How Netflix Dumbed Down Derren Brown - NitPix

Find out more about active learning at: brilliant.org/NitPix/
I'm a little worried about Derren Brown... His 2018 Netflix special 'Sacrifice' was stripped down to base Brown. The illusionist, magician and mentalist first gained fame in naughties with his channel 4 specials. In this video, I discuss what makes Derren Brown a unique personality and how he could be losing his touch.
Merch:
www.nitpix.co.uk
Patreon:
/ nitpix
Second Channel:
/ @dikpix
Twitter:
/ nitpix
Instagram:
/ nitpix
Spotify playlist of all music used in NitPix:
t.co/IC9jDZTOju
Full Track List:
www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sqoed2

[@DikPix]

I can’t believe you actually believe this shit! It’s obviously all fake! Your content honestly makes me feel sick, at least my videos aren’t click bait trash. You only talk about the Netflix special for like 3 minutes! If anyone is being dumbed down it’s NitPix.

[@the_wooden_stone]

you know its a joke he knows it fake thats the point i dont care that this is your other channel you should know the meaning of your own content

[@itsmikemccall]

Just a heads up, this is a real shit way to introduce your second channel to new viewers. I loved the video, But this is just a naff way to suggest to your viewers in what to watch next.

[@Futures_End]

@@the_wooden_stone "you should know tbe meaning of your own content" What are you saying hahahahaha

[@the_wooden_stone]

@@Futures_End ?

[@josh.salles]

cheeky

[@LucasStoten1]

These recent specials can still be engaging and enjoyable, but definitely aren't filled with the character and edginess of old school Brown. I understand why he's doing them, they must be incredibly fun to have the ability to engineer, and seem like a natural progression in his career.

[@Fuzzy_Barbarian]

*"IS THIS BECAUSE YOU'RE BALD NOW?!"* I laughed way too hard at that.

[@gman7911]

You did..... Really?

[@ManicMuppit]

I just thought it was unnecessarily rude, tbf

[@user-iz2oj8dd6j]

He actually looks pretty handsome with his bald head, stubble beard and expensive suit

[@SneakyCrocodile]

You’re wrong. He cannot put “anyone” into a hypnotic trance he has to choose specific people who apply then they get tested to see if they’re suggestible. He shows this in the apocalypse episode.

[@Firegen1]

@Lefty That's show biz folks!

[@MagicTurtle643]

He's usually transparent about all of this. He explicitly says all these things. There's even an entire special (How to Win the Lottery) ABOUT showing only the volunteer where it "works." That's the whole concept of the show -- NOT airing the hundreds of volunteers who didn't work.

[@daniel4647]

He writes all about this in his book too, even explains that "hypnotic trance" isn't a real thing, it's only as real as people make it, so the real key is just confidence so you'll be able to make people believe it. He could just as easily have said "I'm putting a spell on you" but that would be harder to convince people off than "you're falling into an hypnotic trance". Finding someone who is highly suggestible is of course very important when doing that kind of work. In the episode where they shoot Stephen Fry they go through a whole audience of at least 100 people just to get the best subject.

[@electricpollusion]

He also has told in several interviews that many of the things are prepared 4-8-10-12 months before they are put to life

[@theoriginalworthit]

I’ve been to one of his ‘auditions’. Yes, he tries to hypnotise people. One guy was very suggestible and I later saw him in one of DB shows on tv. It didn’t work for me so didn’t go through to the next audition. Does make you wonder if people are actually hypnotised or just exhibitionists!

[@BrianTylerComposer]

Derrren Brown is a genius. Btw, the Great Art Robbery was awesome.

[@agilitykissa]

One of my favorite videos of all time

[@nifralo2752]

Who's that at 0:19 and 6:02? He's hot

[@TommyLikeTom]

For everyone in the comments who is saying he's fake: Calling out a magician for being fake is like calling out a magistrate for being judgemental

[@addison_reilly5904]

Apart from all the replies that claim he isn't a magician, but a mentalist, so he's entirely authentic.

[@evanli4272]

TommyTom Is he stages things and it’s dumb

[@19rcooper]

Not to mention the fact that he also calls himself fake very often on his shows and shows how he fakes things and the tricks behind the tricks.

[@gjermundnorumbugge7373]

@@19rcooper what? He does not fake things...

[@gjermundnorumbugge7373]

@@19rcooper I mean, the things u see him pull off is for real. Using actors and such is staged, but the main people are actually going trhough what u see

[@Stabzcell97812]

Glad I'm not the only one who noticed. I thought I was going insane or I might just be a horribly cynical arsehole and would gradually be unable to watch anything I used to enjoy. Now I know my fears are real.

