcGreal]

First episode was good and I thought 'Plaything' was OK. The rest, meh.

I don't think it's ever hit the same level since it moved from Channel 4 to Netflix.

[distortiondave]

I've been made aware today that the episode Bete Noire has different versions chosen at random, especially pertaining to the chicken logo scene.
I don't know how it works, or if I've fallen for a huge jape, but if it's legit then holy moly, that changes things a bit, bringing the Mandela effect into real life!

[Pickles]

Have you watched Bandersnatch, distortiondave? The interactive Black Mirror film where you can choose the plot points as they happen? I think there are at least five different endings and it can last forty minutes or ninety minutes depending on what you choose. It's very clever.

[Darthlaw]

I thought common people and plaything were great episodes and played upon modern elements of subscription model businesses and AI, respectively.

The other episodes were fairly meh.

[ClaretDiver]

I've been made aware today that the episode Bete Noire has different versions chosen at random, especially pertaining to the chicken logo scene.
I don't know how it works, or if I've fallen for a huge jape, but if it's legit then holy moly, that changes things a bit, bringing the Mandela effect into real life!

You haven’t fallen for anything, this is absolutely 100% correct…..