• Light/Dark
  • Ever wanted an RSS feed of all your favorite gaming news sites? Go check out our new Gaming Headlines feed! Read more about it here.

Black Mirror Season 5 is up

Arkeband

Arkeband

Banned
Nov 8, 2017
7,663
Mulciber said:
I think every episode this season has a problem or two like this, if you actually think about them.

For example, with Vipers:
The company would have had to have programmed in all the sexual sensations, to the degree that a man could feel sex for a woman. (Meaning it wasn't even as simple as activating that part of the user's brain.) And a product that absolutely remarkable and world-changing gets sold as a fighting game? And why did they program for that? And think of all the other avenues of revenue! They could market it to couples where one partner has a disease, is paralyzed, etc. The fighting game with realistic sex built in is total nonsense.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Yeah that's kind of where my mind went with it immediately, but the lack of realism in this particular example doesn't mean that what it's portraying wouldn't be technically possible. I think they could have just sold it as a "second Life" style game, with their prior gaming experience being immersive MMO's or something, but that might not be as relatable to the average viewer. I mean, the game he was playing aside from this was fucking Tetris, so it's trying to be as simple as possible.
 
TrustTheProcess

TrustTheProcess

Member
Nov 5, 2017
316
I didn't watch the Ashley one yet, but so far through the other two, maybe it just feels this way, but it seems more present day focused and the technology driven vs character driven ratio has shifted more toward being character driven this season. Not that other seasons Weren't character driven, but it seems like they went less super advanced technology and more character. Which I'm generally fine with, the first two episodes didn't grab me as much as many others have though.

One of the things I love about Black Mirror isn't just the extreme or advanced fictional tech they put in their episodes, but it makes you think about the use and impact of it. Through Striking Vipers and Smithereens, it didn't really have that kind of an impact on me. I enjoyed them and then once they were over immediately stopped thinking about them, when the best Black Mirror episode's had me thinking about them for quite a while afterwards and then wanting to discuss it even more with others who have seen it.

Will go into Ashley Too with an open mind even though I keep hearing it sucks from most.
 
Znazzy

Znazzy

Member
Aug 27, 2018
1,239
LOL I absolutely loved Ashley too. It wasn't very Black Mirror-y, but it was so much fun.

Striking Vipers was straight up dumpster trash. So bad and made no sense. So the game creators programmed sex into the game?
 
Riversands

Riversands

Banned
Nov 21, 2017
5,669
Episode 2 is very relatable because it happened to me. My friend and I were driving a car, he checked his phone while i was sitting beside him and then he bumped a car ib front of him. Unfortutanely there were no victims, but he had to pay for the mess
 
refusi0n1

refusi0n1

Member
Oct 27, 2017
5,901
I fucked up and watched the Ashley one first. Tapping out from the rest. It's just not Black mirror anymore for me.
 
Fairy Godmother

Fairy Godmother

Backward compatible
Moderator
Oct 27, 2017
3,289
Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too was super fun!

I don't get the comments saying it's too goofy to be a Black Mirror episode. All of them explore different ideas about human vs technology.
The episodes being different is the point!
 
Kernel

Kernel

Member
Oct 25, 2017
19,865
Disappointed to hear the episodes are a mixed bag but that's how I felt about every season so far. Some great and some not.

Sordid Plebeian said:
I thought Callister was really fun and clever but San Junipero is definitely the best the show has put out by far.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

San Junipero is probably my favorite.

I liked Hang the DJ, Playtest, Hated in the Nation as well.
 
Officer Big Mac

Officer Big Mac

Member
Oct 28, 2017
22,596
A lot of these shouldn't be an hour long. Even if they start with a good theme they cant keep it interesting for that long.
 

Deleted member 224

Oct 25, 2017
5,629
Yeah that Ashley Too episode kinda fell apart after a while. Pretty bad. I agree completely that it took over a PG kids movie vibe after the
doll became aware (just with cussing). That drive/cop chase at the end was just horrible.
 