[@Tjmulli]

I noticed you've edited all your thumbnails for Christmas. That right there is why I'm subbed to you

[@wacktastic298]

Derren Brown hypnotized my dad to stop smoking. No joke

[@wingflanagan]

Wow. A thousand comments so far. This one will probably get lost in the mix, but here goes: I'm American and was first exposed to Darren Brown on Netflix. I can absolutely say that my impression of him is much the same as the British perspective you talked about. It helps that I was fascinated enough to seek out KZbin videos, as well. Yeah, some of the stunts are a bit cheezy and overly moralize, but I chalk that up to the need for views and genuine showmanship. I can't speak for other Americans but I can see right past that to the man's genuine abilities. Mind-blowing stuff. I can only hope we get more quality Darren Brown on this side of the Atlantic.

[@jakesummers1174]

derren

[@fredrickbanks1966]

Can you come to America and read me a bedtime story and tell me everything's gonna be alright?

[@couchgamingnews9379]

?

[@BeatboxNorwich]

I'm guessing frederick likes the man's accent, as is a thing with many Yanks toward the British accent :)

[@tastyloaf5487]

Try Skype ;)

[@adamlynch2089]

Excellent video, first time I’ve watched any of your content and, having watched ‘Sacrifice’ just a few days ago, I totally felt the same way and you summed it up perfectly.

[@AbleAnderson]

This is great, after watching lots of brown's stuff on youtube over the years, I've always wondered about many of the details you explained here in terms of order they aired, production, network, etc. Very well done.

[@kittyboo4607]

Brilliant! You got a sponsor God I’m hilarious

[@pokemrstark7089]

LEAVE.

[@thedapperegg689]

I too have seen the first 5 seconds.

[@vibrancy3]

This man deserves a sponsor!! his editing skills, his vocab and his voice just really drawn me in. i hope to see him make some controversial theroux style doc on bbc in the future. he deserves it imo.

[@rhihughes3271]

I’ve seen him live and it was brilliant. He’s a lovely man with incredible entertainment skills. Great video🥰

[@maattthhhh]

I haven't heard of this man before. Thanks Nitpix, now I know what to binge watch this weekend :)

[@HorseJoint]

I like how you put christmas hats on every thumnail you have. Nice little detail, and that's why I sub.

[@Danefrak]

I didn't click this video for days because I had no idea who Darren Brown was, I leave this video yearning to watch his content now. Thank you!!

[@sarah3796]

Danefrak yes!

[@VIK_1903]

It's about a judgemental bloke who liked Derren Brown before he was cool.

[@shelley2he844]

This is spot on. I used to love his stuff but the last few things I watched by him were staged and acted badly. The premise for each of his shows just get more and more ridiculous. I can’t suspend my disbelief with him any more lol which is ironic talking about a magician. Ha

[@shelley2he844]

Sternia Hoenheim haha 🤣 indeed he may have.

[@TommyLikeTom]

Tricks of the mind was his best show in my opinion, and it was his first

[@MathewBall]

Shelly Tuohy - He's an illusionist and a hypnotist, not a magician!

[@johannesvahlkvist]

@@MathewBall those things are stuff magicians do lol. you are basically saying "bacon comes from pigs, not animals!"

[@MathewBall]

SmolKing - Magicians use a type of illusion which is similar but not the same as an illusionist/hypnotist it's like Mayonnaise and Salad Cream use the same ingredients they are not the same and taste completely different.

[@rogerlemons1279]

genuinely a smart video essay on someone I'm interested in thank you nitpix you earned my subscription

[@Swaggerpede]

I love Derren, he was one of my heroes as a kid, and felt so incredibly blessed when i finally got to meet him and shake his hand.

[@OpenMind3000]

Just started watching all his stuff yesterday after I heard him on the Sam Harris Podcast. Until now I enjoyed all the episodes.

[@OpenMind3000]

@koolant yeah, on the one hand some episodes seem sooo fake but on the other: if an intelligent man like Sam, who knows a lot about how the brain works, thinks this is possible, maybe it is real 🤔😅

[@lukess.s]

Satan Brown sounds like a pretty nifty funk rock band

[@kuba8604]

thanks a lot for organised track list

[@jyesucevitz]

I'm from the US and habe seen every series, show, special and even his guest spot on Sherlock. He is amazing and always appreciated.

[@joelfogelman4156]

A lot of misinformation in this video. He cant put every single person in a so called " Hipnotic" state, only people who are highly sugestible and actually let themselves fall into this, Derren Himself talk about this in the Joe Rogan podcast, he is not even quite sure how Hipotizing people really works. Of course he has staged stuff as he is an entretainer, but, he also use a wide range of Psicological tricks, along with simple Magic tricks.

