Black Mirror Season 6 has recently premiered on Netflix, and it seems to have taken a different direction compared to previous seasons. This time around, supernatural horror takes the spotlight over traditional science fiction themes. Although the show has always been known for its tough-to-watch episodes, they have been praised for their brilliance and memorability. However, with Season 6’s focus on horror, it’s like taking tough medicine while waiting for the important lessons about technology.
This season, consisting of five episodes, arrived in June 2021, marking the first new season since before the pandemic in June 2019. The real world was so grim that it seemed we didn’t even need a new season of Black Mirror. Nevertheless, the writers found inspiration in the troubled times, incorporating elements of Trumpism, the cruelty of social media, and docudramas into the episodes. The result is a darker view of the world and humanity compared to past seasons.
One of the things that made previous episodes thought-provoking was their exploration of technology and its impact on society. From surveillance to social media and even the simulation theory, Black Mirror touched on various technological themes. For many viewers, the show served as a way to stay connected with science fiction, technology, and gaming all at once. However, Season 6 takes a different approach by setting many episodes in the past, focusing more on societal aspects rather than envisioning our future.
Let’s take a closer look at the episodes in Season 6:
1. Joan Is Awful: This episode revolves around an average woman who discovers a global streaming platform has turned her life into a reality show, with Hollywood A-lister Salma Hayek Pinault portraying her. While the episode highlights the self-referential nature of bringing streaming platforms like Netflix into the plot, it does touch on concerns about AI and licensing issues in the future. Despite its disturbing nature, the episode presents a comic tone without relying on violence.
2. Loch Henry: In this episode, a young couple visits a Scottish town to work on a nature documentary but becomes entangled in a local unsolved crime story. Although the plot twist is ingenious, it lacks a strong technological angle and leans more towards a dark and ugly narrative.
3. Beyond the Sea: Set in an alternative 1969, this episode follows two astronauts on a perilous mission who have to confront the consequences of a tragic event. It delves into transhumanism and the notion of inhabiting someone else’s doppelganger body through virtual replicas. The thought-provoking story is compelling but incredibly bleak, making it challenging to watch.
4. Mazey Day: This episode centers around a troubled starlet dealing with invasive paparazzi and the aftermath of a hit-and-run incident. Unlike previous episodes, it leans more towards supernatural horror rather than exploring technology-related themes. The focus is on the extreme lengths paparazzi will go to capture celebrity photos, making it feel out of place in the Black Mirror universe.
5. Demon 79: Set in 1979 Northern England, this episode follows a meek sales assistant who is told she must commit terrible acts to prevent a future disaster. Though supernatural in nature, it lacks relevance to current technology and heavily relies on dark humor in its conclusion.
Looking back at past seasons, several episodes stand out as memorable. Season 3, in particular, introduced Nose Dive, which explored the impact of social media on individuals. Other fan favorites include San Junipero, which posed intriguing questions about digital memorials, and Hated in the Nation, a chilling tale about the consequences of technology. These episodes successfully balanced the upsides and downsides of technology, making viewers contemplate its effects.
Season 4 brought us notable episodes like USS Callister, in which a fan becomes trapped in a cinematic universe, and Crocodile, focusing on memory-based data scrubbing for crime-solving. Season 5 also had its standout moments, such as the Miley Cyrus episode featuring a robot replacing a pop star and Striking Vipers, which delved into the consequences of virtual reality relationships. These episodes left a lasting impact on viewers with their thought-provoking narratives.
Despite the overall quality of Season 6’s episodes, there is a sense of disappointment. While they are all good in their own right, Mazey Day feels more like a standard supernatural horror story, lacking relevance to technology aside from exploring the intrusive nature of paparazzi. Demon79 also fails to incorporate a significant technological angle and heavily relies on supernatural elements. Although the dark tone of the season may reflect the need for more uplifting content in the wake of the pandemic, it may not resonate well with sensitive viewers.
The hope for Black Mirror has always been to shed light on the downsides of technology and inspire a better path for technologists to follow. By exposing viewers to the reflection of a Black Mirror in our own lives, the creators, Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones, aim to prompt discussions about the future of technology. However, for these lessons to resonate, the episodes must strike a balance between entertainment and thought-provoking narratives.
In conclusion, while Season 6 of Black Mirror brings a shift towards supernatural horror, it may leave some viewers longing for the unexpected brilliance and technology-driven themes of previous seasons. Nevertheless, the show remains a unique platform for exploring the intersection of science fiction, technology, and gaming, even if this particular season feels comparatively darker.
