Black Mirror: Is It Deep or Dumb? - Wisecrack Edition

[@WisecrackEDU]

Thanks for watching, y'all! Drop a comment below with what you'd like to see as a Deep or Dumb episode! Thanks again to our sponsor, ExpressVPN. expressvpn.com/wisecrack

[@Papada00]

Hey... you should change the title of this video to specify that it is just Season 5.

[@raymartinez3826]

It was dumb and this season was shit

[@ThatOneGuy7550]

Do a video on The Boys, Preacher and the philosophy of Garth Ennis

[@SepiaQuotient]

Season 5 is dumb, I really waited for the 5th and felt genuinely disappointed, as just in the first episode all went down with pop stars and happy ending, really nothing that I liked.

[@CabezasDePescado]

It was deep before getting bought by netflix and became softer, dumber, and more mainstream, though Black Museum was not bad

[@siddharthkumar4795]

The final episode to me felt like a live version of Scooby Doo. The only thing missing was the at end of the episode the famous dialogue: "I would have got away with it if it wasn't for you meddling kids."

[@kauswekazilimani3736]

More like a slightly twisted Disney. Full Disney channel movie in the end.

[@nicholasmaniccia1005]

Hey are you from Monroe Woodbury

[@CabezasDePescado]

it changed tone halfway through, it was pretty odd

[@Yudicopter]

Well, that's accurate AF

[@DrArthurCGarp]

I thought it was an episode about how we view our heroes. Do we willfully ignore morality and their pain to keep them as our heroes?

[@junior1388666]

I thought Ashley too would get dark af. But it becomes a comedy show by the mid point.

[@OCinneide]

it could be a hanah montana episode

[@Firegirl483]

I think it was pretty dark. I mean, Ashley was being drugged for months just for songs and her likeness was gonna be used to sell out stadiums

[@andresvillanueva5131]

I was expecting a disney channel grill when the car chase went on

[@capnseriousnap]

It got super goofy at the end, I also don't like miley cyrus. This season in general got the same problem that the last 2 seasons of game of thrones, poor writing

[@Bobbyhillfiga]

i hated it. lol i didnt even bother finishing it tbh

[@exquisitecorpse__]

It's annoying when black mirror makes you question the logistics of your minecraft gf.

[@DeconvertedMan]

lol! yeah. its worse when you don't even have a gf... .but you think you did.

[@Marky9900]

F

[@afthefragile]

You know how the saying goes, on the internet all the men are men, all the women are also men and all the kids are FBI.

[@moralityisnotsubjective5]

So is this or is this not about fucking cube people?

[@benrosen3004]

Ok look, she's obviously a real female bc I've heard her voice!

[@HuxTheSergal]

"you can't remake star trek but with a Honda civic instead of the space ship" REDIRECT ALL POWER FROM THE LIFE SUPPORT TO THE MAIN THRUSTERS *turns off AC*

[@petehjr1]

(Kirk In the Back Seat) Kirk: "Shields Up, Mr Sulu" (Sulu driving) * attempts to roll up the windows but the button is broken* "Sir, Shields WONT ENGANGE!"

[@MarcotGarage]

Scotty: I'm giving her all she got Captain! * Pushing the stuck car over a speed bump

[@bbrbbr-on2gd]

Damn it, Jim! I'm a Doctor, not a late 20th century auto mechanic!

[@1m2misaelenrique11]

God i love so much this comment

[@victorescobar7437]

I have not kek'd so hard at a comment and from subsequent comments at the possibilities!

[@ConnorEllisMusic]

I think the problem is honestly Black Mirror lost it's Britishness.

[@thecrackedcocoon5423]

That is a good way to describe it.

[@zef3k]

It certainly happened with Torchwood..

[@PanthroSamah]

I believe in the same thing. United States has a pathos of novelty, as Hannah Arendt said. They just can't feel the same way about technology as the british.

[@NeilOttoTep]

Exactly my thought. Once the show ended on BBC it lost it's soul. Netflix tries to revive a husk of a graet show.

[@mporter1994]

@@NeilOttoTep Channel 4

[@SIKKOBLACKMAGIC]

my girl won't let me play with the homies no more due to this episode

[@kauswekazilimani3736]

Give her a ladies night😂

[@topdilllin]

Haha

[@uremawifenowdave]

Just how were you playing with them?

[@poposterous236]

ASAP Killerr and his girl sitting in a tree D-I-V-O-R-C-E

[@RenegadeStriker7]

ASAP Killerr its not gay, its homiesexual

[@Tjthekiller24]

I think the deepest question from Striking Vipers is But is it gay?????

[@Alexandre_0]

imo the f*cking isnt but the cuddling is

[@hentaimage95]

Only the one getting fucked is gay

[@agustinbaletti]

@@hentaimage95 not exactly, that's dumb too

[@agustinbaletti]

@@ForeverInDreams237 well this is top tier stupidity

[@GuineaPigEveryday]

JustCallMe YaYa this is a really good question. But also, do they love each other when they’re in vr or is it the physical pleasure, if so, how does that even work? How can you feel as if you’re being fucked (while playing as a female avatar) and does the pleasure feel like how a woman feels it or does your brain just active the pleasure feeling of having sex with a penis? This is weird to ask but whats the biological and physical aspects of this relationship? do they even cum or feel pleasure to their private parts?

[@instantfunness]

Ashley 2.0: What is my purpose? Rick Sanchez: You were made to move the plot along. That's it.

[@m_winewood]

What character isnt? In anything.