Last edited:
daveo42

daveo42

Member
Oct 25, 2017
17,250
Ohio
Striking Vipers was decent but hits on some themes I wasn't expecting, even if the main theme was more mundane in the end. It fits with the whole theme of the episode and I liked the idea of vr being a driving force for it in this case.
Conciliator said:
I think the implication was that the main character, Danny, was only attracted to/desired his friend Karl as a woman. And vice versa, Karl was only attracted to the main character while expressing as a woman. I think when they kissed they were both being honest about how they felt in that moment. I like the episode a lot but I think it could have done better going into this with more depth and being more explicit about what it was trying to say(if anything in particular) with that stuff. I kind of thought that where they were going to go with it would be Karl discovering/deciding that they're trans in 'real life', and then transition and the two characters would get together in RL after that, especially after Karl's in-game monologue about how it feels to be a woman, but...that didn't happen, so harder to say.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
That's the direction I thought they were going in too with the first episode, but I think the reality of it was far less satisfying and more mundane.
 
Fuhgeddit

Fuhgeddit

#TeamThierry
Member
Oct 27, 2017
8,700
The second episode was disappointing too. Can't say I'm interested in watching the third one. Feel like this show just got worse for me. Oh well.
 
daveo42

daveo42

Member
Oct 25, 2017
17,250
Ohio
Kernel said:
Disappointed to hear the episodes are a mixed bag but that's how I felt about every season so far. Some great and some not.



San Junipero is probably my favorite.

I liked Hang the DJ, Playtest, Hated in the Nation as well.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
You forgot White Bear, my personal favorite episode.
Edit: also forgot about Shut up and Dance, mainly because I was in denial of what was actually happening with the main character up till the last moments of the episode.
 
mugurumakensei

mugurumakensei

Elizabeth, I’m coming to join you!
Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,320
Liked Striking Vipers and Ashley Too.
Interesting thoughts on porn, sexuality, and addiction in Striking Vipers.
Good message about celebrity idolization, guardian exploitation of minors for fame, and the overall corruption caused by greed.
 

Deleted member 25702

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 29, 2017
370
I think all three episodes fall victim to being too long, especially Smithereens. Ashley Too was very fun and Miley was great. The actual Ashley Too character was surprisingly id for being a 1:1 copy of such a PR-trained person, but it's fantasy. Smithereens was fine, but felt like it had very little to say other than "duh screens bad." Striking Vipers was my favorite if only because it tells a pretty standard friends-fucking-friends trope in an interesting new way. I'm surprised they didn't get more explicit given how salacious the act was, but I appreciated the surprise of them banging.

Overall, I liked them. They felt better than parts of previous seasons and those Ashley O songs are stuck in my head.
 
Disco

Disco

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,445
What's the consensus on the episodes this season? Can never watch a whole series of these some are just so wack but theres always at least one great standout
 
Sully

Sully

Member
Oct 25, 2017
1,385
Regarding Stryking Vipers
A dishwasher that nags me to rinse my dishes before starting fuck that
 
spx54

spx54

Member
Mar 21, 2019
3,273
season 4 was so lackluster that I almost have zero interest in watching this
 
Azzanadra

Azzanadra

Member
Oct 25, 2017
3,804
Canada
Without any spoilers, are these any good? Season 4 I thought was mediocre, but I thought scaling back to three episodes may allow for more quality.
 
BearPawB

BearPawB

I'm a fan of the erotic thriller genre
Member
Oct 25, 2017
3,998
I have watched the first 2,
and liked them both for the most part.

Striking Vipers was a nice take on internet/porn addiction
The second ep had some solid acting. And while not exactly a ground breaking surprising conceptually, I think had an important message.
 
Mulciber

Mulciber

Member
Aug 22, 2018
5,217
Arkeband said:
Yeah that's kind of where my mind went with it immediately, but the lack of realism in this particular example doesn't mean that what it's portraying wouldn't be technically possible. I think they could have just sold it as a "second Life" style game, with their prior gaming experience being immersive MMO's or something, but that might not be as relatable to the average viewer. I mean, the game he was playing aside from this was fucking Tetris, so it's trying to be as simple as possible.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Yeah, I think you are right. With as long as these episodes are, I don't see why they couldn't have just don a sim/second life/MMO thing and had a few moments of exposition, but I know they were trying to keep it simple.

