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‘Black Mirror’ Finds Terror, and Soul, in the Machine

nytimes.com

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Re: ‘Black Mirror’ Finds Terror, and Soul, in the Machine

#51

Post by Ntrails »

m_mueller wrote: post #9

Black Mirror often takes little details that we add in software, like a rating system, and takes them to their extreme and logical conclusion. Its premises are mostly sci-fi, but as thought experiments on how what we do could lead to a severe dystopia, it is superbly engaging. I recommend watching no more than one episode per day - I've been thinking about its topics quite a lot recently. At the least, it's refreshin…

I was so nervous when I saw they were being done with Netflix and in a massive season of six episodes. I actually don't think there was a truly weak episode in the bunch. Literally my only complaint was the stupid little explanation taglines Netflix shoved in my face meaning I didn't get to go into most of them completely free of expectation.

Charlie Brooker man, what a guy.

Re: ‘Black Mirror’ Finds Terror, and Soul, in the Machine

#52

Post by danidiaz »

justinpombrio wrote: post #28
ben_jones wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've watched the first episode and had some existential questions pop up while on a walk today. Isn't that end-all rating system, like you mention, the final form of many companies like Facebook or Instagram? When the value generated on the platform grows beyond its platform to other important parts of society. I think this is only just starting to happen, like Air BnB's usage of Facebook profiles as host validation,…

Apparently China plans to role out that kind of rating system by 2020, dubbed a "social credit score": http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-34592186

There's also North Korea's "Songbun" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songbun although it seems more coarse-grained than a numeric score.

Re: ‘Black Mirror’ Finds Terror, and Soul, in the Machine

#53

Post by manuelflara »

TwoBit wrote: post #39
Mao_Zedang wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why the massive gap since season 2 then? If you dont count the single episode "special" there hasnt been a season 3.5 years.

Look at the Sherlock Holmes gaps.

But that's mostly due to how extremely popular are now the two main actors, compared to when they first started doing the show, no?

Re: ‘Black Mirror’ Finds Terror, and Soul, in the Machine

#54

Post by dharma1 »

I liked the previous episodes and watched a couple of the new episodes. I really wanted to like them but it's like the writers are both trying too hard to capitalise on the obvious "trends" and not really understanding the tech deeply enough at the same time.

Self replicating, 3d printing miniature robot drone bees, that fly indefinitely on solar power and handle pollination for a whole country? And yet nothing else in their future tech (mobiles, cars, computers) has changed from what it is like now? Cmon

Same with the social status rating episode. Couldn't finish watching it, very implausible and cringeworthy

Re: ‘Black Mirror’ Finds Terror, and Soul, in the Machine

#55

Post by stinos »

danso wrote: post #4

I've only watched 3 of the episodes (Playtest, Shut Up and Dance, and Hated in the Nation)...I've heard the other 3 episodes were better, but the 3 that I have watched seemed subpar compared to the previous 2 seasons. Not terrible as far as overall TV goes, but after the plot thrills were over, they just didn't leave the same queasiness-about-possible-future-dystopia that "White Bear", "White Christmas", "Entire Hist…

> they just didn't leave the same queasiness-about-possible-future-dystopia

Actually for me they do. Maybe I'm more sensitive to this than others but I've seen the first two and both left me rather disoriented, alomst detached from reality, the first minutes after watching them. I only reach such a state through brilliant (from my point of view, I guess) film or music, or by using drugs. So: no complaints here :]

E.g. I really like how the first episode makes you not only reflect on a possible-but-too-close future that looks horrible to live in, but at the same time reminds you to realize maybe it's already a reality for some people today - possible including yourself, and that in a broader sense it has been like that all throughout history.

Re: ‘Black Mirror’ Finds Terror, and Soul, in the Machine

#56

Post by ghostDancer »

Mao_Zedang wrote: post #38
dajohnson89 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Netflix didn't revive it. They outbid the original producers for production rights. It would've been continued one way or another.

Why the massive gap since season 2 then? If you dont count the single episode "special" there hasnt been a season 3.5 years.

The British do things differently than US in terms of TV. Shorter seasons/series, irregular airings. It's their way.

Re: ‘Black Mirror’ Finds Terror, and Soul, in the Machine

#57

Post by wwggggoi »

dharma1 wrote: post #54

I liked the previous episodes and watched a couple of the new episodes. I really wanted to like them but it's like the writers are both trying too hard to capitalise on the obvious "trends" and not really understanding the tech deeply enough at the same time. Self replicating, 3d printing miniature robot drone bees, that fly indefinitely on solar power and handle pollination for a whole country? And yet nothing else…

plausibility isn't the point - the scfi devices used are for reduction-ad-absurdum, to zoom-in on aspects of our current society.

Also, in the real world some things develop faster than others. In San Junipero they can perfectly simulate a world and upload people into the cloud (heaven), but they can't cure quadriplegia with stem-cells. That's ok because all science and tech doesn't move at the same pace: some tech grows very fast while other techs never get funding and die by whatever market-force fashions.

Re: ‘Black Mirror’ Finds Terror, and Soul, in the Machine

#58

Post by [deleted] »

sli wrote: post #36
justinpombrio wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apparently China plans to role out that kind of rating system by 2020, dubbed a "social credit score": http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-34592186

Unless it's changed significantly recently, this "credit score" is only being used by Alibaba, and is more akin to a regular old karma system like that used on HN or reddit.

[deleted]

Re: ‘Black Mirror’ Finds Terror, and Soul, in the Machine

#59

Post by rahoulb »

manuelflara wrote: post #53
TwoBit wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Look at the Sherlock Holmes gaps.

But that's mostly due to how extremely popular are now the two main actors, compared to when they first started doing the show, no?

Also British shows don't have teams of writers, it tends to be one or two people working alone, so workload and inspiration also affect show times.

Re: ‘Black Mirror’ Finds Terror, and Soul, in the Machine

#60

Post by rahoulb »

manuelflara wrote: post #53
TwoBit wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Look at the Sherlock Holmes gaps.

But that's mostly due to how extremely popular are now the two main actors, compared to when they first started doing the show, no?

Also British shows don't have teams of writers, it tends to be one or two people working alone, so workload and inspiration also affect show times.
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