‘Black Mirror’ season 3 review
By Aaron Guillen, Staff Reporter
4.5/5
If you have ever wondered what the future holds for you, look no further—Black Mirror hits the nail right on the head. The third season of the British anthology series, now on Netflix, contains six episodes, each with its own cast, storyline, and reality. The premise behind each episode remains the same—to show the reality that society could fall into within the blink of an eye, if we’re too careless.
Black Mirror aims to remind viewers that humans will only begin to understand themselves and others once the technology they use from dawn to dusk is turned off, as reflected in the title. Having never heard of the series before, I took a leap of faith as I pressed the play button while browsing through Netflix on a weekday night. From the moment the first episode began until the final one ended, I was hooked.
The first episode shows us a woman in a social-media-driven world, desperate to upgrade her status rankings. In this reality where certain scores determine privileges, the lines of equality become blurred. The agony for acceptance is executed to a tee. In addition, the pastel-infused world and simplistic soundtrack provide a subtle eeriness throughout the season premiere.
The second episode introduces a reality where technology has advanced beyond our wildest imagination, especially when it comes to video games. One test subject will convince you that his fear has come to life in its raw and uninhibited form. On top of the many jump scares, the time and space reality that is ultimately revealed makes this episode a must-watch.
The third episode is set in a world that is seemingly the same as today. In a game of cat and mouse, the frightening reality of having someone blackmail you with private information is brought to life. The story that unfolds seems all too real: This is also the episode most likely to play out in real time, if it hasn’t happened already. The mystery of it all persists throughout the episode, and keeps the watcher in satisfied suspense.
The fourth episode takes place on the shores of a beach town as a lonely girl searches for a companion. The bond that she makes will warm the hearts of viewers, while shocking many with the twist of technology.
The fifth episode brings the viewer to a reality where soldiers use advanced technology in combat. When things go awry on a mission, a soldier begins to unveil the grim truth that has overshadowed his entire time of service. This episode tugs at the heartstrings and reminds the audience that we all deserve to be equals.
Finally, the sixth episode is, unfortunately, the dullest of the season. The goals of correcting our current society’s propensity for hate speech may interest viewers. But it feels too similar to the plot of BrainDead, a recent summer series, which leaves some viewers unfulfilled. After watching every moment of the lengthiest episode, the series doesn’t end on a bang, in my opinion. While the timing is off and the characters are quite boring during that episode, the series as a whole makes up for the one episode that falls to the side.
All in all, Black Mirror has the undeniable ability to remind you that futuristic realities, such as the ones in the series, aren’t so far away. Perhaps that’s the most frightening thing of all.