[@movelea]

It's hilarious learning that he doesn't know shucks about hypnotism, and admits it, because there are places where you can learn hypnotism and there's a whole career (hypnotherapist) that you can become officially if you take the proper training. It's not just some woo woo thing either, it's officially recognized (in Canada at least) as becoming a therapist, with all the caveats and rules that go along with that like patient confidentiality. And he just didn't even try.

[@berniebasset9465]

@@movelea More money in TV than conning the gullible.

[@movelea]

@@berniebasset9465 the money he earns on TV he earns BY conning the gullible.

[@movelea]

@Galactic Pot-Healer Sorry your and his teachers sucked, not sure what else to tell you mate.

[@Android480]

​@@movelea Theres a lot of computer science engineers who didn't take do a lick of a CS degree. Its not a perfect analogy, but its clear this dude knows plenty about hypnotism and the history of it. Its just that hes not convinced of the things most of the classical hypnotists believe, they often think of it as a science, about how the subconscious is a tangible thing and about how hypnotism can access the subconscious in dependable ways. He probably just thinks its not so concrete, and shouldn't be treated with quite the same legitimacy as therapy. But you can't deny he could easily become a clinical hypnotist if he had the will to do so, hes fucking good at what he does.

[@deadpool8340]

The lad in to the zombie arcade game still my fave ever!!!

[@andrewwallace3236]

Exactly my thinking as well. It was brilliant to see Derren making new content again but it just felt lacking in creativity. One positive is that i’ve since gone back and watched nearly all of his old material, so i can’t complain!

[@HeadshotTBH]

I've been on stage with Derren Brown, he even gave me a deck of cards. He's such a great performer, I highly recommend his theatre shows if you can get to go see him.

[@matrinoxtm]

I mean, this guy is just trolling the audience by pretending to reveal his methods. It’s like in the Prestige where the real magic the Chinese magician uses is convincing people he can’t walk.

[@otiagomarques]

incredible movie

[@qotsa007]

Right? I always wondered how you start a career of of that.... " yeah, so, could you pay for everything to make me look like i'm superhuman? I can't actually do anything, so; you best get some good actors"

[@miles2309]

His KZbin channel has a lot of his specials. I'm American and that was my introduction.

[@alluneedislessthan3]

...that ending... you are an absolute mad man. ...love that for you keep it up.

[@AbleAnderson]

This is great. I know nothing about this channel, for all I know there are highly paid writers and producers behind it. But if this is an amateur solo channel, I'm so impressed. Great insightful video.

[@gravesbroderick928]

I'm an American and I first saw Derren Brown on KZbin, and I think the first full special of his that I watched was the armored van robbery on his Channel. I was immediately so intrigued by his skills. The first Netflix special I watched was The Push, and I saw the Great Art Robery shortly after. They did seem more manufactured, but they were also just a different format. I loved the Art Robery because, though it didn't show off any of Derren's mentalist talents (and the moral didn't really correspond to what happened) it was a wonderfully choreographed and entertaining story. Of course his specials centered around hypnotism and other mind control are my favorite, but I think more credit has to be given to his Netflix Specials. Even though they are lower quality, they still show off quite a bit of his genius.

[@19rcooper]

A lot of his shtick came from man-on-the-street style manipulation, how vulnerable we all are to little things in the everyday. Of course you can be manipulated when you have an army of actors around you guiding you through a predetermined plot, his netflix specials are no more than an expensive husk of a tribute to his older shows, and that's from someone who enjoyed both.

[@gravesbroderick928]

@@19rcooper I see your point, I just think they both deserve a lot of respect, his Netflix specials for their well crafted storylines, and his Channel 4 work for his intricate understanding of the human mind.

[@TheLonelyGoomba]

Something worth noting, even though it'll ruin Derren Brown for you. These "Brown-isms" are BS, such as the Red BMX bike thing. They're misdirection used to hide the real trick. I was pretty into Derren Brown for the longest time, which led me into being into magic for a while...which ultimately led to me understanding how Derren does his tricks and that it is just a magic act with a mentalist theme. Other than the hypnotism stuff, these are usually traditional magic tricks performed in a way to make you think he is mentally manipulating people. The "red BMX bike" is a two part trick, one part is tricking Simon Pegg and the other part of the trick is fooling the audience. I could go into more detail but I spose that would be ruining the trick.

