Black mirror's so fricking good at making you sympathize with the main character, and then turning you upside down when you realize they're actually a monster in disguise.
I was hoping you would dissect the wonderful way they upgraded the game's 'graphics' as the episode progressed. The opening sequence had retro graphics and the costumes and camerawork mirrored the early stark trek era. They gradually built up the production value to the point where during the final sequence in the game it had modern animations and the signature JJ Abrams lens flares and costumes. It was a nice homage to the evolution of the Star Trek universe and would tie in nicely with your point about how the episode was doing multiple things at once. All said and done I still loved the video! :)
MetraMan09 The game update only hits towards the end of the episode whereas every time the protagonist enters the simulation the production is scaled up despite no indication of there being any update in the interim. It was probably also a way of showing how his program was improving, but the similarity of the very first exterior scene of the spaceship is too similar to classic sci fi that I feel it had to be intentional (like those lens flares).
I like the Black Mirror episodes like this, where the message is more than, "Technology is bad," which in the latter seasons seems to be a bit more heavy-handed than earlier.
xingcat In the best sci fi, the technology or what not, is just the set up. The people are really what make or break it. Frankenstien: the process to bring live to dead tissue worked like a charm, it was the doctor who screwed up by not knowing what to do after. Irobot: Robots are doing exactly what they were programed to do, the people misused it. Technology is doing precisly what we made it do, we're the one's who need fixing
xingcat That's why I didn't finish season 3 (and haven't bothered with season 4). I love scifi in general and loved the previous seasons of Black Mirror, but I just felt like they're doing the same things over and over again now. Although San Junipero is supposed to be amazing and I haven't got to that. Can you recommend me the standout episodes from season 3 and 4?
I think you will like San Junipero (technology at it best) and SS Callister. The others went from "everybody decided to overlook the ridiculously obvious bad out comes of say technology implementation... 'cus plot" to "are you making me belive that this tiny woman is phisicaly strong and lucky enogh to do all that AND this plot twist??? REALLY???"
you'll like san junipero. the idea in that episode is more about "If we handle technology right, than it can do wonderful things and help people." It adds balance to the episodes about the dangers of technology imo.
I don't mind it being just that, so long as it's done well. "This technology is dangerous" can be expressed with a good ending, or a bad ending. I don't see why people see the bad ending instances as necessarily worse. They're just different, and they can be worse, and they can be better. Depends on the overall rest of the episode really. To give a personal favourite example of each, I'd say Playtest and Nosedive.
That episode of The Twilight Zone has to be one of the darkest the show ever did. The fact that the solution offered to the predicament of the episode is the murder of a small child, and that it's completely reasonable and even warranted, is crazy. It's also much harder to discern the lesson of the episode because the villain is a child. With USS Callister you can accept that the antagonist is an adult who consciously chose to become a monster with his godlike power, but Anthony is just a kid. You can't really blame him, any more than you can blame his parents for letting him do the things he does.
That goes to my only, and I do mean only, complaint about this episode. Granted that BM episodes are incredibly tightly written, I do wish there would have been a line or two to offer some context for why Daly was like was. I was a bit let down at my own emotional "high" at Daly's fate. Yes, he was a monster who deserved it, but that's just so . . . neat and tidy, right? Maybe his treatment in real life and the good will he engenders in the first ten minutes is supposed to leave us a bit conflicted about his "imprisonment," but, per the video, the fact that he chose to walk away from that rather than embrace a real human connection, for me, made that entirely impossible. For shame, I'd like to feel a bit more for him, but as written, I just don't. And I think that detracts just a little bit from the power of the whole episode.
He was clearly turned into a "monster" by the mistreatment he suffers at the hands of the others in his office. Honestly for the entire episode I felt more sympathy for him than I did for the other characters. Though he was cruel in the VR world, those weren't actually real people suffering, and I found it hard to believe the premise that there could be an actual consciousness created by DNA + computer power. But he had clearly suffered greatly from the mistreatment of many of his coworkers, and where there was finally going be a new employee who respected him, some of the coworkers poisoned the well by saying bad things about him. While this was a very well made episode, it honestly seems like it's almost pro-bullying. Anyone who has ever been bullied in school or at work should identify with the anti-hero here, and I wonder if the author(s) are former (or current) bullies themselves, looking for some way to justify their behavior.