[@superr_nerd7305]

Ashley 2.0: 😭 ooh my god

[@johnindigo5477]

Yeah welcome to the club

[@Villifyable]

I think the smithereens episode actually has a lot of cool stuff to say about the role of government and tech companies in the modern world, where law enforcement can't keep up with these companies private capacity to harvest data and thus the institutions that we presumably are governed by are relegated to supplicating these companies, but then even the ceo doesn't have a handle on what the company does anymore, leaving us with the profound question of "who the fuck is supposed to be in charge". It also poses the question of "who cares anymore", as every character in the show remains impotent in the face of the shot firing (even the cop that did it didn't have agency), and because of their inability to practically ameliorate the effects of the technological world that is now unleashed, the only answer is to turn away and distract ourselves with something new. There's also some interesting god symbolism with billy, and the role a creator plays in the lives of those who they are worshipped by, with the dude trying desperately to talk to billy the entire episode only to state point blank that he doesn't care what justifications billy has for this, he just wanted to confess his sins. It was light on tech and the texting thing was pretty passe so I understand why some didn't appreciate it.

[@steamtasticvagabond474]

Something else I’d like to point out is how between everyone in the episode, only Billy and the gunman (whose name I can’t remember), and of course the hostage are seemingly the only people acting like people. The tech companies talk and act in ways frustratingly mundane when the is a literal gun to an employee’s head, but Billy who himself no longer has control of the company is the only person who seems to actually give a shit about the situation outside of PR.

[@BurningHydrant]

The data collecting thing was one thing, but to me, the most important aspect of that episode was, that as a society and an economy, we built a system in which attention is currency, and as a result, the most efficient attention grabbing machine wins the evolutionary battle. Even the one who built the thing doesn't like it anymore, but that doesn't matter, because, as a system, it has proven to be functional. We're barely users anymore, we're hosts to something with a life on its own, that has spread among us, not because it is good for us, but because spreading is what it was built to be good at. So good that Billy himself felt like he had to go into quarantine.

[@alliswonderlain2595]

Something else I'd like to add is that it's also about information overload, particularly at the end. There is so much going on in the world and humans are only built to handle so much of it. We are very finite beings while the internet is a far-reaching, all encompassing juggernaut. It knows all and it is its job to make sure that we know all. Due to our technical limitations though, that leads to a short attention span and lack of empathy. There is so much going on that we can't focus on it all for more than a few seconds a piece and that's as much empathy as we can spare for it. When the shot is fired at the end of the episode, Black Mirror doesn't bother showing us who was shot because, like the ordinary people we see afterwards, we don't care. For the life of someone not directly affiliated with us, we can spare the few seconds to go "Oh, that's sad." and then we move on, losing no sleep over it. Riley Chute has a point that Billy and Chris were the only ones really acting emotionally, because those were the only two characters (Billy mores than Chris) who had separated themselves, for the most part, from this information overload. There wasn't something new begging for their attention every few seconds and so they COULD spare the empathy.

[@alliswonderlain2595]

@Supanjibobu Well, it's not just one message; it's multiple. The data collection, the information overload, the question as to who is really in charge, among others. It's pretty packed if you really think about it.

[@Thrashman138]

Nice text wall.

[@bazisme9421]

In smithereens the founder of the app never uses social media and infact tries to isolate himself somewhere remote that he cant even be reached,doubt that he even uses the app he founded,classic way of telling us "Never get high on your own supply".

[@stephen3164]

“Shut up! Who cares?! This isn’t about you!” That’s pretty much the message the lyft driver says in reply to the CEO’s own complaint. Perhaps commenting as society as a whole that we don’t want to hear excuses for the digital addiction these companies have caused.

[@rade-blunner7824]

It was probably inspired by Mark Zuckerberg. He's been seen with tape over the webcam of his own laptop, and similarly, Silicon Valley CEOs are often noted to have a strict control over how much technology their children are exposed to, Steve Jobs famously didn't allow his kids to use iPads.

[@memto2376]

That 3rd episode was like a R rated Disney movie

[@annefrankenstein2114]

Milo Morrow and a bad one at that

[@Deathwink1]

Yeah stupid PSA about being rich and famous

[@buttercupbaby8649]

I still kinda liked it tbh, the songs there are top notch and it actually tells the stories of how famous people are treated

[@SPSax4]

My exact thought

[@aby110]

I simply didn't watch that one. Knew it would suck ass.

[@SuperNerdsworld]

You should specify this is about season 5 in the title!

[@DetreProductions]

@ i guess when new seasons come out

[@StringsNStrands]

Nah man. Gotta get that click bait in

[@xLuky]

Why? they'd get less clicks.

[@SepiaQuotient]

Well, I think is a bit obvious because of the image, but yeah, some might be confused. But if you watch the video you can understand.

[@WickedLiquid]

The dude gives a spoiler warning so you really have nobody to blame but yourself if you kept watching.

[@JustinY.]

At least Black Mirror didn't go full nuclear and go GOT season 8

[@RiceBenderson]

Justin Y. It’s hard to say which is worse a slow multiple season decline via family guy, or a fast couple episode crash via game of thrones

[@TheHeartThatRunsCold]

@@RiceBenderson GOT had a multiple season decline as well, after some point (when there was no source material), characters just started becoming really dumb to justify events that would occur (Also the Fu**ing plot armor). People just woke up to it in season 8, as it was clearly irredeemable at that point.

[@RiceBenderson]

Jeremiah S, yes game of thrones was declining since season 4 however You could still argue it was an okay show until season 8 when completely fell in to mediocrity

[@TheHeartThatRunsCold]

@@RiceBenderson That's the thing though, I binged the hell out of it because it was more than "okay". It didn't feel like I was watching actors on a screen, it felt like I was watching a compelling story organically unfold. And I knew, things started to stop being that way the moment I said to myself, "I'll wait for the next season to be over". And then felt no desire to go back and catch up on what I had missed. I'd say it was still entertaining, but no longer as compelling.