[@KCMrecordings]

please go into more detail

[@paddystrongjaw9995]

yes please do go into further detail

[@alucardtepes8402]

Yes, please go into further detail.

[@TheLonelyGoomba]

@@alucardtepes8402 I mean. TLDR, the tricks are just magic tricks. Say, swapping out a card / slight of hand. He is a magician. The overly complex and thought out framing of the trick is just to make the audience (and sometimes the person involved) more susceptible to the idea he is controlling your mind. It's been a while but in terms of the red BMX trick. Simon did originally write and want a Red BMX. The trick was swapping what he wrote with a forged note saying something else, and then tricking him and the audience into thinking he never wanted a Red BMX at all. That's the trick. The trick is not controlling Simon Pegg to want a Red BMX. The trick is convincing him he wrote whatever else was written down (think it was trainers). That's the misdirection. If that makes any sense. If you view the Red BMX clip from the perspective Simon DID want a Red BMX, and he DID write a red BMX down on paper. And at some point, Derren swapped the notes with his own via slight of hand. It makes a lot more sense how he did it.

[@alucardtepes8402]

@@TheLonelyGoomba Hoooooooly moly. You actually responded. Thank you so much for answering my question.

[@simonsherriff6929]

cheeky bit of soul coughing in the background love that

[@Thayra]

So glad someone is giving Derren a fair shout! I've been a fan for years and seen him live too, and I just thought the way he's made more of an international debut is so disappointing in comparison to what he's capable of! For those of you curious and/or skeptical, I urge you to find some of his other work, his older shows, and see for yourself. Live show "Enigma" is a personal favourite, and all his old TV Shows from the Channel 4 days are brilliant.

[@FlameLOGNET]

How are you Nitpix? Having a good holiday season?

[@Nitpix]

Prettt good mate! Spending it alone editing KZbin videos and crying.

[@fredrickbanks1966]

@@Nitpix living the dream man. living the dream. I gotta spend it with stinky family.

[@FlameLOGNET]

@@Nitpix i hear huffing paint helps the pain. Atleast your tears are going into a successful channel lol

[@30walls28]

nitpix loved freddy so much he became him

[@bleedlejuice]

Well written, good performance, funny with sharp editing. Have a sub.

[@JCRXX]

First video I've seen by you, big derren fan so recommended. FUCKING hell mate you had me crying, hilarious.

[@nickjeffrey8050]

Darren brown is a legend!! Been to one of his live shows a few years back and it was amazing! Blew my mind! Real magic or not whatever he does he does it so well!

[@lukess.s]

Isn't that Chris Chibnall at 0:31?

[@politure]

Lmao

[@VerdanaVideos]

wow well spotted. are you sure you aren't actually derren brown.

[@nifralo2752]

But who is that at 0:19 And 6:00?

[@renyputman7118]

Omg the subtitles at the 12 min mark, this is genius. I can't stop laughing!

[@strangetranceoffaith]

Love the great art robbery, love Derren and Sacrifice was dumbed down for an American audience

[@JodeneElizabethBeavers]

He is a genius. I just adore him. So much so that when the opportunity arose for me to step onto his stage and be near him I froze. How you criticise some of his works and insult him isn't cricket.

[@1gorSouz4]

I actually thought The Sacrifice was relevant and moving. I literally had tears in my eyes at the climax... And The great art robbery was very clever, in my opinion.

[@ladiesman6fly]

I discovered Darren Brown like a year ago from his youtube videos he posts and I was stunned at how he isn't big in the US. His specials are so entertaining!

[@tumtumpak8133]

I re watched all of them as they came out and i would re watch every single one of his shows if they do come out aswell, i just love him

[@twbmagic]

As a magician, I think it's important to mention that the majority of TV magic is fake. They hire spectators and edit around the effects that don't work on people.

[@Pieman29666]

How the heck can you even call Sacrifice any sort of bad? It was Awesome! Completely humbling and thought provoking.

[@19rcooper]

Anyone who's consumed any kind of mainstream show in the last 30 years can call it bad because it's the same, worn-out cliche that gets inserted into everything. Not to say the message is bad, it's just a little bit below what Derren's known for.

[@PiglipsMaximus]

He made a basically racist guy into a caring person

[@manofthewoods826]

Most of Derrens stuff blows my mind, but I struggled to watch until the end of Sacrifice. Dragged out is an understatement

[@shiftlessdrifter692]

Sacrifice was complete trash compared to his other work.

[@pierrelandry9296]

"Look at these people pretending to be hypnotized!" damn that sounds so fun...

