The first three episodes of Charlie Brookers techno-satire have not lost their urgency.
The anthology trends glossier in its Netflix phase.
The three episodes launching Wednesday juggle tones and genres.
Netflix
Theyre all better thanBandersnatch.
Theyre experimental, and long.
And theyre also a bit sentimental.
Netflix
Even the bleakest feels programmed with hopeful pathos.
Then again, he was pessimistic before it was cool.
Maybe hes onto something?
Stuart Hendry/Netflix
Here are reviews of the new episodes, with some plot spoilers.
Striking Vipers
Anthony Mackie and Yahya Abdul Mateen II play best bros Danny and Karl.
They used to spend long nights playing their favorite videogame, aTekken-ish fighter calledStriking Vipers.
Karl gets Danny a birthday present: A new edition ofStriking Vipers, souped up into virtual reality.
Within the game, Danny looks like Pom Klementieff and Karl looks like Ludi Lin.
In the game, Danny and Karl start off fighting and wind up kissing.
More than kissing:Striking Vipersis, apparently, an omni-sensual game experience.
Dannys having an affair with his best friend.
One thing that setsBlack Mirrorapart from recent anthological imitators, I think, is its attention to atmospheric detail.
The near-future dishwasher has a hazard warning when the knives are blades up.
Danny agonizes over whether to include a suggestively kiss-y x in a text message to his friend-lover.
And the gameStriking Vipersresembles a fully realizedStreet Fighterknockoff: battle stages with ancient-futuristic backgrounds, neon-dojo costumes.
Mackie and Mateen are funny, sweet, extremely confused.
Cyrus plays Ashley O, a purple-haired pop star preaching an empowerment vibe.
The story initially splits.
Ashley withstands her controlling aunt-manager (Susan Pourfar), whos anxious about Ashleys new interest in black eyeshadow.
That episode ended with a dark premonition for a then-upcoming starlet named Miley Cyrus.
Like, Ashleys handlers are nervous about her ruining her squeaky-clean image.
Surely ruining the squeaky-clean image is an essential media narrative for all modern pop stars!
I really love the Ashley Too doll, though.
Am I watching this wrong?
And the plot stops making sense as soon as theres a plot.
Oh, also, the sisters dad has a brainscan laboratory where hes developing new extermination technology.
The vibe suggests a made-for-Disney-channel telefilm, with more swears.
First big whoops: The dudes just an intern.
Chris doesnt have much of a plan.
His kidnapping goes comically wrong.
He winds up in a standoff, overseen by policemen.
Getting to Bauer requires a jangly transcontinental collaboration between sectors public and private.
Smithereens has no real science-fiction, so Brookers observational points feel uncomfortably true-life.
Graces performance is remarkable, and trickier than parody.
But Bauer has his own confession to make.
Theres nothing I can do to fing stop it!
Here again, theres an unconvincing dash of faithful techno-optimism.
(Like, does Charlie Brooker think Netflix CEO Reed Hastings would take that phone call?
Could Brooker ask him?
Is that the problem?)
And the ambiguous ending depends on a contrivance I dont quite believe.
Still, this is the one newBlack Mirrorwhere you feel Brookers unique mix of empathic humanity and comic despair.
And nobody can really see whats happening.
And nothing turns out well for anyone.A-
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