[@mider-spanman5577]

*Noo-cu-lar

[@MoeAji]

The show got "Netflixed". It is similar to what happened to Arrested Development.

[@Xtrendence]

It's weird, because Netflix has some amazing shows such as Stranger Things, Sex Education, Mindhunter, and even Black Mirror Bandersnatch. But for some reason, they have a tendency to ruin shows somehow when they pick them up rather than produce them from the start. Maybe it's because the creators of the shows that get picked up, such as Black Mirror, just have a different creative vision that doesn't align with Netflix, so they end up having to improvise in a way.

[@MaxinRudy]

@@Xtrendence I think the problem with Arrested Development is that the show was dormant for too many years, and they couldn't pick where they left.

[@pabilbadoespecial]

You missed the whole religious symbolism of smithereens. Without going into detail, I'm talking about the whole travel the character must endure to meet the CEO, which is clearly a god like figure (even wears robes, like a modern version of Christ) and the main character's whole aim is to confess what he did. But then they, if I'm allowed this pun, pull the robe from under our feet when the CEO admits he even has no power anymore over the company, the company itself has overpowered it's creator.... I'll avoid rambling and not go into the lacanian inversion of the dependence of technology as you approach the CEO but that's also incredibly ironic and subtly done. This is not deep or dumb, if are validating deep with just one parameter, in this case the comparison with technology being the main driver of the plot then do so. But this is just one, you missed the deepest part of Smithereens because you were only looking for one thing.

[@Tank23333]

Wow yeah good observation

[@anthony9564]

Eric Foreman enables god mode as well.

[@trentonmillar2991]

It's also interesting how the CEO is on a retreat to get away from the technology he created.

[@KingofHearts]

That is some amazing insight, thanks for sharing. The final part is basically a prayer. He confesses his sins and is absolved by the creator prior to his death. He sees Smithereens as a contributor to his plight and the same thing is happening to the mother. She can’t get closure for her daughters suicide and therefore can’t move on. She’s struck in a purgatory attempting new passwords every day until locked out; but is saved once Smithereens give her the password. If The CEO represents god, then with respect to the mother, the lord giveth. For the protagonist who lost his wife, the lord taketh away.

[@NikolasAknorov]

I literally keep saying this to everyone that doesn’t get Smithereens. That episode was a work of art. So much symbolism, abstraction, politics, and philosophy all rolled into one episode. Beautiful!

[@GrassesOn97]

I actually liked the episode with the British Uber driver who wanted to get the attention of a CEO about the dangers of his app. I thought that the episode did a perfect job about how addiction can cause people to cognitively distance themselves from real life.

[@snoop4470]

The only good episode this season.

[@ussishkingang7194]

Bankai Media it did a real poor job at that

[@Tank23333]

i thought that he would demand from the CEO that he closes his company or else he would kill the guy, so that the question is how much worth is a human live or something like that. and that the mother now has access to all secrets of the dead daughter is purely positive at the end wich could ofcourse could have turned into a suicide from the Mother because she was the soley cause for the suffering of her daghter etc.

[@jacklong1844]

He was Irish.

[@Mageroeth]

Episode 2 was the most deep especially at the end when everyone went back to bsns as nothing happened. Made me think how much has this happened already and we havent bothered to take a momment and look.

[@JeovaneML]

Exactly.

[@TheChickenRiceBowl]

The Smithereens epidode?

[@afthefragile]

What struck me most about Episode 2 was just how engrossed everyone was into social media that no one could have any proper conversations with each other in real life anymore. All the conversations in the episode are broken, incomplete and just unsatisfying. Especially when the cab driver finally gets to speak to the Twitter boss and neither of them really know what to say and when they do, they just don't have any answers for each other.

[@sarysa]

The big reveal in Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too is that Trent Reznor never existed. Chilling.

[@afthefragile]

That's the most terrifying reality of that episode. Imagine living in a world where Miley Cyrus is NIN!!!

[@comicbookfanart7383]

Falcon : "you wanna play some striking vipers?" Captain America : "No.. No i dont I will"

[@eckmann88]

I think that Sam Wilson’s hesitance, that brief best before “No, me neither,” might suggest that he actually does have feelings. But that the other guy is only interested in a virtual version of him.

[@izzie481]

Seán Patrick Eckmann agreed

[@supermario530]

Striking vipers could've been named "2k with the Boys"

[@pan-semitistcommunist4181]

Should've*

[@ethanzebediah]

I like how Black Mirror has developed beyond “society is a phone” into “society is society with or without phones.”

[@georgevelazquez3400]

We live in a society

[@bingoberra18]

But thats not why I watched Black Mirror. Any drama will give you "society is society"

[@TheNordicHermit]

Every since Netflix got involved it had turned to shit Mainly because American shows are more optimistic then british shows

[@30framespersecond]

Season 3 (first Netflix season) had one optimistic episode. Season 4 had two debatable optimistic ones. There was plenty of soul crushing in seasons 3 and 4.

[@retardedfishfrogs1]

that goes for every piece of film outside of Hollywood pretty much

[@Ebirt2025]

Kind of like how the British Office was darker than its American counterpart although the American version is more iconic

[@liambriddock6374]

I disagree i think shut up and dance is the best of the whole show and that was made while netflix owned it.

[@TheSuperNats]

Some of the best episodes are from post Netflix (shut up and dance, SJ, nose dive)

[@benoldfeld2876]

I think season five wasn't as great as previous episodes but I like it. Smithereens was my favorite episode.

[@kadyarchibald6801]

I also love Smithereens

[@urfhorf]

"Who was phone?" -Black Mirror

[@diquandaniel7953]

I wonder how many times someone said "this _____ gay" during the Striking Vipers episode

[@theheeze]

Riley Freeman woulda had a blast

[@talesfromthebubble6327]

So, Anthony Mackie was playing Gangstalicious?

