Black Mirror: Season 5, Episode 1 Review: An episode unlike the others

This review includes spoilers for Blackness Mirror Season 5, Episode 1

Netflix'southward Black Mirror Season 5 premiered on the company's streaming platform with 3 episodes. Offset things get-go: although the first episode was entertaining, it didn't feel similar a Black Mirror episode. What got me, and presumably many others hooked to the show, is the intense feeling of dread you lot become after finishing an episode.

When you encounter your reflection in the blackness screen at the end of an episode, you normally sit there speechless, questioning how far engineering science volition go and how it will impact our lives. This episode was not quite like other iconic nighttime and deep Black Mirror episodes, simply that's non necessarily a bad thing.

The episode is prepare-upwardly in a way that echoes nostalgia for the by every bit it starts with an energetic Danny (Anthony Mackie) and Karl (Yahya Abdul-Mateen 2) as 20-somethings playing their favourite video game, Striking Vipers X. Every bit a Marvel and DC fan, seeing Mackie and Abdul-Mateen act alongside each other was an experience in itself, and I was ready to run into what this episode had to offering.

Fast-forward 11 years and the scene changes to gloomy shots of mundane adult life, every bit Danny is married to Theo, his long-time girlfriend, and has a son. The change in scenery made me realize that this episode was going to exist the kind where the protagonist tries to find an escape from mundane everyday life. Danny and Karl catch up at Danny'southward 38th altogether where Karl gives him a new virtual reality (VR) experience version of Striking Vipers X.

Later that night, Danny sits down in front end of his TV and decides to play the game with Karl. The VR experience works, of course in Blackness Mirror manner, by placing a circular implant on the side of your head. Several episodes in previous seasons of Blackness Mirror, such as USS Callister and Arkangel, involve the protagonist placing a round implant on their temple, and it never really ends well for the characters. Once I saw the implant, I began theorizing what terrible things were going to happen to our protagonists: if y'all die in the game do you dice in real life? Will they get stuck in the game?

Well, the episode took a completely different plow.

Once the characters enter the game, Danny and Karl lay almost lifeless on their couches with grey blank optics and dead faces. At that place it was, the uneasiness that comes with many Blackness Mirror episodes. Danny and Karl select the same video game characters they played 11 years agone, Roxette and Lance. The ii quickly realize how realistic the VR simulation is as they feel the pain with each dial and kicking. Because of how real the characters felt hurting, I thought maybe the characters would face existent-life health consequences, but nope, the game just resets and their injuries are healed.

The two also come up to realize how real pleasance feels in the game, every bit the two class a virtual sexual relationship that they become addicted to every bit the episode progresses. This causes distress in their real-life relationships as they go solely satisfied through the virtual human relationship. Ding-ding-ding: here'due south the conflict that arises from the technology. Once the conflict was revealed, I began to wonder how far it would button the characters, and what it would make them exercise.

However, this episode gave Blackness Mirror fans something they don't go quite often, which is a resolution. After several hardships, Danny and Theo concur to take a sort of an 'open up relationship' that fulfills both of their needs one a year. Danny and Karl get their virtual night together, and Theo gets to prove she'due south still got information technology with her ain version of a practiced time. One time the credits rolled, I wondered if there was something more afterwards, because it felt like something was missing. Perchance because nothing bad happened?

Hit Vipers gained quite the hype; specially from Curiosity and DC fans since the promotional images teased a face-off between Anthony Mackie (The Falcon) and Yahya Abdul-Mateen (Manta). Comic volume fans did get another surprise as Pom Klementieff (Mantis), and Ludi Lin (Captain Murk) likewise made appearances. Information technology was nice to run into these DC and Marvel actors share a screen, merely information technology's not exactly the crossover that some may envision.

Nonetheless, this episode did non have the pay-offs like other episodes — there was no twist or doom-filled ending. To some, this may be a prissy change, but to others, information technology might experience like a letdown. However, the episode does make viewers question the hereafter of VR engineering and simply how far it will go. It also alludes to other technologies like foldable phones and automated dishwashers.

Let's just say that this episode didn't leave me with the feeling of impending doom nigh technological advancements that previous episodes have.

Maybe that's a adept thing.