So people a while back were raving about Black Mirror, and I see various think pieces as well so that is usually a sign of something. As is my style it seems I found myself several years late to the party, however I am also wondering what the fuss was about.
For the unfamiliar it is a sci fi anthology series largely helmed by Charlie Brooker (of screenwipe, gameswipe, 20?? wipe and the like fame. Most of those you can probably find online if you search for a few seconds and the amount of times I have linked things from them over the years likely says how much I liked them. Technically I have some of his books as well but that was mainly because someone gave them to me at a car boot sale). This is to say each episode is usually standalone and explores some aspect of science, technology and near future technology on individuals or society at large.
As far as concept sci fi goes it is pretty good (usually some decent actors, characters, writing, cinematography and premises seem to be a bit on the nose or future tech is scary or exploring a darker side thereof/darker side of human nature because we are the real monsters) but I am not seeing the bestest tv evar thing. Now since TV consistently started to get really good about 20 years ago and going in for long form/DVD set/binge, and especially within the last 10 (costs of production dropping with stuff like the Red cameras), people do seem to throw that label around more easily than most of us, myself very much included, use the phrase interesting when discussing game news so I am prepared for that one.
Anyway I watched some random episodes from different series so it is possible I just got all the weaker ones and thus here I am.
Episodes I recall seeing so far. Can't be bothered to look them up for series-episode numbers nor the actual titles (not that most people remember them) so hopefully a relatively spoiler free name for those that have not seen them but enough for those that have.
Robot bees
Robot dogs
Social media kidnap
Series 1 Pilot. Princess and the porcine. Was probably a bit more topical a few years back and slightly wonky in its premise but I can take that.
Any must see episodes? Choose your own adventure was interesting enough as a concept (saw something similar with a DVD way back, and plenty of games have already gone there, but arguably spoiled by the think piece I read on it.
For the unfamiliar it is a sci fi anthology series largely helmed by Charlie Brooker (of screenwipe, gameswipe, 20?? wipe and the like fame. Most of those you can probably find online if you search for a few seconds and the amount of times I have linked things from them over the years likely says how much I liked them. Technically I have some of his books as well but that was mainly because someone gave them to me at a car boot sale). This is to say each episode is usually standalone and explores some aspect of science, technology and near future technology on individuals or society at large.
As far as concept sci fi goes it is pretty good (usually some decent actors, characters, writing, cinematography and premises seem to be a bit on the nose or future tech is scary or exploring a darker side thereof/darker side of human nature because we are the real monsters) but I am not seeing the bestest tv evar thing. Now since TV consistently started to get really good about 20 years ago and going in for long form/DVD set/binge, and especially within the last 10 (costs of production dropping with stuff like the Red cameras), people do seem to throw that label around more easily than most of us, myself very much included, use the phrase interesting when discussing game news so I am prepared for that one.
Anyway I watched some random episodes from different series so it is possible I just got all the weaker ones and thus here I am.
Episodes I recall seeing so far. Can't be bothered to look them up for series-episode numbers nor the actual titles (not that most people remember them) so hopefully a relatively spoiler free name for those that have not seen them but enough for those that have.
Robot bees
Robot dogs
Social media kidnap
Series 1 Pilot. Princess and the porcine. Was probably a bit more topical a few years back and slightly wonky in its premise but I can take that.
Any must see episodes? Choose your own adventure was interesting enough as a concept (saw something similar with a DVD way back, and plenty of games have already gone there, but arguably spoiled by the think piece I read on it.