[@yurachunt3179]

you mean "this nigga gay"?

[@Predestinated1]

Only childish insecure guys

[@fearanarchy]

Also, at least we got Bandersnatch to balance this "Season".

[@penrar]

It was deep, it's now dumb. There you go - answered it for you.

[@nlabonte]

12:12 Jared: "You can't remake 'Star Trek' by replacing a starship with a Honda Civic." Me: "Hold my Romulan Ale..."

[@exavierford3105]

Vipers was amazing. I like the thought process behind it. It touches on how Male Masculinity can make exploring your sexuality and gender identity taboo. They're not sure about if it's gay or not because they know they're not physically attracted to each other BUT their relationship and connection with each other is so deep and intimate that when given the chance to express this in a safe, private, heterosexual manner they embrace it. It's set up early that one likes to role play back when he and his wife were just dating and that both partners have wondering eyes but would not physically cheat because they love each other which leads to him being more accepting of being someone else. The friend sadly doesn't get the spot light on how playing as a female effects his sense of self much but it does show him not having luck in connecting with the women he's dating. But all in all I think that the sex they have is so passionate and powerful as a result of their long friendship and connection with each other. Kinda like a classic class of wishing you could find someone that had all the traits of your best friend in the body of a woman. You don't have to find that friend physically attractive for that, you just find something in them incredibly appealing and have forged a deep long lasting connection through a series of traits that just click together for you both.

[@lmaolini]

one question are you cishet?

[@TehFiishy]

Can you do one about Westworld? I'm honestly still trying to wrap my head around the whole "multiple timelines perspective thing" and I cant decide if it was deep or dumb lol

[@DarkHunter047]

I think that the second season was deep with the revel that humans don't have "free will" and only the hosts have it but i think of it as more like a transitional season to the plot being able to reach new avenues and showing the world outside of the park. The hosts triyng to reach "paradise" (I don't remenber what is the name of the place) was also deep. I think of season 2 as good as the first one but the second was more focus in continuing the narrative than discuss philosophical questions even though seems yet tied to biblical parallels since seems linked to Exodous.

[@frfras7]

Wtf are you both talking bout

[@mkalyan4289]

@@frfras7 Westworld on hbo

[@McLarenMercedes]

TehFiishy Westworld carries the typical trademark of Jonathan Nolan's writing: Starts off intriguing but eventually veers completely off course by introducing a zillion plot twists and multiple timelines. In short: he bites of way more than he can chew. The only good message was that the visitors of the park are pretty much free to indulge in any evil behavior because the hosts are seen as "machines" anyway and won't have any recollection of their brutal deaths... For that reason the visitors having their comeuppance when the hosts revolt feels like a good message.

[@anonb4632]

"Multiple timelines" - now there's the reason I couldn't be bothered investing time in it.

[@staggerlee6794]

Soft deep for the series as a whole is spot on. The analysis is each episode was also very accurate. Excellent review. My biggest gripe as a UK resident is that Black Mirror has become very American. But that is what happens when Netflix takes control.

[@JenniferMcMahonhawaii78]

I’d love if Wisecrack could do a Deep or Dumb on the Netflix animation anthology LOVE ❤️ , DEATH 💀 & ROBOTS 🤖 . I honestly felt it was way more Black Mirror in 2019; than Black Mirror was in 2019.

[@gil5885]

Jen McMahon same i always mix up my memories of love death and robots episodes with black mirror. which was your favorite one? i liked the pool cleaner & steampunk wolf girl episodes the most iirc

[@jacklong1844]

It would be hard to do a video on love,death and robots since it’s a bit more lose when it comes to themes compared to black mirror as most episodes aren’t really cerebral

[@puturro]

Jared's hair has kept me off the main subject...

[@liriosogno6762]

😂 😂

[@naivenitara]

I know, right? I just want to condition it, tenderly brush it and braid flowers into it. 😄

[@jeffphillips1832]

@Nacho Martinez I feel like the cognitive dissonance generated by the shape of his hair is potentially a clue regarding the philosophical origin of the Jared mythos. Or it could be a "red hairing".

[@fabiomoreira2000]

I love how he does not care about the hair!!

[@lh9591]

The amount of visible split ends and lack of intended shape really bothers me. His facial hair is decently kept so I don’t understand.

[@gdog7105]

About striking vipers : If they say no homo it's completely fine

[@frankdog6198]

The way Americans and Brits think is just very different, it's very tricky to create something which works for both cultures. Black mirror seemed to get caught between the two countries and started to dip in quality.

[@topdilllin]

That's a *deep*er and prolly a more accurate read vs the usual less-british read. Tho the original grit is def something the UK seems to do better ;)

[@matthewheckman6218]

Fuck the UK, Britain, England whatever the fuck it is. Fuckin pussies couldn't control US as in us, but also America

[@frankdog6198]

@@matthewheckman6218 Yh you've backed up my theory very nicely...

[@matthewheckman6218]

@@frankdog6198 Yeah, we do think differently..... Britains/English or whatever the fuck you people are (make up your minds) are weak and Americans are strong

[@matthewheckman6218]

@JustCallMe YaYa The fuckin whole planet is filled with people who think their existence matters...... Guess fucking what?!?!? None of the shit people do or have done matters..... Everyone always wants to talk about how bad Hitler and Stalin were..... Well guess what? Nobody is gonna give a shit about them in 100 years except for maybe Historians and people like that........ The whole world could be blown up and it wouldn't even matter..... Me writing this doesn't matter...... Your life doesn't mean shit..... Ever heard of Emmet Till? ..... Prolly not..... Perfect example of how time doesn't give a fuck about anything..... Time doesn't give a shit about love, or pain or anything else.... People try to give meaning to people and themselves and life, but it doesn't matter..... 500 years from now nobody is gonna remember you or me or anyone else.... Life means nothing

[@neil352]

Season 5 episode 3: Striking Vipers was thoroughly entertaining and mind boggling at the same time.