@@robgronotte1 ...I think you are missing the central theme as to what causes bullying to begin with. The problem is kids who bully usually either have experiences or in some cases, a lack of positive ones, that can foster the behavior in the first place. Yes, Daly certainly is shown to have plenty of experiences that show HOW he could make the un-ethical choices he does, but his level of lashing out and the ways in which he carries them out shows clearly how much he knows that his actions are wrong (or even what is labeled evil). Justification is a real issue (and you show it in your comment), namely, that because one person is wronged, should he/she then be socially ALLOWED to transgress ethical social boundries? We see this all the time now in terms of protest rallies where people who feel hurt emotionally, socially, etc, fell a real allowable expression of their anger and pain through carrying out real acts of physical pain upon others through rioting etc that transcends the original purpose of protest. This is the Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right addage and it's only really valuable in that history bears out that it doesn't 'work' to solve an actual issue...why we feel war is bad for example- the death and pain on both sides that can manifest revenge,etc. Taking the High Road isn't just a divergent road, it's a road on another level, another plane, which isn't an equal measure...elevated, similar to Christ having justification for revenge, but instead chooses forgiveness for humanity.
Ok but have you noticed that by the end of the episode the antagonist is stuck forever in the game and no one will find him until he dies because he kept the do not disturb sign on the door and it's Christmas break!
Black Mirror is one of my favorite shows, I had been hearing good things for the longest time but was skeptical that it would deliver the goods. While not every episode is a banger, there are so many that completely blew me away. My favorite episodes are White Christmas, Playtest, San Junipero, and Hang the DJ.
He should do one on "Shut up and dance." It has a similar protagonist to antagonist twist. The greatest thing about that episode is the way it drip feeds information without actually giving away the twist.
Really? I am normally not good in predicting twists. But this one I did. It made no sense at all that he did all these things because of a little pornography and jerking off. Also there was this scene with the little girl in the beginning.
He can't as he doesn't have the script to each one of those. USS Callister script was released for the Emmys nominations, making him able to read it, analyze it, and make a video out of it. There are only two scripts that are released to the public which is "A National Anthem" and, like I said, "USS Callister." If other scripts are released I bet that he will do a video out of those.
One of my favorite little nuggets is how at the end the bridge turns from classic Star Trek style into the new Star Trek style (lens flare and all). Have to love the attention to little details.
7:50 - "If there is a sequence, scene, or even line in a script that doesn't move the plot forward, it should be probably be cut." - say that to Tarantino
He can't as he doesn't have the script to each one of those. USS Callister script was released for the Emmys nominations, making him able to read it, analyze it, and make a video out of it. There are only two scripts that are released to the public which is "A National Anthem" and, like I said, "USS Callister." If other scripts are released I bet that he will do a video out of those.
Thank you for this. It made me realize what was making the first draft of my book so god damn boring. I thought that I had already cut all unneeded scenes and dialogue, but this video made me realize that I could make it even more efficient by cutting and recombining scenes to both make them more efficient and serve multiple purposes at once! Thank you for your amazing video essays!
My favorite Black Mirror episode. Very good synopsis and explains why USS Calister resonates so deeply with audiences. It does several things simultaneously in one episode. Introduces antagonist as the hero at the beginning and shows the difference between a false victory contrived by a tyrant and a victory as experienced by a real hero that loves his crew.
Really? Hang the DJ was pretty boring and USS Callister was far too non-sensical and convenient for me to enjoy it properly. But I suppose that just goes to show how poor this season was if those 2 episodes were the "strongest".
Dennis the Mannis - what was non-sensical at all about the Callister episode? It all took place inside a virtual reality game, anything is possible without being nonsense.
+Plamen2007 Obviously. There's not really a difference at all. Some episodes were really stupid or just boring among other things. If you love it then I have no problem with that.
Welcome to a dimention of lessons, when reality and fiction are analyze as one, when the senses of structure and subvercion become material, screenplays become abstract and meanings are more than ideas. You now are entering the Twili.....ups, Lessons of the screenplay.
Excellent stuff. I love when the antagonist receives a patronising tap on the head from his coworker and later does exactly the same thing to the new girl when he's showing her he's in charge. Brilliant vid mate
I'm referring to the screenplay and how they re-contextualized a previous premise. Because I was not that familiar with the Twilight Zone. So I did not know. Only when I watched this LFTS episode, I realized the technique and method that the writers used. So sorry if I did not state it straight.
