What Is the Story About?
Very much akin to previous seasons of Black Mirror, the 6th season also comprises of 5 episodes and their plotlines contain dark humor and social commentary. The show puts forward an unnerving and dystopian look at tech gone horribly wrong and the non-sympathetic nature of the bourgeoisie streaming corporation, this season. To be precise, Black Mirror Season 6 is more meta than it has ever been.
Performances?
Some of the best performances in this season came from Annie Murphy & Salma Hayek (at her hilarious best) in ‘Joan is Awful’, Daniel Portman as ‘Stuart’ and Monica Dolan as ‘Janet’ in Loch Henry. Aaron Paul’s Cliff in Beyond the Sea, Clara Rugaard as Mazey, Zazie Beetz as Bo & Danny Ramirez as Hector in Mazey Day were exceptional as well.
Analysis
Conceptualised and created by Charlie Brooker, Black Mirror season 5 is a compilation of 5 episodes, each stand-alone and paints commentaries on the over-consumption of content, grief, corporate behaviour, overriding of tech, its implications and a lot more.
Joan is Awful
Arguably the best and the most on point short in the 6th season of Black Mirror, Joan is Awful offers a commentary on the streaming content we consume and its disturbing after effects. Salma Hayek is funny and exceptional, Annie Murphy is really good as well. Joan is Awful definitely is worth your time.
Loch Henry
The second outing of Black Mirror Season 6 slightly sways away from the genre the multiple Emmy Award winning show is known for, for most of its duration, but the climax banger is a twist for ages. Again, Loch Henry is quite meta and We hope Netflix atleast now stops on their obsession with true crime documentaries.
Beyond the Sea
Probably the most heavy hearted of the lot and one of the hot favourites, Beyond the Sea is tender, has trauma, grief and a lot more wrapped in the Black Mirror format like many sci-fi space shows out there. Well cast, well enacted and of course, well written.
Mazey Day
Mazey Day deals with a very sensitive subject and an undeniably relevant one : stalking. But does Mazey Day do justice to the subject it has chosen? Well, nope. The writing takes un-necessary wowza turns only for the sake of it, like the very supernatural angle and what not. There were many ways to make the short spooky and scary, but alas. Excellent performances, nevertheless.
Demon 79
First things first, Demon 79 is experimental from the word go. It’s a needless marriage of horror and camp, or rather a needless marriage for the universe Black Mirror always goes for. Demon 79 sticks out like a sore thumb because of its lack of imaginativeness and of course the boredom it induces. The weakest episode of the series.
Music and Other Departments?
Some of the finest work in music and background score this season comes from Volker Bertelmann who scored for ‘Beyond the Sea’, Ames Bessada, who scored for ‘Joan is Awful’ and Adam Janota Bzowski for Loch Henry. Both Beyond the Sea and Loch Henry gets aptly elevated by its music.
Highlights?
Meta References
A fusion of scary, shocking and hilarious twists
Cast
Idea behind each episode
Drawbacks?
Some episodes don’t land
Some do not fit Black Mirror Universe
Some are way too long and boring
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes.
Will You Recommend It?
Yes. Joan is Awful, Loch Henry and Beyond the Sea definitely deserves a watch.
Black Mirror Season 6 Series Review by Binged Bureau