[@flaviochavez1747]

My girl saw the 1st episode and the following day my PS4 was missing

[@Ekklo]

The real question is... When will you do a video on Dark?

[@andresvillanueva5131]

The Ashley too episode was a desperate scream from Miley Cyrus screaming "I'm coooool, please say i'm cooooool"

[@RaisonDetre96]

Yeah, she really sucks. I don’t have to watch the episode to know it’s not a good episode or to know it probably was a mistake to have her in the episode.

[@alphacause]

Whether you give it a "soft deep" rating, or whether you found it more profound, relative to MOST of what is found on television in this day and age, Black Mirror's Season 5 is still leagues above other shows in terms of providing thought provoking material.

[@David-kd4qr]

This stale white bread is amazing when compared to a rotten fish! Stop complaining guys! Season 5 was dumb. Just because it's better than "Real Housewives" doesn't make it good.

[@Dave4493]

This season dumb, other seasons have thought-provoking and deep episodes

[@kondinator]

I mean the striking vipers to me is thought provoking. What kind of sexuality do you have if you bang the same gender in VR. things like that. but the other 2 were meh.

[@CarlosFlores-xb3gx]

@@kondinatorYou're right about the last episode, but smithereens focuses on centralized control of social media.

[@DrArthurCGarp]

I think all 3 were just different. Not bad but not old black mirror. Kinda like how Assassin's Creed Odyssey is good but not really Assassin's Creed. Ashley Too should make you ask, "Are my heroes human?". People like Jim Carey, Robert Williams, and old Miley Cyrus were all heroes until they showed us just how imperfect they were. They showed us their darkness and we either made them martyrs or outcasts. It's asking why do we wish to preserve others no matter the damage it causes them. Striking Vipers is about "A what point is a technicality, a breach of contract" and whether or not we can be defined by our technological usage. Smithereens is about the effect technology has on human interactions and who has power over who. When a tech company can do more than a government what should we do (in the case of the police they had virtually zero power next to the tech giants who created and solved the issue)? It also asks if serious matters should be private or if they should be shared with everyone (The issue may have been solved faster had it not been for the constantly tweeting kids). All 3 are good in their own rights even though they aren't as fancy as the older episodes.

[@paulapierrot9542]

I love "Striking Vipers"! And I love the ending, I don't think it's weak at all. I expected some jealousy-driven ending but instead the protagonists opened their relationship - even if it's only once a year. This is not only refreshing to see featured in pop culture since more and more people question monogamy but it also validates the virtual relationship between the guys. Because at the same time they meet online the wife goes on a real date. It shows that you can't treat the virtual relationship just as porn but that it's part of our reality. I love how poetic the episode is: It starts with the couple pretending they've just met to spice up their sex life. It's all about different roles you take, try out and how they influence your self image, sexuality and intimate relationships. And about the technology: Imagine what this would mean for some trans and non-binary people and cross dreamers! It questions the different identities, genders, self images and experiences we might have with different virtual personas and also offers a reading of Karl as possibly genderfluid. I don't get why it's always compared to "The Entire History of You". Compared to "Striking Vipers" I don't think this episode had so much new to offer.

[@tipiaz]

First of all, I really like what you do, I'm a big fan of your work. About your review for "Smithereens" episode I think you missed one point and that is at the last couple of minutes, after all the hype of the news. If you pay attention to the aftermath a lot of people gets a notification of the events /news of what happened and while for you the expectaror it represented a good 40 minutes of expectation for all of them it just represented one more notification, one more news over the others and then, maybe read the headline and express an "oh my God", "that's terrible" or any of that sortx they continue to move on in less than 5 seconds therefore expressing how meaningful that was for them. Or at least that's what I saw and been thinking about since me myself have been a victim of that unempathetic feeling. Hope you read my comment :) Keep up the good work.

[@53suzaku]

You hit the nail on the head with the quote "you do you, black mirror". That's the exact problem, it isn't black mirror anymore. If the writers can't think of new technology to expand what they are trying to say, then they shouldn't put out another sub-par episode. I can watch a million shows that do exactly what BM season 5 did, and do it better. I, personally, don't watch BM for a lighthearted story, I watch it to see how the use of an incredible technology will lead to the loss of humanity. A future where people should have better lives, but they don't, because of the addition of technology

[@JustinY.]

It becomes so deep that it loops around and it becomes sort of deep.

[@orb3796]

hi justen

[@giornogiovanna2590]

Hoho, so you're here and you dare approach this video?

[@deadross3894]

Holy shit, I NEVER THOUGHT I WILL FIND YOU SO EARLY

[@Tabby3456]

*dog breaths, so dog has breath, dog loses "Breath" if dead* Keanu Reaves: No Ur Breathtaking

[@lyogazaki984]

Black Mirror was always about the people not the technology.

[@pinkfink16]

I agree and I honestly feel like this is what they're trying to show more of now but people are so gun ho on hating their phones so much they don't want to admit that maybe it's them.

[@levischorpioen]

Exactly. I don't understand why Americans insist the show is about technology. It's about human relationships and societal decay. Take the very first episode, The National Anthem. Sensationalism was used as a distraction to saving a life. That could've been anything, but nope, MUH TECHNOLOGEH. Be Right Back was about grief, but nope, MUH TECHNOLOGEH. Hated in the Nation was about mob mentality and responsibility, but nope, MUH TECHNOLOGEH. American audiences lack the ability to see allegorical nuance, but still insist what they're watching is deep despite not understanding why it is deep. It's actually kinda funny.

