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Black Mirror- White Bear [Contains spoilers]

63 replies

Soubriquet · 19/01/2022 10:44

I don’t condone the death penalty and this type of punishment, I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it. Especially after the recent Arthur and Star case.

For those who don’t know, a woman wakes up in a house with no memory. She finds a photo of a girl who she believes is her daughter.

As she wanders about, she sees people watching and filming. She begs them for help but no one answers.

Then she’s hunted by people in scary masks.

In the end, she ends up in a studio where it’s revealed the girl isn’t her daughter, but a child she helped kidnap, torture and murder with her deceased fiancé.

Her punishment, is this. She gets her memory wiped, and every day she has the same ordeal.

Wakes up, runs, discovers what she did and then it’s all repeated.

The public are encouraged to watch and film.

So? What do you think?

[Title edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

OP posts:
ENoeuf · 19/01/2022 10:51

Its just a comment isn’t it on where society may end up / a comment on peoples behaviours if they were allowed. I hate the episode because I dislike any form of vigilantism and child sex abuse isn’t a topic I want to watch much about but I get the message. It almost makes you empathise with the woman because of the horror of the punishment.

Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 19/01/2022 10:52

It's a fantastic episode of Black Mirror and it stayed with me for ages after I watched it.

The spectators are no worse than people watching reality TV are they... in a way. It was shocking that they brought their children to watch as well- were the children told what the protagonist did? It's a day out- white bear justice Park.

The way the story unfolded was very clever and gripping. So chilling and disturbing.

Original poster
Soubriquet · 19/01/2022 10:53

It’s a very disturbing episode yes. It’s also a very interesting one

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LindaEllen · 19/01/2022 10:56

I think Black Mirror is brilliant in general - including this episode. The things you see might look extreme, but it's where our own society could go if things carry on the way we are. We already have reality TV, we already have public executions (in some countries) so really, it's not too much of a stretch.

AsYouWishButtercup · 19/01/2022 11:01

It’s an absolutely incredible episode but the whole point of Black Mirror series is a grim look into what a dangerous world a dystopian future could look like if we lost all sense of decency. It’s not a basis for an actual idea!

JustJustWhy · 19/01/2022 11:11

I'd answer this in the same way I'd answer the question about how I feel about capital punishment. To be able to kill or to torture someone, regardless of what they've done, says more about you than it does about them.

Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 19/01/2022 11:15

I like the bus stop black mirror adverts that came out at the beginning of the pandemic. It was basically a shiny mirror with lettering saying, you're living in it

grey12 · 19/01/2022 11:35

Not my favourite episode

I see it as more like, people looking at her through their phones don't see her as a person anymore, they see her as a thing. She's become entertainment, like a crazy disney park, but it's "ok" because she is "bad".

Also people are taking punishment into their own hands, with the media they feel involved - where they shouldn't be - and feel they are entitled themselves to be compensated for the crime done

iklboo · 19/01/2022 11:50

It's a brilliant episode. Most of them are. The one with Bryce Dallas Howard where lives, privileges, jobs etc are determined by your 'likes' star rating is starting to look close to the truth.

ninnynonny · 19/01/2022 11:53

They really are all superb. This and Inside No 9 are my hot faves! The Sheridan Smith one is excellent. I have found some of them I've had to watch twice at least to really get them

iklboo · 19/01/2022 11:55

Inside No 9 is fantastic. Bernie Clifton's Dressing Room breaks me every single time I've watched it!

CreativeCharlie · 19/01/2022 12:02

This is my favourite BM episode. I remember being creeped out and so scared for her until we find out what she did then I wanted to be one of the filmers - she filmed the the girl and now she gets to experience a little bit.

gamerchick · 19/01/2022 12:06

@grey12

Not my favourite episode

I see it as more like, people looking at her through their phones don't see her as a person anymore, they see her as a thing. She's become entertainment, like a crazy disney park, but it's "ok" because she is "bad".

Also people are taking punishment into their own hands, with the media they feel involved - where they shouldn't be - and feel they are entitled themselves to be compensated for the crime done

That was the whole point. When the bairn was being tortured she videoed it. It's being done back to her.
BadLad · 19/01/2022 12:15

It's good, but Nose Dive is the best episode.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 19/01/2022 12:18

This was the first episode I ever saw. It was amazing

I love BM generally, as he is able to find certain minute aspects of current society and push then just far enough to make us think.

Everything he creates on this show is so close to possible. It's terrifying.

WhatNoRaisins · 19/01/2022 12:18

I think the problem is when something like this happens we want some sort of catharsis but there aren't any good options. There isn't going to be a satisfying resolution to evil crimes whatever need we try to fill.

iklboo · 19/01/2022 12:24

@BadLad - that's the one I was talking about! I couldn't remember its name - thank you.

LizBennet · 19/01/2022 12:25

Makes you think for ages afterwards doesn't it. I think her punishment is horrific (obviously her crime was too, but the thought of torturing her every day when she is unaware is just awful.

Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 19/01/2022 12:31

When you see the calendar with days and days crossed off and the whole thing is repeated again and again...so disturbing

Ithinkimalonenow24 · 19/01/2022 12:31

My favourite episode off Black Mirror, it upset me for ages afterwards and never forgot it. Love BM it's has a big budget since going to Netflix but still episodes hit hard.

This and Inside No.9 are my favourite shows, love when you don't see the twist but felt last series was not there best.

Is there anything else like these shows?

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 19/01/2022 12:34

Is there anything else like these shows?

Death Love and Robots (I think it's called) are mini dystopian shows on Netflix. Some are excellent, some are quite violent, and some a just meh.

Dh watches something called Dust on YouTube which is short odd dystopian "thinkers". Again, lots are excellent and some are shite

Neither are BM level of amazing but deffo worth a watch as they can just be dipped in and out of

Saucery · 19/01/2022 12:35

I prefer White Christmas, for bringing home the reality of realisation dawning on a character about their past actions.

Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 19/01/2022 12:48

The black museum is a great episode too if you've watched the others. It interlink s lots of the ideas from other episodes.

The inside no9 in an art gallery is very good

greyinganddecaying · 19/01/2022 12:50

I love BM - this episode particularly has stayed with me.

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Soubriquet · 19/01/2022 13:17

I loved the museum episode. Kept me on edge all the way through

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