BLACK MIRROR DISCUSSION WITH SPOILERS

[BattleCuntGalactica]

Okay so I don't think I could have made it any clearer that spoil will be rampant in here.

I just finished binging series four. Therefore I am emotionally compromised by black mirror and saying oh my god a lot.

• USS Callister was amazing, and sad but mostly amazing.
• Arkangel was a headfuck because my step-daughter is around the same age as the girl was when she got the implant.
• Crocodile was kind of a disappointment for me but I like the fact that she was outed as a killer by a guinea pig.
• Hang The DJ is basically where I expect the horrors of Tinder to progress in the next however many decades. I could see the ending coming but it didn't make it any less brilliant.
• Metalhead was fantastic black and white dystopian horror, and now I demand a legion of robot dogs to do my bidding. I realise I might die at their behest but it would be worth it for small METAL TERROR.
• Black Museum was absolute fucking genius. So so satisfying.

Please someone fangirl with me before I splode.

Series three is still my favourite though. San Junipero made me cry happy tears and the rest of the series was just mindfuckingly some of the best tv I have ever seen.

I didn't want to join this thread until I'd seen them all. Sorry it took so long, I watch them with DS1 who was also trying to revise for A-level mocks (inconvenient timing).

I enjoyed Black Museum because of all the Easter eggs and the interwoven storylines (like White Christmas).

However, I think the trope of moving/copying someone's consciousness into a vessel in which they still perceive everything but have no autonomy has now been done to death. Likewise the technology to record / replay memories.

Just finished watching them last night. I loved USS Callister - I thought Jesse Plemons acting was great. I tend to prefer the less gory episodes and so also really liked Hang the DJ. Loved the ‘metaness’ of Black Museum.
I thought Arkangel felt very real but almost a bit too predictable.
Found Metalhead too stark and with too many unanswered questions. Crocodile probably least favourite.
But as ever incredibly varied and interesting viewing.

My soon to be 14 year old DS is itching to watch the new series of Black Mirror as EVERYONE at school has binge watched it (apparently??!) I like Charlie Brooker but haven't really caught up with this series but know that what I have seen previously is very dark. Just want to do a straw poll on here to see whether you would let a 14 year old watch it. He's a bright boy and think he will get the 'dystopian' idea but just how explicit is the sex and violence? I know his Dad and I will probably end up watching it ourselves to make a final decision but just wanted to get your opinions as you've already watched it! Am not into blood and gore myself (have never watched Game of Thrones for that very reason and am not a horror fan - we did let him go to the cinema to watch IT over the Summer and he wasn't traumatised by that).

Yes broadly it's ok. There is some disturbing sexual stuff in some episodes and a couple of quite violent ones. it depends on your DS really!

My soon to be 14 year old DS is itching to watch the new series of Black Mirror

Depends which episode. I've watched all six and I have a son in Y9. Here's my opinion:

USS Callister:
Yes, fine for a 13-14 y old.

Arkangel:
Possibly, but 1 sex scene, 1 of drug-taking, 1 of minor self-harm, 1 of violence.

Crocodile:
Watch it yourself first. Several scenes with violence.

Hang the DJ:
Watch it yourself first. No violence but a LOT of (consensual) sex.

Metalhead:
No way.

Black Museum:
No. This is the only episode of the series which is rated 18. Serious self-harm, BDSM (beyond consent), torture.

I’d say USS Callister definitely ok. Others may be dependent on the teenager. I would really watch yourself but I agree with Thesecond’s summary of the episodes above. I personally wouldn’t show Metalhead or Black museum to a 14 year old ... but my children are toddlers so I may be out of touch!

From previous series I would recommend Nosedive as some interesting and teenage watchable commentary on the dangers of social media and not being too image obsessed.

Thanks everyone - much appreciated. Maybe we'll sit and watch USS Callister with him as a starter. I saw the trailer for Black Museum and thought it looked mightily disturbing so it's good to know it's actually an 18. Might give that one a miss.

I keep telling everyone I know about black mirror and to watch it but when they ask me what it's about I don't know what to say and just tell them
It's brilliant and watch it!

I liked this series but think my favourite was series 3. San Junipero will always be my favourite but I loved Shut Up And Dance and Hated By The Nation too. In fact the whole of series 3 was amazing.

I agree that in Black Museum the iPad from Arkangel was shown but I thought also the bath tub from the husband hammer murder in Crocodile.

In all honesty, I'm jealous of people who have never seen it and get to experience all the episodes for the first time. I've never felt that way about a tv programme ever, I hope they make a fifth season.

Yikes, I did not enjoy Crocodile! Too much!

Another one confused about why it was called Crocodile?
With regards to Hang the DJ I thought that it showed they didn't actually meet the old fashioned way because if their percentage had been low they wouldn't have bothered talking to each other so they are allowing the app to do exactly what their simulations didn't want.

Also, Captain have a cushion ready to hide behind for Black Museum, some rather gory bits

There isn't an explanation as to why it's called Crocodile just some internet theories which range from Mia being thick skinned and cold blooded (like a crocodile) to her crying crocodile tears to her 'snapping'.

I've just finished watching!

Preference in order
Black museum was everything I'd want from BM
USS Callister was great
Hang the DJ was very believable
Metal head was terrifying
ArkAngel brought out all my parental anxieties
Crocodile was horrible

I dunno, but the music from the end of crocodile has been stuck in my head for the last few days aghhhhh

Mortagemoans. I would say that Arkangel is required viewing for those aged 14/15. I've recommended this to a friend who is having trouble with her 15 year old DS. Soon to be 14 is a bit young though.

But that's children for you, especially those early teenagers. And I would watch them all before deciding which ones your child can cope with.

Metalhead is like 28 Days Later.

Let's not forget that Hunger Games is dystopian and violent too.

regarding Crocodile. She really would have gotten away with the killing/disposal of the body, that she had nothing to do with in the first place, if it hadn't been for that pesky busy body (who was only doing her job).

I suspect the lady from the insurance company must see all sorts of things. Dark thoughts/ dreams/ films could get mixed in with memories. If the main character hadn’t started to behave so oddly it might have been left there. Although I guess it could have then caught up with her at a later date. I wonder about data protection- could they hold onto irrelevant memories or would that be destroyed? Everyone seemed very willing to let the insurance company look at their thoughts (I know there was potentially a legal imperative).

Obviously the looking into peoples memories went a wee bit more than those consenting to it expected. Especially as the murderer was caught on the thoughts and sights/memories of a gerbil.

It was one of my least favourite at the time - probably because the child looked the same age as my youngest. But it’s actually the one I have been thinking a lot about afterwards.

Crocodile - I dont understand why she didnt fabricate a potential sexual assault in the hotel room with her using "self defence" to get him away from her?

Crocodile - I dont understand why she didnt fabricate a potential sexual assault in the hotel room with her using "self defence" to get him away from her

I assume they use the same memory gathering techniques in criminal investigations as they do in insurance investigations.

Ahhh sure.

I have seen them all didn't think if was quite as good as some of the older ones. I love the fact they had two people from breaking bad in USS Callister. Well kind of Jessie pinkman is the voice at the end.

I found arkangel a bit close to home at the moment as I've been having trouble with my dd and social media. I know it's not the same but the feeling of wanting to spy on all she does and being over protective pushing her away made me think. It's the balance of control and freedom that is so hard.

I loved black museum but spent more time spotting things in the back ground than listening to alot of it.