[@Waitwhat469]

I guess my question with striking vipers was: "Wait so did they mean to program it that way?" Someone else I talked to brought a good question after that "Wait they programmed the game to allow for VR sex ... that anyone, whether legal or not could use ..." Like this leads to some very sketchy roads.

[@pablox91]

yep, makes no sense. So, every vr game is just a porn game in their world?

[@bingo2340]

My all time favourite episode of black mirror is "playtest". I just wished he should have called his mom.

[@BurningHydrant]

Not to crap on your opinion, but for me, 'Playtest' is exactly the opposite of what makes Black Mirror good. It's been a while since I watched it, but if I remember correctly, the guy's experiences turn out to be just a second short nightmare before the thing fries his brain, and the company was aware that this would probably happen. Which merely poses the question: What if tech goes horribly wrong or gets in the wrong hands. Like the one where the bees get hacked. But I always liked Black Mirror for asking the exact opposite question: What if all that tech actually works? What if nothing malfunctions or gets hacked and we just use it normally? What would we do with it? How would it change our interactions, our society, and us as people? 'The Entire History of You' is my personal favourite.

[@bingo2340]

@@ma1ist yeah, shut up and dance is great. White Christmas is also engaging nd thrilling at the same time.

[@bingo2340]

@@BurningHydrant We saw that in "Hated in the nation" episode but what worked for me in "playtest" was its minute details that show was throwing at us , all the things were in his head, he just died in 006 sec I guess.All his fear turns into some weird shit . Basically,not calling his mom was his biggest mistake nd it costs his life. Moral of the episode "playtest": Pickup/call your mom😂

[@leongroce2095]

@@bingo2340 I liked it, but it felt like there was too many twists to the point it got a bit goofy. Also he died in something like 0.006 seconds? That seems a bit silly, especially if it was because of a phone call

[@Amakiseul]

This video was really well done. I'm pleasantly surprised. Most Black Mirror 'analysis' KZbin videos are basically summaries of each episode masquerading as an analysis or video essay. This video actually *analyses* and dives deeper than just the surface. You can tell this video was made very thoughtfully. Thank you for not wasting 17 minutes of my life :)

[@charleneraymond4036]

I'm surprised at how strongly I agree with literally everything you said...

[@arthurfrotaribeiro]

luv when you say "and now, back to the show" it's a real trademark

[@vangis]

Jared's hair is distractingly uneven

[@lennardSLAYER]

Awh man I just knew you where going to do this one, but it's even better than I hoped!

[@YashKMusic]

*Season 5 specifically, 1-4 were very deep

[@darrynmurphy2038]

Striking Vipers: Kind of deep, but doesn't explore the issue far enough. 6/10 Ashley 2: Dumb. Just dumb. 3/10 Smithereens: Really entertaining and deep. It may not be as deep as some of the best episodes of the series, but it still explored an interesting point. 8/10

[@Kitrailers]

Hey Wisecrack, could you do a video on the tv show 'Inside no9'. I think it is a show that is as good if not better that Black Mirror and I would love to hear your take on it!

[@Northychen]

Guys chill it was nice having a couple episodes without having to lay down with existential fear afterwards.

[@ohnosmoarlulcatz]

For me, the issue for the series is that it has become too dependent on the twist while forgetting the technology aspect of the show. It feels less like a dark future and misuse of technology and more about shock value.

[@levischorpioen]

There were no twists throughout the entire fifth season, and the show is NOT about technology.

[@ohnosmoarlulcatz]

@@levischorpioen A given piece of technology is the centerpiece of most episodes. The only exception is the very first episode of Season 1. This holds true across all the episodes. For season 5, the first episode was centered around a VR fighting video game that turned into a sex game. The second episode was centered around a ride sharing app, but the twist was that the guy's wife died to a drunk driver, which felt very out of place in the whole thing. The third episode had the Ashley 2 robot come to life and and a comatose person writing songs. In prior seasons, you had the copying of consciousnesses into video games. There was various forms of implants that manipulated memories, blocked people, and even made you see things that were not there. In most cases, they were abused in some way.

[@levischorpioen]

Kevin Li I don’t see your point, honestly. Yes, technology plays a central role. Of course it does. I never said it didn’t. I’m saying that people make the show out to be anti-technology, when in every single episode, the main problem is human. Episode 1: The tech doesn’t manipulate anyone into having sex with anyone. The leading question in the episode “does it count if it’s not technically real?” is a human question. Episode 2: Someone got distracted by social media and killed some people. That’s not the tech’s fault, the actual guy who caused the accident even says so himself. Episode 3: The tech exists, but isn’t at fault for being used in crappy ways. It’s obvious that Ashley is being abused by people, not lines of code. Yes, it’s another distraction of reality, but one that doesn’t need to be. Tech is of course very important in the show, but it’s not ABOUT tech. It’s about our relationship with each other and how we use tech as an excuse to become more inhuman. Humans are still the villain in every single episode (well, except Metalhead, but we...we don’t talk about that one).

[@kukalakana]

Black Mirror never did have technology driving the plot of *every* episode.

[@LividImp]

Yea, Black Mirror is really about society, and how technology aids in its worst instincts. Anyone that thinks that Black Mirror is _about_ tech is probably not bright enough to really get the subtext. It's a modern day Twilight Zone with all the same kind of social commentary that made that show great.