Besides the Twilight Zone ep, the story also echos a specific episode of Original Star Trek with a somewhat similar premise, "Charlie X", in which the Enterprise brings onboard a human adolescent (looks about 18-20, acts about 10) who was the sole survivor of some space disaster and who turned out survived thanks to Godlike powers granted him by some alien race. His powers & emotional immaturity send him clearly down the path toward Billy Mumy's character from the Twilight Zone ep, disappearing people and even pulling the exact same "removing a woman's face" gag as in the Dark Mirror ep, just to make the connection crystal clear. He tries to take over the ship but before he can succeed the Godlike aliens that gave him his powers show up & take him away. This Dark Mirror ep. reads very much like what would have happened if the aliens had never turned up and Charlie had taken over the ship and wished KIrk, Spock & any other major threats into the cornfield.
Inspirational work as always. While I loved this episode and you showed me just how masterfully crafted it is as a written work, nearly nothing can compare to the execution of White Christmas. Watching it felt like I was unfolding a never-ending road map like that horror segment in Nightmare on Elm St. Your view of the world and understanding of your characters just kept zooming out until you finally had a glimpse of the full picture. It set up so many complex and nuanced ideas so organically. Can we also talk about the visual homage they pay The Thing when Michaela Coel's character is transformed into the monster? The way the tendrils explode upwards is nearly identical to when it happens in the Dog Kennel scene in The Thing.
Sorry, I'm not sure I know what you're referring to when you say 'migtow'.. But when I google it I found a community called Men Going Their Own Way which is sort of fascinating, but I don't think that's what you're referring to. Sorry I didn't really answer your question!
Excellent video, as always! This is also one of my favorite episodes, mainly because Black Mirror is so bleak that a happy ending feels like a breath of fresh air. But maybe that's just me.
It's great to see you analyzing Black Mirror and show a throwback to Twilight Zone. San Junipero is my favorite TV episode ever, of any series. But I really like that you chose USS Callister for your analysis because script-wise it has more to show in aspects of structure and writing.
It is so weird. I just decided only a couple of weeks ago to watch black mirror and now you, one of my favorite youtubers, just happens to make a video on it. What an awesome coincidence. Love your channel by the way. Keep it up
Addendum to editing scripts: scene has to do one of two things. 1. move plot and/or 2. reveal character. I think this comes from Mamet by way of Aristotle.
More reasons to love my favorite episode! Sweet! Also, I'm very excited to see what projects you'll be working on!! Wish you all the best Michael! Thank you for the consistently amazing content ❤
Love the changes in aesthetic from the old, TOS-like style, to the new reboot-like style at the end of the episode. USS Callister is an all-around genius episode.
You have no Idea how much I love You and your content ^^. Thank You so much for your work! You taught me a lot! My personal favourite is one of the most hated episodes, "Hated in the Nation". I guess I have to make a Video Essay about the Episode, to justify my opinion...
Very interesting connection to The Twilight Zone that I had not made when watching this episode. I saw a lot of inspiration from Harlan Ellison's "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream", but "It's a Good Life" seems much more thematically relevant. All in all another excellent breakdown!
This breakdown of scenes accomplishing multiple tasks at once was phenomenal. We put this episode of BM off to the side because it confused us a bit, but you’ve totally brought a deep appreciation for what this episode means for the series as a whole. Such a good lesson from the screenplay. Thank you!
Man your video are awesome. Your videos are the first i click on as soon as i open my subscription feed. Keep up the good work. Also i know you must be extremely busy, but i'd love your take on the script of Interstellar. Thanks and best regards from Italy.
I've never seen this episode but i noticed that when the man was captain, the ship had a very 60's style star trek feel and color pallet whereas when the woman was captain, the chip changed to a more J J Abrams cinematic feel, what with the light flares and stuff. others probably noticed that as well but i think it's really cool because it shows the different kinds of approaches the captains have to leadership and the progression of the story.
Great video! From the Netflix description and thumbnail image I avoided this episode of Black Mirror like the plague. I like Black Mirror when it’s dark and bleak and this looked anything but. When I had watched every other episode (I started watching after season 3 had already aired) I finally broke down and watched this and it was excellent! Was a little preoccupied with Matt Damon’s excessive makeup (lol) but thankfully realized before the end of the ep that it wasn’t him at all! Keep up the high quality videos!
Awesome job! That episode was my second of Black Mirror too. (White Christmas being my favorite.) Best of luck with your film projects. Don't have an Insta, but hopefully some of your creations will make it on YT.
The Twilight Zone is my favorite show of all time and Black Mirror is my favorite currently airing show (I have tattoos of both; yes I'm a nerd), so needless to say, I *loved* this video! USS Callister was my second favorite episode of season four, after Hang the DJ. Fantastic season opener.
Something I really Like about a lot of black mirror episodes is that while I’m watching the episode seems far darker and more twisted. But when I look back I can see how absurd it is. Like the first episode national anthem or striking vipers for example.
