Wasn't sure if it was worth making a thread about a show most americans probably can't legally watch but if utopia gets a thread then this deserves one too. Black mirror is the work of Charlie Brooker originally of TVGOHOME and recently of the screenwipe series. It is some one the best drama programming to come from Britain in a long long time and if you're missing it you're definitely missing out.

Each of the 6 episode (5 already shown with one to come) has a completely different setup and completely different actors (all unknowns) but each has a near future sci-fi vibe. The theme is technology and media and it's "tv with a message" that also happens to be incredibly compelling viewing.

As the episodes aren't related you can jump in anywhere and I would recommended 15 million merits to begin with. It's by far my favourite and if you don't like it you're basically a crazy person. In an undisclosed possible future everyday is a monotonous grind for basic survival, people cycle on stationary bikes generating power (got my thermodynamic law hackles up but I'm wiling to let it go) and earning merits which are currency. The only light of hope in the bleak greyness is an american idol style show that costs millions of merits to enter but the winners go on to lavish lifestyles.

It's a satire of the entertainment industry, it's a warning about rampant consumerism and best of all it's a vaguely auto-biograhical lesson on the notion of sticking to your principles vs selling out. The performances are great, subtle and heartfelt at times and then ragingly passionate at others.

Watch it!

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/b...or/4od#3327867


Can an american please tell me if this youtube link works for them?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vsYn...=ELMOa3xg5Le1w

Fantastic show, never seen anything quite like it on tv. My favourite episode was "The entire history of you" with the eye implant. On the surface it seems really cool, but when the possibilities were explored a bit further you realise how ****ed up it could be.

Videos like these show how close we are to this type of technology is -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1uyQ...ature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBylGcvRuek

Nonetheless I'd still like to give it a try.

Link does not work in U.S., Tom.

Damn. As a mod I must make it clear that 2+2 is strongly opposed to any form of copyright infringement...

Thanks for the recommendation, will check one or two out later.

Saying Charlie Brooker is attached is enough to make me watch some with no more info. Speaking of his new series Weekly Wipe is good if you liked his previous Screenwipe and related series.

Weekly wipe crushes. The bruce willis pwning this week was epic.

Give us a quick review when you're done.

Will do, and yeah, the Bruce Willis segment was outstanding. As was the segment about the horse meat on the same episode.

Posted about this in the Recommend TV thread. It is brilliant.

Watched 15 Million Merits as my jumping in point.

The OP description sums it up well. A great satire of the exploitative and destructive fame culture, unrestrained bull**** consumerism and a warning of where modern culture is heading as life becomes less physical and more digital.

It ticked a lot of boxes and had an ending that was pure Brooker-esque. Will definitely watch more eps and would recommend.

Seen the three episodes from the first season and one from the second season. Watched out of order just cos it auto loaded and I stuck with it.

Anyway, I thought National Anthem (ep 1) was weak. 15 Million Merits (ep 2) was really strong. The Entire History of You (ep 3) was a nice concept that didnt quite work but I am excited it got optioned to be adapted to a big budget movie by Robert Downey Jr. Then there is White Bear (ep 5 aka ep 2 of season 2) which I think is the strongest yet.

It is impossible to discuss without it being a huge spoiler about what is going on, so definitely dont click if you plan to watch and get the full effect:


Anyway, the ep was so strong I had to come make mention of it.

Can't convince anyone else to watch this?

I watched the first season when it was first aired. Loved episode 1 and thought it was at least 2 or 3 > ahead of the last 2 episodes. Just watched S2E1 and thought it was great. Altogether a really strong show.

Charlie Brooker interview about the series

Pretty disappointed with S2E3, but the other 5 eps have been so amazing that I wasn't too bothered.

The Waldo ep was a great concept that didnt follow through in execution imo. The closing scenes over the credits finding out Waldo took over the world and was a corporate puppet (literally) for a fascist regime was the most interesting part.

Agreed. I mean who am I to question Charlie Brooker but it felt like the introduction to something really cool. Backseat driving obv but what I would have done is spent 30 mins or so exploring the fascist future then pivoted back to the start cut the relationship stuff for time and ended with them talking to the CIA guy. Relationships were a big part of BRB and white bear covered the twist ending so well, those elements felt more forced in this ep. I'd still recommend it though.

Gave this show a shot after reading this thread. I was going to watch all of them before I gave my review, but last night I watched "15 Million Merits," and wow. So powerful. Pretty ridiculous how true the entire episode is. If anyone wants to watch this and can't find it, PM me.

I lost count how many times I've listened to the two main songs in the episode.

Couldn't find the episode version

Lol this show is like the wire in that you just want to get as many people as possible to watch it, glad you enjoyed it.

Hi twoplustonytwoshoestwofour modrater tomthetankenginedemaine, why would this show be illegal in the U.S.?

Im a big fan of your anime and wish you would get back into falconry!

Watched all these over the last 2 days, great viewing. The Waldo ep must've been written ages ago given the reference to Nathan Barley at the start of the credits but it was probably the least technology/social media based theme of the 6 episodes and so while it is still decent isn't as cutting/current as the other 5 episodes imo

Finished this show off last night. Nothing compared to 15 Million Merits.

I'd rank them:

15 Million Merits
White Bear
The National Anthem
Be Right Back
The Waldo Moment
The Entire History of You

The Waldo Moment had to be the most anticlimactic ending in the history of tv, unless I missed something while I was not paying attention. After White Bear it was sort of hard to rank them. The National Anthem was better than I first expected, but when comparing to 15 Million Merits, the episodes at the bottom of the list are kind of lame.

Didnt see the Nathan Barley reference, but it is surely just a meta reference Brooker included (he was behind NB too) and the ep probably wasnt written before season one was filmed.

Watched the whole thing over the last two days after stumbling upon recommendations in here.
Liked the show very much. If you like serious (not solemn) stuff , do yourself a favor and watch it. It's strongly written and there are no bull$#!% moments.
Would agree that "15 Million Merits" is probably the strongest episode. Didn't like the "White Bear" at first, but as the story unfolded kinda felt myself fooled (in a good way).
Can't really say there was a weak episode in these 6. Obviously there were better and worse stories, but each one of them was thought-provoking and interesting to watch.

Seems I'm alone in thinking The National Anthem was the greatest episode, or at least the most entertaining.

White Bear definitely provided the most food for thought, although I thought the first half an hour was really quite boring. The Twist was pretty sweet though, and I can't have been the only one expecting Derren Brown to make an appearance?

I agree with what's been said about The Waldo Moment, poor execution of a decent concept. I think the dystopian ending was a bit ridiculous. All in all a real shame, as Chris Morris usually delivers.

The Entire History of You was my second favourite, a damn good concept, although I only watched the episode a few days ago and the fact that it tied in so nicely with some articles I've read about Google Glass certainly helped me appreciate it more.

Be Right Back was a strange one, enjoyable enough, but I think it lacked a bit of the subtlety shown in other episodes. I did find the actress distractingly hot, which might have clouded my judgement.

I'm really confused as to why more UK tv networks don't commission this sort of stuff. I'd love the BBC to pay 10 writers to create 10 different high-concept, hour long stories. It'd be better than all the period ****e that's constantly being put out.

Currently watching the 6 episodes, this show is really really good imo. nothing quite like it on TV - although to be fair I don't have those SciFi channels way up the dial so maybe they have something obscure that's similar.

Some really great TV on the other side of the pond, the 4-6 episode 'seasons' really pack a punch and avoid the shows dragging on. Another current show from overseas I really enjoy is Love/Hate