[@noobslayer135]

tbh I think Charlie Brooker is just running out of ideas. AFAIK he's written the majority of the episodes for the entire series. I think for the next season he should bring in guest writers, and just fill the role of producer

[@jasonblalock4429]

Also, I think a lot of people forget that Brooker is a multi-talented guy, and prior to Black Mirror, he was more known for writing comedy than drama/horror. Beyond running out of ideas, he may just be getting bored with writing a show which is so generally one-note. The Miley Cyrus episode almost felt like Black Mirror rebelling against its own format, swerving the audience by refusing to go dark because that's the only "twist" the fans wouldn't see coming. Either way, I totally agree. Moving Black Mirror into a more Twilight Zone-ish format would be a great move. And especially, considering the reputation it's built up over the years, it could easily attract absolute top-tier horror/sci-fi writers to contribute stories.

[@robchuk4136]

If the test is "Can you tell the same story if you swap the tech?" Then Smithereens is Dumb, because the same crash could have happened if he was fiddling with the radio. The fact that a corporation can have more info than the police is interesting, but they don't do anything with it. It just effects how quickly the story moves. We've seen Black Mirror do this better in Shut Up and Dance. This episode's best moment is the lady's password unlock.

[@shortstuff780]

2 out of 3 episode were great. Even with it's forthcoming, Smithereens might be in my top 5 black mirrors episode now. The acting was probably the best if all

[@k-panga]

Did someone else thought that the friend in Striking Vipers would bang Dany´s son confusing him with Dany?

[@juliz2500]

Yeah, or his wife.

[@bobisconsumed520]

I thought ep 2 season 5 was one of the best of Black Mirror. Social Media is a monster that their overlords might not even have REAL control of.

[@harperpanter1099]

Another interesting point about Smithereens is that he is never punished for texting and driving, even though he was in an accident. The drunk driver being blamed for the accident suggests that texting and driving is still something that everyone does while not getting caught. It was my favorite of the three!!

[@venuzbabi08]

Striking Vipers felt so Black Mirror to me. Were ppl complaining about that episode?

[@marcelobertoni2967]

Because it's gay. ... I think. It's kinda gay. Right?

[@Whofan06]

I enjoyed the last two episodes way more than the first. Smithereens had me in tears, and you didn't really address some of the more subtle aspects they addressed like the ambiguous ending where we don't know if the sniper killed one or both of them (hinted that they might have killed the hostage by mentioning another botched hostage situation earlier in the episode) and the credits is spent showing various people checking their phones, likely seeing the news post, and then just going on with their lives. The whole event is completely forgotten. Theres way more commentary on the nature of social media than there is on the tech. And I loved the last episode, it was just good fun. There was plenty of messed up stuff going on, sure exploitation of artists isnt new but god forbid it ever goes as far as it does in the episode. Theres this whole aspect of Ashley's hyper controlled media personality vs who she really is and the role her abusive aunt plays. It was just nice to watch an episode where you get increasingly frustrated at the wrongs being done that you finally get some relief at the end. I honestly enjoy Black Mirror's happy endings more. The episodes are more exciting overrall, but also while the pessimistic episodes are more interesting, they're also so stressful that it makes the show really hard to watch. I'm glad they're not focusing so hard on making us feel gross and miserable at the state of technology and our modern world.

[@EddieShotCaller21]

Striking vipers was the only episode worth watching. (The premise was great but the ending this weak)... Hopefully the next season will come back strong ( like "hang the DJ" and USS Callister)

[@marcelobertoni2967]

The Smythereens were better

[@leongroce2095]

Don't bring up "hang the DJ" 😭

[@Tank23333]

After he got the VR thing, i realy looked forward to seeing the downfall of all characters in a fucked up way.... well i got dissapointed

[@km1dash6]

I think the recent black mirror episodes have different points people seem to miss. It's a discussion of what's going 9n right now, not what might happen "if this goes on." The VR show asks how technology impacts our relationships, identity sexuality (primary and secondary attraction). Smithereens asks questions about moral luck and law vs moral responsibility. Chris wasn't legally responsible for his wife's death, but he feels responsible because he got distracted. Who is really responsible though? Or was it just a case of moral luck? The last one was about the loneliness epidemic and how social media helps make people feel less lonely while not solving the problem. I love Markiplier and Jacksepticeye. I feel a personal relationship with them. But that's just the Ashluley 2 for my life.

[@ickbrr2982]

While it's not as deep as some of the previous seasons' episodes, I also have to say that this season has definitely been the most entertaining one. Every episode was super fun to watch and see how it unravels.

[@jasonrhome710]

I've only watched the Ashley 2 episode so far, and personally found some of the glossed over implications horrifying: "We can copy your consciousness, and then edit your personality, and your consciousness is AWARE of the fact that it has been edited." The aunt basically committing mass murder when the robots all got recalled, on top of enslaving her niece's brain in the first place. The power of attorney stuff combined with the music rights crap-fest is more of a reminder that there are STILL industries where just because it is legal, does not mean that it doesn't fall somewhere into the "that kinda sucks - oh my god, they can do that?" spectrum. And I'll have to rewatch it, because I swear there was some point to sending out all of the dolls in the first place that got supplanted by them hacking Ashley's brain that was also kinda horrible. Even considering all of that, agreed that a lot of the tech is superfluous to the story. (I mean, with the dodgy as doctor they had on pay role, not much reason why it couldn't have been a more analog version of the same story that I can recall.)

[@Draagreon]

It was deep, until it got Americanized, then it got dumb.

[@arthurlobo2]

So apparently season 6 is gonna be all like Ashley O because people are ok with it and just ate that shit up, so thanks

[@CabezasDePescado]

It was deep before getting bought by netflix and became softer, dumber, and more mainstream, though Black Museum was not bad

[@nathankomer8699]

In my opinion, Smithereen was one of the strongest episodes from Black Mirror. It didn't have to go scy fy do make its crucial point about social media control and reliance, and that is exactly what I found to be so powerful and refreshing about that episode. Also, the twist suprised me quite a bit, since I expected some dark evil secret to be uncovered in Smithereen, following the frequent "tech is doom" trope. But no, sometimes, humans simply make tragic mistakes. We can't blame everything on our tools, after all.

