* (SPOILER ALERT)
The Black Mirror series on Netflix has entered its fifth season. So far, there have been 23 episodes, including one special episode of “White Christmas” and the interactive film Bandersnatch (2019).
Highlighting the dystopia caused by technology, the Black Mirror raises a theme that satirizes the behavior of society to the prevailing social system thanks to the interference of technological progress.
Just like the dystopia that you want to display, the Black Mirror series is also famous for its dark to gray end. There were no episodes that were truly happy ending, until Black Mirror Season 5 which provided a conflict that tended to be lighter with a “happy” ending.
Even so, in fact, in other seasons, there were also several episodes of which the story was not so depressive that it was quite “safe” to watch.
We have chosen the safest episode in the Black Mirror series. These five episodes are highly recommended for those of you who might just want to start watching this science fiction anthology series.
1. “Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too” (Season 5)
Before “Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too” was released, you could say there was no episode of Black Mirror that was cheerful and had a happy ending so that it could be watched by teenagers aged 15 years and under.
Charlie Brooker seems to want to dismiss the boundary and make a child-friendly story: without sexual scenes, violence, even having a satisfying ending, even though there are still cursing in it.
Playing safe, this episode initially insinuated brainwashing over mortal optimism that became the consumption of lonely teenagers who sought identity. However, this episode actually also raises the issue of the exploitation of artists with illegal drugs and the feeling of confinement that a star might feel about the image they must protect.
Lifting AI technology in dolls and holographic stars, you will not see how torturous AI is that has a human-like feeling (like what happens in “White Christmas”) or a feeling of being constrained by continued exploitation.
In this episode, the villain gets rewarded for his greed, while the main character finally lives the life he wants. So, for those of you who don’t like sad ending or ending that can make you have nightmares, this episode is very safe to watch first.
2. “San Junipero” (Season 3)
One of the best episodes of the Black Mirror series does have a different color from other episodes in general. You are not immediately shown the technology that is carried but invited to sympathize with the characters.
Yorkie (Mackenzie Davis) and Kelly (Gugu Mbatha-Raw). Both came to San Junipero in 1987 with a different purpose. The two of them met and found similarities that eventually united them.
This episode presents virtual reality technology that can be visited and occupied permanently without the involvement of the user’s body. In San Junipero, seniors can be themselves when they are young, whereas those who have died can stay forever in San Junipero.
In other words, “San Junipero” provides another picture of life after death that is not heaven and hell, but a virtual world filled with virtual consciousness.
For those of you who don’t like the LGBTQ theme, this episode might be quite uncomfortable because there is an intimate relationship between women and women. However, for those of you who are looking for a happy ending with a character who lives happily ever after, this episode will make you smile happily.
3. “Striking Vipers” (Season 5)
The technology that becomes the main “villain” in this episode is VR, aka virtual reality. The consequences that must be borne are indeed not large.
Nothing is trapped in the digital world. Nobody lives forever in the form of digital consciousness. No one can not distinguish whether they are humans or just AI products.
In “Striking Vipers”, both Danny (Anthony Mackie) and Karl (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), they both feel the sexual pleasure that they don’t find in the real world thanks to VR technology in video games.
However, that was all they could feel. They don’t even need to worry about the effect of the technology on them because everything is mortal and not permanent. They can enter and exit the game world at any time.
Plus, in the end, they found a win-win solution that didn’t harm anyone. So, yes, this episode is quite safe for you. However, you also need to know that this episode explores sexuality so that it is full of scenes of intercourse. So watch wisely, yes.