[@sahilrajpal5604]

You forgot to add he is a great painter also See his potraits so amazing

[@ReanniexXx]

Lots of people in the comments saying that you can't make a person go to sleep with a hand, or put them in a trance that easily, so it must be fake... but how do you explain people in churches who collapse when touched by the pastor. It's the same sort of psychology, if you expect and believe it will happen enough then it does. I still enjoy Derren's new stuff, I know you think a lot of it has lost it's edge, but if the guy isn't an actor he genuinely believes he's going to die, they even put a blood pack on him. That's metal af and so messed up. Plus it doesn't matter how corny the situations and story lines look to us, we're viewing from a distance, whereas the people being affected are right in the middle of it, as long as they believe the situation it still has the desired impact. My favourite of Derren's works are The Push, the zombie apocalypse one, the zombie shooting one from Trick or Treat, and the shooting Stephen Fry one, so shows from all points in his career. I'm sure he'll bounce back if Netflix don't smother him, and I really hope he does because he is a TREASURE.

[@movelea]

It's weird that the near-instant-trance is what gets people skeptical and not the hypnotism-can-convert-atheists thing, which is not how hypnotism works. Also you can't hypnotize someone to try to kill themselves, sorry for breaking the immersion. There are things that are plausible as hypnotism and psychology, but those 2 in particular are not.

[@online_cat]

@Daniel Steadman thank you Phil, very cool!

[@Splozy]

@Daniel Steadman hahahahahahaha Horseshite

[@Splozy]

@Daniel Steadman ty lad

[@steffanalun8055]

I really enjoyed this video - well put together, and interesting. But! I really can't agree with its central argument. I fell in love with Trick of the Mind too. But I'm incredibly glad Brown has moved on as a performer and producer. And as you say, "edgy" specials weren't sustainable either. You complain about the lack of intimate tricks in the specials - but Brown still produces these tricks, in his annual tours. His latest live show is also available on Netflix. So you're already catered for! The repetition of the needle trick? Well, as you say, he's launching for a new market. I think it's okay to have one similar trick in the show. I suspect it's only the hardcore Brown fans who'd remember the Robbie Williams episode. And as for the moral lessons - you're allowed to dislike them, of course, but I don't agree that they come from a cynical place. For the last few years, all Brown's work has had a self-improvement angle. His specials, his live shows, and his book. You may not like it, but it seems to me it's entirely earnest. Ultimately, I think it's easy to lose enthusiasm for an artist's new work when you've become over-familiar with their bag of tricks.

[@Godwhyrhys]

I don't say it often enough but I love this channel.

[@mephybooks7309]

always love a random corden dunk

[@thefewerstream2467]

Your mother left your dad for a magician too.......... just kidding I never met my dad

[@creamithmanning2632]

Then I guess your dad was a magician. That's quite the disappearing act.

[@rageagainstmyhairline5574]

Son? Is that you?

[@rageagainstmyhairline5574]

@An douchel/dub snuf vol 2 Don't listen to this man! I want to connect after all these years. Allakhazam, here I am.

[@rageagainstmyhairline5574]

@An douchel/dub snuf vol 2 Of course I do! It's the only reason I made contact. Abracadabra, I'm your... Dad... Brah? P.S. I see what you did there... Very clever.

[@cjw1394]

woah forgot about krave

[@fin2725]

Man, this is a brilliant analyses of his career to date.

[@mixlexic]

Gary Seagraves from Aberdeen is the magician pictured with the mullet lol

[@edwardkarem972]

i agree with your criticisms but the great ar robbery was absolutely fanastic xD seeing those old people get their mojo back and go steal a painting it was so awesome

[@gandalfandferg280]

I love derren brown

[@its_elkku135]

I've never heard of Brown but his stuff seems absolutely insane, definitely need to check it out.

[@danrich7640]

I watched a few bits of his early stuff, and recognised the NLP techniques he used for the "losing horse payout" gag you mentioned. He didn't show the preparation stage, which would have looked like mumbo-jumbo while losing a lot of the impact of the effect. It was a brilliant decision to keep his own role simple and quick, showcasing the confusion and surprise of the cashier when he pointed out her "mistake"..which looked like care and responsibility in putting his victims back as he found them. The missing part was done with amazing precision, efficiency and focus. I''m sure it was a hard decision not to show how far ahead of Paul McKenna he'd got in such a short time (the hypno show was brand new just a few years earlier, extinct after 10 minutes of Brown's first episode). Despite getting to feel like a magical smartarse with the mysterious amazing bits, nothing has given me as much enjoyment as his prediction of an entire ad campaign, including slogans and artwork. This time, there was no secrets, and the reveal of how it was done was more impressive than any mystery or technique. The scale and audacity was a joy. He'd prepared their route to his office with various sights, pictures, tableaux and even entire shopfronts dedicated to part of the suggestion. Even the ad-men didn't look too daft in the end. 15-20 minutes along nearly 5 miles.

