Black Mirror(Season 4) Review

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Black Mirror is a science fiction series that explores the sometimes dark and unexpected consequences of new technology integrated into daily life.

Set in the near future, the series presents a different stand-alone story in each episode. Thus giving each episode a different tone, cast of characters, and varying genres.

Black Mirror continues to impress, with the 4th season giving us six mind-blowing stories. The season focuses on the mishaps of technology in dating, online gaming, family surveillance, and to some extent medicine.

And while it’s not as jaw-dropping as season three, some episodes rely on older concepts seen in earlier seasons.

So without spoiling too much let’s get into it.

The first episode (titled, USS Callister) picks up with the life of Robert Daly. Co-founder of a multiplayer online gaming company. By day, this gifted programmer suffers social awkwardness at his workplace. But by night he hosts his own private virtual reality universe where everyone loves him.

But when the new intern, Nanette Cole ends up in Daly’s game, she discovers the disturbing truth of his virtual universe.

“Arkangel” (episode 2) follows the sad story of a mother, who after nearly losing her daughter signs up for the Arkangel program.

The program allows parents to track and watch their children, and also provides the choice to censor disturbing images or sounds.

But when this loving mother transitions to an overprotective one, how will her teenage daughter react.

“Crocodile” (episode 3) embodies the old saying “Good intentions pave the road to hell”. In a future where memories are viewed using a Recaller Device, Mia scrambles to hide a dark secret and protect her now flourishing life and family. But to what extent is she willing to go.

“Hang the DJ”(episode 4) falls into the rare category of hopeful episodes on Black Mirror (don’t believe me… check out the last two episodes).

It follows Frank and Amy, two people matched into multiple trial relationships by a dating app called Coach.  The Coach dictates the length of the relationship and then uses the data from these trials to pick an ultimate match for its user.

But after a series of terrible matches, the duo soon questions the app’s logic

“Metalhead”(episode 5) and “Black Museum” (episode 6) possess simple and direct plots lines, with “MetalHead” being the weakest episode this season. However, this doesn’t stop Black Mirror from depicting a hopeless world.

In Metalhead”, we see a post-apocalyptic world where scavengers flee for their lives from a ruthless robotic threat called “dogs”.

“Black Museum” on the other hand is a unique episode, that tells three sad but disturbing stories of criminal artifacts in a museum.

Verdict