TV Thoughts: Black Mirror Season 5

Quite honestly, Black Mirror has never disappointed me. However, this is one of the best seasons amongst all of them.

Unlike other seasons where a majority of the episodes were dark and even sinister at times, especially White Christmas, this one had loads of fun moments, albeit dark ones, amongst the bigger ideas you can expect from this series.

Striking Vipers was a lot about the idea of what is virtual and what is real. As technology advances, the line between the two blurs. And also the idea of sexual fluidity and orientation, while we like to think that we are very educated on that in this day and age, but we still get a wee bit offended (especially straight men) when suggested that we might swing the other way. Attraction is something so difficult to rationalise and put in logical terms but that’s the beauty of it, isn’t it?

Smithereens, well, it triggered me more than I would like to admit. As a former relapsing social media addict and current love of meditation apps like Calm, Headspace, amongst others. It is both quite heartbreaking and hilarious and the same time. Yes, we are stuck to our screens, sometimes it takes time away from the people and things that should matter a lot more. Don’t worry I am not going to slide into a diatribe about the perils of social media addiction.

Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too, man, I wasn’t expecting that. The episode both overs a coming-of-age of a shy, introverted girl and wow Miley Cyrus plays a convincing character of the shiny pop singer who is actually depressed/anxious and wanting more than the bubble-gum image. I really love how it reflects the way we idolise celebrities who seem to have it altogether and the darkness beneath the surface. It is important to remember that what you see on social is not all that it seems.