And that interesting concept of accessing memories comes up again – only this time in a more primitive form. Director John Hillcoat ( The Road) makes the absolute best of the episode’s still, disquieting Icelandic landscapes. “Crocodile” is one of Black Mirror‘s best-looking episodes. It’s a story and a concept that just needed some more time and money to produce. Still the ease in which the narrative trickery is worked out holds it back – as does its clear lack of a necessary budget. Once they get the twist out of the way, a lot falls into place and “Men Against Fire’s” central message is effective and disturbing. Its biggest issue, however, is that it’s nearly impossible not to guess its big twist very early on in the episode. “Men Against Fire” is actually pretty solid. He’s like how Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was a show that wanted to talk about comedic variety shows but was completely unable to write believable sketches. The political message of the powers that be co-opting sarcastic revolutions from frustrated voters is pretty right on. In a more modern context when we’ve seen creatures far worse than cartoon characters elected to office, “The Waldo Moment” isn’t quite as bad. The plot introduces tortured comedic genius Charlie Brooker…I mean Jamie Salter (Daniel Rigby), whose animated bear-like creation Waldo embarks upon a satirical run for office. Central “character” Waldo is just absolutely unfunny and insufferable. “The Waldo Moment” is a popular choice for worst Black Mirror episode ever and it’s not hard to see why. While “Shut Up and Dance” is able to tap into modern anxieties about loss of privacy and autonomy well, it introduces a depressing third act twist that unwittingly argues we’re all terrible animals who don’t deserve our stupid privacy anyway. The third episode of season 3 does indeed present a worthwhile original concept, as most episodes of Black Mirror do. “Shut Up and Dance” is another episode of Black Mirror that is simply too ugly for its own good. ![]() ![]() It’s hard to be taken in by the episode’s fascinating technology when it’s presented within the most standard and boring infidelity plot imaginable. Lead character Liam (Toby Kebbell) is such a monstrous prick that it negates any salient point the episode may try to make. The initial concept remains appealing – so much so that the show has since returned to it in season 4, but the story wrapped around it is just awful. Problem is: “The Entire History of You” has aged incredibly poorly. even optioned it to make a still as of yet unproduced movie. “The Entire History of You” struck such a chord that Robert Downey Jr. The concept of being able to literally watch one’s own memories Dumbledore’s Pensieve-style was definitely appealing. “The Entire History of You” was a popular choice for fan favorite following the show’s tiny three-episode first season.
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