Released: 15th June 2023
Number of Episodes: 5
Where To Watch: Netflix
Created by: Charlie Brooker
Starring: Annie Murphy, Salma Hayek, Aaron Paul, Josh Hartnett, Kate Mara, Samuel Blenkin, Myha'la Herrold, Zazie Beetz, Anjana Vasan and Paapa Essiedu
Debuting in 2011, Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror earned a great deal of fanfare with a cynical satire of modern and futuristic technology. After five seasons, a transition to Netflix and an interactive film, many believed the anthology had quietly trailed off. Four years later, another set of episodes has arrived; a well produced outing, but it doesn’t rank among the best of the series.
Five standalone stories comprise a range of scenarios with three being the most memorable; “Joan is Awful” takes advertising data and artificial intelligence to the extreme, “Beyond The Sea” follows two astronauts who plug into bionic doubles back on Earth and “Demon 79” takes us back to the 1970s for a slice of political extremism. I’m pleased to report that the gimmicks of season 5 have been put aside for more focused narratives. Most of the stories do away with advanced tech; either they base themselves in a specific time period or they alternate between several settings. The tone often leans into horror, especially for “Loch Henry” and “Mazey Day”; the latter is easily the weakest story on offer, a tale of paparazzi intrusion that shifts to a grisly transformation without much build-up. The direction taken by Black Mirror’s sixth season is an interesting one; aside from “Joan is Awful”, the series moves away from its contemporary roots, creating a more simple set of episodes. You shouldn’t expect any speculative stories on technology this time around.
As always, many character actors line the episodes with “Beyond The Sea” delivering the biggest emotional punch. Aaron Paul, Josh Hartnett and Kate Mara all do a great job here, emphasising the distance and emotional disconnect in space. On the other hand, “Joan is Awful” goes for black humour with Annie Murphy and Salma Hayek having some wacky interactions as the episode goes on. This clashes with the endless anxiety as they desperately try to take their personal data back from the streaming company. Samuel Blenkin and Myha'la Herrold take the lead in “Loch Henry” with a deeply sinister mystery that drives a wedge between the young filmmaking couple. In “Mazey Day” the obsessive tendencies of photographers are put on display; Zazie Beetz and Danny Ramirez are both unlikeable, but you can understand why they invade people’s privacy, aiming to keep themselves afloat. Finally, we have a mixture of light and dark from Anjana Vasan and Paapa Essiedu. Anjana’s character is pressed to kill, but the one compelling her to do it is so laidback and nonchalant. We have another strong variety of performances that complement their respective narratives.
Despite the small scale, Black Mirror continues to create some well defined settings. The more horrific tone fuels a stronger atmosphere in “Loch Henry”; a foreboding soundtrack and gloomy shadows create a sense of encroaching dread. “Demon 79” gets the seventies aesthetic just right with the costume and set design while “Mazey Day” transports the viewer into the mid-2000s with period-accurate props. “Beyond The Sea” offers a simple yet effective split between a starship and country ranch. “Joan is Awful” takes a jab at Netflix with a fictional streaming service and cut-throat company culture. Every episode features good technical presentation, though the focus has shifted away from gadgetry and more towards surrounding elements.
The return of Black Mirror is a competent but safe affair. The five episodes, despite having some strengths, did leave me wanting when it came to technological degeneration and social commentary. Still, every actor does a solid job and the production values are still in tune with each storyline. Any fan of the series will be satisfied, but they should dial down their expectations to compensate.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars (Good)
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