[@robvalue]

He’s more like Jigsaw.

[@levischorpioen]

Exactly what I was thinking.

[@nifralo2752]

Espically the one where he threatens his volunteers bare feet with a knife

[@billbill6094]

Hahaha, "shit" episode of Breaking Bad. Not possible. There was an episode where all the protagonist did was try to catch a fly and it was dark and intriguing.

[@Virolaxion]

He probably meant to say "shit version". Also dark =/= not shit

[@Sandman267]

That episode was written just to fill screen time and save money.

[@Virolaxion]

@@Sandman267 Limiting factors often result in more creative/engaging results

[@Sandman267]

@@Virolaxion Sure. But this example achieves the opposite. This episode was far from an engaging result. One episode has to be the lowest rated of a season. In season 5 that was Fly.

[@billbill6094]

@BIGGZ FAN No, it was a good episode. The entire episode was dedicated to Walt losing his mind, shit was interesting. Not everything has to be fast paced and action packed, Breaking Bad was a character analysis, and that episode provided a better look into his mind.

[@Stellarfractre]

Assassin was awesome, my personal favorite. I have a good book of his called Tricks of the Mind. I'm American, i love the guy. I saw push on Netflix and perhaps I'm a bit biased, because I really sold it to some friends and they were like "ehhh?, it was okay". The big problem I saw there was in other shows Derren explains a huge amount of things that he knows you're sitting at home asking yourself. Which is a strange way of making you feel like you're now his secret squirrel. Like being buddies with a mischievous Gandalf. Good video.

[@zgSH4DOW]

I happened to see clips of Derren Brown on KZbin when I was younger and he absolutely blew my mind. Even looking back, the pickpocketing tricks are still outstanding; I've since had the process and tricks explained to me by people who'd have no reason to lie to me. I'm quite convinced by the right distractions+clever position+some sleight of hand Edit: that car crash segment was horrific in retrospect, real or not

[@aangsstaff4174]

The last time I was this early I had a girlfriend

[@darrengagliardi1540]

I don't know - I've seen all off Brown's stuff and was absolutely hooked from the beginning. Granted, I was already into that type of stuff. While I agree that Sacrifice was definitely diluted from the extraordinarly edgy nature of much of his work, I don't agree that the intricate nature of his most recent specials necessarily weakens them. In fact, I thought The Push was absolutely gripping. I was honestly on the edge of my seat and it blew my mind.

[@nifralo2752]

Cool do you know who that is at 0:19 and 6:02? Hes hot!

[@NotAnotherKuromi]

I find it hard to be on the edge of my seat when it is all staged & there is no actual threat. Well no threat apart from humans being distressed which I don't enjoy viewing. Take his Russian roulette episode, he used simple magic tricks where there was no chance of him actually shooting himself, no different from many others. So I was just watching a guy pretend to be scared & nervous while dragging out pulling the trigger of a gun. Not my cup of tea at all.

[@jenniedevil911]

I've read some of his book, and his tricks for memorisation are honestly fabulous. I use his technique of memorising your times table as a party trick a lot. Also, although I can't be sure of the TV shows, my mum's been up on stage with him and I can confirm she's most definitely not an actor. I doubt the rest are in the live shows either, but who knows with telly.

[@kenzaplenty]

I haven't even watched this yet but I saw the title and shouted YES

[@fredrickbanks1966]

What is a Magicians favorite part of a PBJ? The alakaJAM. You cannot unsee this. this is your Fate and you must bear this burden until your eternal rest. Never Unseen. Never undone. Happy Holidays

[@eddiebooth9795]

I cant tell do you believe that he can actually do all that stuff?

[@rouka120]

eddie booth, yeah I’m thinking it’s not real either. I’m too skeptical. It’s too over the top at points. Especially the whole hand over face puts you into a trance. Man, that’s so cliche.

[@jamstonjulian6947]

Do all what stuff?

[@rouka120]

Paul Julian, the trances and hypnotism. You can pay any old sap to act like that. It’s hard to prove he’s actually hypnotizing these people. Of course, I’ve haven’t watched a whole show. It could be he’s just picking people up off the street but there’s plenty of shows where they do that and it’s completely fake. Cut the camera and ask them to do something/say something while you hand them a 50. Turn the camera back on. “Whoa, they’re hypnotized!” Anyone could do it with actors talented enough.

