Joan Is Awful

I'm starting to think that Black Mirror has spoiled you / us too much !

This episode was definitely something special. A very unique concept , brilliantly executed and amazingly acted ....

I'm pretty sure that if this exact same episode would have been included in one of the first 3 series of Black Mirror, it would have gotten STELLAR reviews. Also, try and compare it to all the tasteless, unoriginal, boring stuff that is provided on this streaming platform.... there is no comparison.

So, maybe it's me, but ever since series 5 I've been seeing this frankly unjustified skepticism towards the show.

Not sure what they need to do to deserve a full 8 at this point ...

Joan is bored with her life, fed up of her boyfriend Krish, and genuinely stuck in a rut, at a meeting with her therapist she is offered the chance to change things up, which she accepts, unaware of what she's signed up to.

It's been a while, over four years to be precise, you always worry that some of the well earned polish may have rubbed off, fortunately no sign of that here, this was a cracking return, it is far from perfect, but a bleak scenario of the future, that's exactly what Black Mirror delivers here.

Be careful what you download and click accept to, because you never quite know what the terms and conditions are.

This was fun and chilling in equal measure, you honestly had no idea what was coming next, I imagine there were lots of in jokes here, there were certainly lots of Easter eggs to look out for.

I was worried that the show might have moved to focusing on names, rather than the winning formula that made this show so great, but Salma Hayek added a little something, I'm not quite sure what.

Annie Murphy was terrific, her timing was perfect, you couldn't help but feel sorry for Joan, Hayek clearly had a lot of fun, a different role for her to play.

8/10.

This episode had everything, and it should have been a kick-ass start! I thought Black Mirror would have a hard time generating new, unique ideas. However, in this case, it was really a good idea. But... yes, there's a "but." They decided to execute it in a cliché Hollywood-ish way that would please teenagers. Black Mirror is all about provoking thought, not offering solutions. The challenge presented here with the deepfake technology was truly alarming, providing ample food for thought. Sadly, it was all undermined by the actions and plot twists. It ended up being disappointingly mediocre and catering to the crowd. What a tremendous waste of opportunity! I did enjoy it, but as a Black Mirror fan, it didn't live up to the mark.

When you take a moment to think about the layers in this episode, and how timely this concept of AI generated imagery technology is, this is one heck of a welcome back episode for Black Mirror. Creativity was impeccable, casting and performances spot on, and you'll find yourself entertained and smiling throughout this entire episode. I was curious to see after all this time off how creative the stories would be, and so far so good. The humor is a great added touch, especially the church scene, and the Easter egg of the Netflix sound each time Streamberry was launched was hilarious, sort of a nod and pat on the back of ones self, and well deserved.

An evening's telly and a new show has a tile, it looks familiar but on playing there's no smile, as your day is played, relayed, with Salma Hayek being payed, to enact what's taken place, but in her style. It's quite surreal and you're not sure how it's been done, and then your boyfriend realises you've had fun, with a partner of the past, this is bizarre, you feel harassed, but the small print means the past can't be undone; exasperation causes food to be binged on, and washed down with laxative as libation, a line is duly crossed, and the floor needs a good wash, but the nightmare will not cease, will not be quashed.

As imaginative as ever.