Anyone else regret watching Black Mirror?

[Falvlun]

Just watched the third episode in the new season of Black Mirror and boy do I regret it. Not in a “this was a stupid waste of my time” way. These episodes are smart, they are well-made, cinematic even, and they make you think. But they pack a punch and more often than not, that punch makes you want to throw up.

Each episode generally deals with some new technology on the horizon and how it can go terribly, horribly wrong. Usually not in a “robots start killing humans” sort of way. More in a “this is how humans will respond to this technology”. And the scenarios feel horrifyingly plausible.

I’m left feeling queasy. I regret that what I just watched is now part of my psyche.

But I’ll probably watch the next episode anyway.

 

[LionLooking]

Black Mirror is a classic of modern British TV - I love it.

 

[idav]

Just finished the new season yesterday. Your right that it’s pretty scary what people may be capable of with strange and powerful technologies. It is interesting though that they said places had banned the technology in that third episode. That could very well be the case that people will exploit some of these technologies, all in the name of profit I’m sure, before we have a chance really chance to put brakes on it. The last episode of the season really gets into the nitty gritty so be prepared.

 

[Enoch07]

Haven't watched it yet. My kid highly suggest it though.

 

[Terese]

Stuff like that makes my stomach queasy, I dunno why.

 

[StarryNightshade]

Not really.

I've grown tired of the "hurr durr technology is bad and taking over our lives. I'm 14 and this is deep" kind of storytelling.

 

[Sanzbir]

Yeah. But I really couldn't get past episode 2 of the first season.

The first episode was at least an interesting concept.

But fitness club dystopia?? Yeah no thank you. Everything that wasn't Cliche Dystopia Fare and was actually unique to the world-building was... stupid.

"In a grimdark future where Planet Fitness has taken over the world" is a concept that only really works if you are willing to have fun with it and not take it all to seriously.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Oh good. I was running out of things to watch that sparked my interest.

Thank you for this thread. Now I have something to watch.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Watched an interedting video about Black Mirror and why it's different from most other stories in a literary sense. Denying catharsis.
Putting under spoilers because there's heavy amounts of spoiling.

Spoiler

 

[Nakosis]

Just watched the third episode in the new season of Black Mirror and boy do I regret it. Not in a “this was a stupid waste of my time” way. These episodes are smart, they are well-made, cinematic even, and they make you think. But they pack a punch and more often than not, that punch makes you want to throw up.

Each episode generally deals with some new technology on the horizon and how it can go terribly, horribly wrong. Usually not in a “robots start killing humans” sort of way. More in a “this is how humans will respond to this technology”. And the scenarios feel horrifyingly plausible.

I’m left feeling queasy. I regret that what I just watched is now part of my psyche.

But I’ll probably watch the next episode anyway.

Well should I? I've never seen it before. Should I just never watch it to avoid the regret later?

It's British? I usually like British TV better than US which seems to rely more on special effects than good acting.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Not really.

I've grown tired of the "hurr durr technology is bad and taking over our lives. I'm 14 and this is deep" kind of storytelling.

I don't really see it as being anti technology. The tech is just the medium for telling about how bad people can get. And that's pretty in line with our best sci fi and dystopia. From Brave New World to Gattaca. What bothers me is when stories propose the solution as becoming luddite (such as the end of a certain space fairing popular story), then it really is about scapegoating tech for humanities ills.

 

[Vee]

Just watched the third episode in the new season of Black Mirror and boy do I regret it. Not in a “this was a stupid waste of my time” way. These episodes are smart, they are well-made, cinematic even, and they make you think. But they pack a punch and more often than not, that punch makes you want to throw up.

Each episode generally deals with some new technology on the horizon and how it can go terribly, horribly wrong. Usually not in a “robots start killing humans” sort of way. More in a “this is how humans will respond to this technology”. And the scenarios feel horrifyingly plausible.

I’m left feeling queasy. I regret that what I just watched is now part of my psyche.

But I’ll probably watch the next episode anyway.

I watched season one and wasn't able to continue after that. The fact that what happens in the series could so easily become true in the near future disturbed me so much I couldn't keep up.

 

[Jesster]

I've regretted watching since season 1 episode 1, and not because of anything relating to technology. If you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about.

 

[David T]

Just watched the third episode in the new season of Black Mirror and boy do I regret it. Not in a “this was a stupid waste of my time” way. These episodes are smart, they are well-made, cinematic even, and they make you think. But they pack a punch and more often than not, that punch makes you want to throw up.

Each episode generally deals with some new technology on the horizon and how it can go terribly, horribly wrong. Usually not in a “robots start killing humans” sort of way. More in a “this is how humans will respond to this technology”. And the scenarios feel horrifyingly plausible.

I’m left feeling queasy. I regret that what I just watched is now part of my psyche.

But I’ll probably watch the next episode anyway.

Artists, Old story. It's the golden calf in the old testament. Church preaches it and loves it at the same time. It's the worst golden calf lover of all next to well everyone else. . They think the bible is a talking book. Sheeesh. Since we have smart phones I suppose we can now be fully dumb!!!!! Finally because it's been a long evolutionary road to the lowest common denominator. Idioticracy is a documentary.

 

[TheBannerofHomuraAkemi]

I wanted to finish the series, but I couldn't. Each episode was dark and repeated watching the dark episodes was just too much for me. I had to put it down.

Instead I picked up the Twlight zone again.

 

[Frater Sisyphus]

I've regretted watching since season 1 episode 1, and not because of anything relating to technology. If you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about.

That episode is classic!

 

[Frater Sisyphus]

The show is a great cautionary tale. It's sometimes absurd, obscene, dark, disturbing, hilarious, saddening, shocking, unsurprising, unpredictable, predictable - all depending on what episode you watch.
I agree with one of the latter comments, very much of it is plausible. Some of it is more allegorical than realistic (like the Star Trek-mock) but it is definitely a show that everyone will grab something from, whether they enjoy/are compelled by or hate it.

Also, the show poses many instances of where we should draw the line with technology - such as the Arkangel episode. Don't do that to your kids, just don't - it would realistically F*ck them up if the technology existed. And bubble-wrapping your children in general does harm, not good.