[@jamstonjulian6947]

Yeah, I don't think he does that for his main event. I'm sure he uses actors for plenty of things but not to pretend to be hypnotised. He is an actual hypnotist.

[@thomas5076]

@@jamstonjulian6947 'actual hypnotist' doesnt mean wizard. Half of the stuff he 'does' isn't real

[@martynas-lukasgudas4069]

For a second I thought that, that was Johnny Sins in the thumbnail.

[@iamthewalrus8677]

As an American I'm glad that you were the one to introduce me to this guy instead of Netflix. I'm gonna check out some of his work

[@pdreding]

You can't honestly believe this isn't just acting, can you? Because if someone actually had the hypnotic skill and lack of scruples you ascribe to the man, he'd be doing far more criminal things than making Channel 4 specials.

[@Kerm88]

Patrick Reding I don’t think it’s real, but why would he go the criminal route when he can make millions on tv without the risk of being arrested?

[@originalman6599]

This video makes me question the legitimacy of this channel.

[@taintidpictures]

I mean this is obviously done with actors

[@wthwasthat8884]

taintidpictures it's not, he just uses the most naive and gullible people because they're more easily tricked. At the start of his show there's a disclaimer saying there are no actors or stooges used as targets and because of UK advertising laws if it was true that they were actors then Derren would have been in serious shit and all his future shows would be blacklisted by advertisers. Plus, all of the people on the show are genuine regular people, if they were actors then legally Channel 4 (the tv channel who produces Derrens stuff) would legally be bound to credit the people as actors which would have given the whole thing away from the beginning.

[@taintidpictures]

@@wthwasthat8884 I think you are the naive one

[@wthwasthat8884]

@@taintidpictures Ouch, you got me good there bro. Looks like laws no longer exist because it might hurt your theory. You believe the earth is flat too?

[@taintidpictures]

@@wthwasthat8884 I'll admit I don't know UK law but that doesn't mean I'm not still skeptical. Also the flat Earth jump is a reach. In my opinion flat earthers are naive so I guess we have some common ground

[@19rcooper]

@@taintidpictures Not sceptical that the UK prohibits the very thing you claimed in the beginning, just sceptical of everything else because you can't personally say how it's done.

[@okamichamploo]

yeah as an American who discoverd Brown through youtube back around 2010, I'd probably recommend my American friends start with one of his stage performances or the bmx bike video first rather than this netflix series

[@edwardcampbell8807]

Derren Brown always explicitly states that he and his team thoroughly evaluate if someone has the psychological strength to be able to handle the situations he's planned; not to mention everyone on the show volunteers to be, knowing it was for him, and who he is. I like the spectacles that ask anthropological questions like the Push, Assassin, Messiah, or Miracles for Sale.

[@ellielawson2787]

Sacrifice also seemed less believable than Browns other stuff.

[@axolotlmanga3596]

*Brown's

[@air-ick5578]

My dad was a magician He just disappeared one day

[@MarkPentler]

Air- Ick lol fuck 🤣

[@MysticalHydra]

Nice Soul Coughing usage in the background

[@tonymarshall3978]

The magician you used a photo of for the flashback is literally a magician in my home town that we all had at our birthday parties

[@nifralo2752]

Can u timestamp that bit

[@tonymarshall3978]

@@nifralo2752 02:30

[@pajamapantsjack5874]

I’d take memes and freedom over hope and glory any day

[@michaell742]

Derek Brown becomes the saw guy, not god. Wow.

[@fx7105]

sacrifice was my introduction to him because i'm not from uk and had no idea who he is, it was amazing to me, and from then on i only have better stuff to watch, so it's still a good intro for those of us who haven't seen anything else from him.

[@lafayettethebaguette1418]

I’ve seen Derren Brown live... amazing beyond words. Also read his autobiography and he also seems like a lovely guy

[@ojigbo]

Brilliant is a word I don't want to hear, ever since I watched series 11 of Doctor Who.

[@AbaddonAlmighty]

Since the zombie one I don't trust anything he does. So obviously fake.

[@yeetboi9817]

@Praise the Sun Well he puts someone to sleep in a second in the zombie one as well

[@TommyLikeTom]

Calling out a magician for being fake is like calling out a magistrate for being judgemental

[@tuckerdrums3514]

TommyTom not exactly. There difference is he CLAIMS his stuff is real. A good magician, in my opinion, will have the decency to admit their stuff is fake.

[@AbaddonAlmighty]

@Praise the Sun Suspension of disbelief. Hypnotism is real to some degree, people's perception of reality can be changed. Me not being any kind of expert, I can accept that perhaps this man is just incredibly good at those things. With the zombie one there was just too much that conveniently went right and a lot of sub par acting.