One thing I think is worth mentioning about this episode is that is also has something to say about the sort of toxic masculinity that causes men (like Robert Daly) to feel a sense of entitlement towards people, specifically women, and specifically Nanette.
Yes! Working on multiple levels. And I think showing Robert as protagonist does allow us to empathize with how toxic masculinity can be born out of bullying and an inability to express or connect emotionally...but then also shows how messed up and dangerous it is.
Sincerely, do you think this is an intentional factor of the episode or is this you fitting your own ideas and views onto the preexisting media à la queer theory?
Beth Anthony I think you’re definitely viewing it through your own personal lense. If you’re talking about Roberts desire to kiss every female member of the crew, he is a straight person, it’s not unfair to infer he’s a virgin, he’s clearly desiring some level of physicality. It’s pretty apparent that the USS Callister is his personal fantasy, so is it Toxic Masculinity to desire people, more specifically, women?
So to counter balance, is there such thing as "toxic femininity?" I dont sympathize with Daly's character, he was a piece of shit. But the point of BM is to make you see things from multiple angles. He was a creep and a loner. But he also never got respect, despite doing all of the work in the company and clearly being a depressed loser his whole life. Like I said, I dont sympathize, but having layers and perspectives is important. If this was an episode with a girl in Dalys position, would you say the same? (Look to White Bear for my example.) No, you'd justify it. Point is there are toxic PEOPLE. If there is toxic masculinity, there is toxic femininity. Equality. Try it sometime.
I just recently saw this episode and was so fascinated by the concept. One of the few BM episodes I want a sequel to. Great video as always! What do you have planned next?
thank for that video, I watched this using boxxy software app, I had not realized the episode's whole brilliance until I watched your video. USS Callister is truly well-made.
USS Callister was my best pick for Season 4. And after this video, it's now the greatest of the Season 4. Thank you very much for covering this. your analysis is always perfect 🙌
Both episodes are great! This Rod Sterling opening narration ("Tonight story on the Twilight Zone is somewhat unique...") was used in Michael Jackson's song "Threatened" (Invincible, 2001). I'm a big fan of both and I love it! By the way, another great video! ^^
Lessons from the Screenplay Threatened is a 21 century Thriller. It is a allegorical good song that uses many Sterling words to make a Vincent Price-like rap.
Great comparison. Another great one is the short story "I have no mouth and i must scream". It was the first thing I thought of while watching the episode.
Very Nice! Can't believe you didn't mention Star Trek though! The visual homages in terms of how the various scenes are shot directly reflect the various series / recent films -- all the way to the lens flares of the new ones haha
Another fantastic video! What do you think of doing an episode on a Hollywood classic? I recommend a video on 12 Angry Men. Personally, my favorite black and white film. My favorite episode of Black Mirror is Fifteen Million Merits.
I’d also like to argue that it borrows from Harlan Ellison’s short story “I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream,” even being a more optimistic take on the story. It essentially has the same idea, that death is freedom, but the short story does it in a much more bleak way, as opposed to USS Callister showing it much more optimistically
i always feel a weird sense pleasure when you point out when scenes do two things at once. it teaches me more ways to be effective with my screenplays. but something i wanted to try is to be tie my screenplays with music. in a way doing 2.5 things at the same time with the music supporting or helping a scene in certain ways. If you want to do an episode on music and action, i think *Gundam Thunderbolt* is the perfect setting because how each side in the conflict reflects both there desires and awareness though the music they listen too.
I'm glad it's valuable! What's tricky about music is that people's tastes can vary a lot, plus rights issues, etc. So generally people avoid writing music into scripts. But if it works, go for it!
I'm so happy to see your analysis of Black Mirror! I think that the format of the show allows it to explore so many more themes than a serialized show can, definitely one of my favorites. Great video as always!
Great points. I hate how much hate the latest season got mostly because it basically wasn't like the previous seasons. These are the same people who would probably also complain if it was too much like the previous seasons and say it wasn't original and blah blah.
Note to wannabe screenwriters out there. Although everything in this video is correct and you can definitely learn some stuff from this. It's important to remember that when Brooker was writing the episode he most likely wasn't trying to intellectualise everything. He most likely trusted his gut and took notes from his valued proofreaders. I leave this comment not to crap on the video to warn people about a pitfall I've recently just come out of. Video essays can be watched and taken as gospel, which then leads people to worry about doing everything the easiest said while creating. This is a really bad habit that inhibits your work and makes you approach writing, directing, etc as a checklist. Which can only lead to you getting stressed out and focusing your efforts in the wrong places.