[@NorthSea0il]

Rachel, Jack and Ashley too. Was quite literally the worst thing i've ever seen in my entire life.

[@Kimnicpat]

NorthSea0il I guess you've never seen a Dane Cook movie then.

[@lavonwheeler6339]

Ep 1 of this season was the only Ep I felt had some hard hitting questions. What will happen to our sense of self if we can be whoever or whatever we want in these virtual realities that seem to grow more realistic day by day? And the idea of virtual reality unlocking a previously unknowable part of ourselves is fascinating. Great discussion Wisecrack team. Keep it up.

[@seoulting28]

You know why some people didn't like Black Mirror season 5? Because the stories are closer to reality now than when Black Mirror first started in 2011. To give perspective, Instagram launched in 2010. The people don't like Black Mirror season 5 because that's what they will become.

[@caliobzvr]

Striking Vipers is like a prequel to San Junipero

[@Bilbo490]

I stopped watching after season 3. It just didn't hold my attention anymore.

[@char124eve]

Some episodes from season 4 are worth it. Check out episodes 1, 4, and 6.

[@akhilnair1137]

The first episode of season 4 is still considered as the greatest black mirror episode ever.

[@fbritannia]

Don't, unless you have never played a video game on your life or don't have any knowledge about technology, s4 episode 1 sucks major balls. It's full of really stupid plot points. Black Museum though is kinda' great.

[@myself2noone]

@@akhilnair1137 Yeah, and I hated it. What if Galaxy Quest, but mean spirited and we missed the point?

[@TheChickenRiceBowl]

I stopped watching because of all the sex scenes. It's just getting ridiculous.

[@futurestoryteller]

The answer to this question, about the series, as a whole, is "YES" - As I said before, the fact that Charlie Brooker's criticism of Banksy is exactly the same that could be levelled against his show is both telling and undeniable.

[@AJsGreenTopics]

This was a really weak season. I thought it was a TOTAL waste of time. 😪😴

[@SamusSelf-Destruct]

Aside from other problems, the biggest problem most people I know had with Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too was the horrendous treatment of Nine Inch Nails songs rather than coming up with something original.

[@nurulizzati971]

Jared, you are overdue for a haircut man! 😂 you're lovely locks are too much for me 😍

[@willstikken5619]

it's shifted focus from extrapolating the future to explaining the present. People I know who didn't like the original seasons tended to like the newer episodes, i presume they're more accessible to those who don't really understand the tech impact being portrayed. Taking a show and making it more accessible would seem like an approach Netflix would take.

[@yungjc2]

Season 5 was softcore by comparison. I was only half chub.

[@arshsingh1984]

Smithereens was actually my favorite episode of the new season. To each their own

[@CJusticeHappen21]

Why does he call us, me and you, "Wisecrack"? I'm not Wisecrack, I just watched a video. If anything, he's Wisecrack.

[@kaneaquino8295]

Is it possible to be so dumb it's deep, or be so deep it's dumb?

[@MANNLIERMANNCO]

The viper episode had a very deep and clear message no homo

[@emilvilgotwallin7629]

I’m quite sure the Rachel, Jack and Ashley too episode is about meds that block parts of your brain, which on a lever is about technology but rather advanced medicine and research.

[@dragonmaster613]

Tech isn't the problem, Humanity is. Like the Venom Symbiot, it brings out what is already within us. Being controlled by what others think of us has been around since Humans first gathered as tribes.

[@MamaWheelz]

The point of commentary on the Ashley 2 episode that I found intriguing was the idea of having only a robotic friend, something our culture seems to be experimenting with more and more.

[@stephenschiffman5940]

Black Mirror's depth has always been greatly over-exaggerated. There are a handful of times it did say something smart, like the ending of 15 Million Merits, but most of the time, it was just cynicism disguised as depth. Being cynical =/= being deep.

[@happytofu5]

I know, right? It is mostly mean people doing bad things in horrible societies which happen to have advanced technology.

[@stephenschiffman5940]

@@happytofu5 Exactly.

[@RawringRaverForever]

I think my biggest issue with this season is that I didn’t need these episodes to ask these questions. With vipers, there’s always been a debate about porn and where it goes to far. Where the line of cheating or just having sex or whatever is. This episode didn’t bring these questions to my attention, they just talked about them in a sorta round about way. I think they brought in too much with the marriage being on the rocks, him being distant, the two guys having sex and cuddling and talking afterwards, him not having sex with his wife, her wanting to go off with other people, them having something in real life but not? Like with the episode focused on memory, it had the grain, this guy’s obsession, his marriage being rocky. It was simple and because of that they were able to create really complex ideas from it. Smithereens was the best to me as far as vibe, but like this video said they just outlined the frustrations we already feel towards big cooperations. It didn’t bring anything that we hadn’t already considered. Ashley again had so much story that they didn’t really do anything with it. No one changed, no one had a character arch. Like I think these are all good episodes, just not when connected to black mirror. And I love Miley Cyrus. It just wasn’t black mirror and after watching bandersnatch and being super interested in all the different endings and meanings, to come to this wasn’t enough for me.

[@nineof8]

This season was an incredible step down. Please go back to the earlier tones Charlie.

[@dontworryillwait3689]

This season of Black Mirror can join season 8 of Thrones, in the trash.

[@AceLnx]

I think if we look at this season as more of a prequel it shows the start of all the new technology and how it first got implemented before the earlier seasons when everything goes awry. This was a good season for me if I see it that way and not try to see it as a sequel to the other seasons or try to compare the others to it.