[@Vladdie777]

I was a big Derren Brown fan growing up, I didn't even bother watching this Netflix show because I saw it was a redo of a previous stunt, I suspected it would be diluted like this too for a mass audience. Great video man agree 100% with the overall analysis of Brown's career, he's a life-long legend to me. Glad he got some Netflix money but I hope he starts doing more low-key but edgy stuff again.

[@MKMonsterr]

I don't know if someone said it already, but Mind Control aired in the US in the early 2000s. At least where I live.

[@onephatkatt]

You are wrong a quite a few points here. I’m an American and we have been well aware of Mr. Brown for quite a while. With everything being more and more global it would be tough to hide a great mind like Darren’s in the UK. While I haven’t seen all the shows\episodes you’ve mention I’ve seen quite a few of them. I’ve been a fan for quite a while now. As for the caliber of his last on Netflix I feel SACRIFICE as good as PUSH, if not better and also enjoyed MIRACLE. I live and deal with people like the guy on SACRIFICE, it was amazing to see him put himself in between an immigrant and a bullet. You don’t live under Trump, this was something great here. My eyes actually watered up when his wife stepped out at the end. I hope Darren keeps up the work for years to come. HE. IS. AMAZING.

[@januarybaby1063]

spell his name correctly before we start to believe you

[@onephatkatt]

January Baby so your belief system is based on spelling? How do you know when someone is speaking they know how all the words are spelled exactly?

[@shayan69]

@@onephatkatt Oh my god I hope you're not fucking serious

[@Necron1999]

How can any of this be real? Like how am I supposed to believe he can touch someone on the head, put them in a trance, and carry them to another location without them realizing it? At least 3/4 of this stuff must be scripted.

[@rk3714]

Watch his stuff and form an informed opinion before brushing off a national treasure like that

[@movelea]

+Red Kittaveli I have watched him for myself and it seems pretty fake. Hypnotism and trances don't work the way he says/portrays.

[@rk3714]

@chunkycake101 No, he has had weaker stunts. His strengths lie in suggestion, manipulation and his creative demonstrations of psychological phenomena. He is an intelligent man, and the appeal of his stunts come largely from the spectacle. He makes it unbelievably easy and fun to suspend your disbelief. I don't see him as having supernatural or otherworldly abilities (he strongly states that this is not the case either), I believe that he is a creative performer and showman. He knows how to entertain and bring magic, misdirection and showmanship to a larger audience. Watch his live performances, particularly those written by Iain Sharkey. Enigma, Something Wicked This Way Comes, Svengali, Live, Mind Reader. Hopefully you can appreciate his charm and craftsmanship in putting all of it together.

[@Necron1999]

Red Kittaveli Don’t get me wrong, I love magic and illusions, but whenever making someone do something against their will is involved all I can think is: “Well of course they’re doing it, they’re on a show. They’re being paid to cooperate.”

[@dustingrimmmagic1067]

@@movelea sorry man, they do. Ive been doing hypnosis for about 3 years now. Hypnosis is not fake. It depends on each individual what the Hypnosis is like, but there are quite a few people this works on perfectly :)

[@codydavis3100]

I was introduced to Derren Brown with Push that was on Netflix. I've watched Miracle and Sacrifice. Push was my favorite but his stuff is fascinating and if this is dumbed down then I am still impressed. So thanks to Netflix I get to experience Derren Brown.

[@ese.amador]

I for one can't wait for your collective thoughts on doctor who

[@nikofaershee4235]

Seriously man, I'm a PhD in psychology and I investigated hypnosis and mentalism a lot. Half of what he does is just tv magic. Expecially the putting people in a trans. It's all bs

[@gilzineto]

Where are your credentials? A dude on the internet claiming to have a PhD and doing something with a photo os two anime blokes sharing a gay kiss seems as legit as this Darren Brown dude... by the way, Darren Brown is as fake as it can gets! Just like your PhD!

[@obamanation2023]

Half of it is bullshit or it's all bullshit? If half of it is real that's still very impressive. Also, it's a "trance"... You don't seem too smart for a phD

[@nikofaershee4235]

University of Padua, Rome and Copenhagen

[@lijinraj6818]

You’ve a PhD in psychology and you spell “trance” as “trans”. I’m sceptical lol! 🤪

[@lkasdlf]

"Dark" is profound and smart but positive, uplifting is "dumbed down"? I disagree.

[@bartharris]

This reminds me of how Heston Blumenthal used to make thoughtful versions of classic dishes, but ended up just making the biggest food structures possible.