Of course, realistically, in 2019, they could have just used Minecraft or something. Basically everyone (who would watch this show) knows Minecraft.
 
Blade24070

Blade24070

Member
Oct 26, 2017
6,994
Watched all back to back yesterday. Damn, these are some damn happy episodes, especially Ashley.

Well, Smithereens certainly ain't happy. And it was pretty good. However, I'm not sure that any of these episodes are gonna stick with me like, say, Crocodile.
 
Wraith

Wraith

Member
Jun 28, 2018
8,892
Binged all three just now. Enjoyed them all. I'm gonna duck out now cause reading hot takes is tiring.

Can't take my eyes off of you...
 

Deleted member 41502

User requested account closure
Banned
Mar 28, 2018
1,177
I really liked the Miley Cyrus one last night. Its stupid, but happy. I think I like BM best when its happy.
 
lacer

lacer

Attempted to circumvent ban with alt account
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
6,693
surprised by the love for Metalhead. next to Museum and the Miley episode one of the worst of the entire series
 
Landford

Landford

Attempted to circumvent ban with alt account
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
4,678
Ashleys aunt is full on Nina Struthers for those that get the reference.
 
B_Spooky13

B_Spooky13

Member
Oct 25, 2017
757
Michigan
You know what.. I get that they aren't going twist ending.. Not the best writing or whatever.

But the messages speak truth and thats what it about.
 
TheMathyFolf

TheMathyFolf

Member
Oct 27, 2017
1,010
This is the first episode of the season I've seen, I enjoyed it. This episode is different from previous seasons of Black Mirror, it takes place in the present, talks about Social Media and how it affects our lives. The episode did bring to mind just how much information social media networks have on people. I see what happened as something that could happen for real. I'd give it an 8/10.
 
LordDraven

LordDraven

Banned
Jan 23, 2019
2,257
I don't care what anyone says, the ending to episode 2 was serious garbage. it wasn't creative... artsy..... etc.. it was half ass, weak and phoned in
 

LordByron28

Member
Nov 5, 2017
2,348
Wasnt a huge fan of Black Vipers. It was an okay episode but it is just middle of the road and didnt explore anything that interesting, imo. Was too long for no real reason. I actually found the Ashley too episode good. Clearly different from Black Mirror's usual stuff but a change of pace is good. Miley Cyrus did a great job in the episode, imo. Cant help but feel there were a number of intentional parallels drawn to her life. Especially with her Hannah Montana days. I actually thought the robot was gonna train fangirl into being Ashley's replacement. Have yet to see Smithereens. This will either make or break the season for me. Black Vipers was mediocre. Ashley too was great but not what I come to watch Black Mirror for. I can appreciate some branching out and experimenting with styles but if there are no stellar break out episodes as I've come to expect from Black Mirror. Then it wasnt a great season.
 
Butch

Butch

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,438
I liked Smithereens and Striking Vipers, but I think the third one was one of the worst eps of the whole series (IMO), the jokes and dialogue in general didn't click with me at all. Miley deserved better.

It's not as bad as the "Waldo Moment" tho but it gave me the same kinda vibe or something.
 
lacer

lacer

Attempted to circumvent ban with alt account
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
6,693
man i dunno which i hate more; the idea that this episode was written as an analogue to Miley's career or the ridiculously offensive suggestion that fans would reject a message because it doesn't hit a sonic expectation. what's the message here? pop music doesn't represent the performer 100% of the time? the performer can get taken advantage of? make sure you never sign off your likeness rights to a faceless corporation that your aunt owns, and you can only be saved by if a superfan and her unwilling sister engage in a sub-Home Alone esque plot to stun-gun a dude? i dont get it

Kesha just put out a song that clearly refutes this theory!
 
The Doomed One

The Doomed One

Member
Nov 28, 2017
589
Watched the first episode, Vipers.
The episode was boring, pointless and way too long.
All the enthusiasm for watching the rest completely vanished, especially after reading that it's not even the worst of the lot.
 
skeezx

skeezx

Member
Oct 27, 2017
20,131
i found Striking Vipers more amusing than i probably should

"i fucked a polar bear!"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.