Demon 79

I guess that somewhere there is a manual that says what Black Mirror is supposed to be, and if it doesn't fit the parameters set up by some council of judges, we give it a one. I guess I look at each episode like I would an independent short story and judge it on its strengths and weaknesses. While I thought this episode was lacking in many ways, I still thought it was engaging enough to be of interest. I guess Black Mirror is supposed to be based on misuse of technology. Well, a show about a deal with the devil doesn't work. Nor does one about werewolves. But the stories are interesting, if not too long. This one is highly predictable. A deal with an evil entity is always a big risk. I guess I'll wait ten years for the next season. In the meantime, print out that rule book.

I've now watched 3 of this new season. And only a handful of ones from past seasons. I find BM can be a hit and miss affair. Sometimes a bit too predictable like watching that old series 'Tales of the Unexpected' if anyone remembers that?

But Demon79 was so much more nuanced and fun. Who cares if it wasn't about technology? Do a whole season of 'Red Mirror' please. This is exactly what it was like living at the end of that decade. Script and acting were sublime. Top marks to the fashion and sets too. Sometimes these retro scenes can look like a modern day students idea of the '70's - but the detail in this was done really well and it had a fantastic soundtrack that didn't pick all the obvious tunes.

Best thing I've seen on TV in a very long time.

I'm not going to repeat what many others have said about this season. I don't know what is happening to the show but here we are. This episode is actually good TV. A good coherent story (unlike the last episode, wtf was that? Werewolves? Seriously?) and very well acted. There is great chemistry between Vasan and Essiedu, and the latter does a particularly great job portraying a funny, inexperienced demon dressed like Bobby Farrell, you know, the man from Bony M! The funny moments do well to give a lightheartedness to a story that tackles many serious issues like racism and murder, and shows an exercise in an extreme version of the trolley problem. Would you kill three people if you could save the world? What if they were bad people? The episode does an excellent job of making you laugh one second and clinch at the violence the next, all the while keeping you questioning what you would do in Nida's shoes. The only thing that made me enjoy this episode less than I would have otherwise is the fact that I was very aware the whole time that I was watching a Black Mirror episode and this is not that. Don't do what I did. Forget it has anything to do with Black Mirror and you will enjoy it.

I find it's hard to watch Black Mirror now without being too critical of whether or not the episode fits the original themes of the show and the standard we are looking for as viewers. I can also get distracted at the beginning guessing what the "message" is going to be about.

I really enjoyed this episode though just as it was. I sort of forgot I was watching Black Mirror and just enjoyed the cinematography, soundtrack and acting.

Overall this season may not have knocked it out of the park for me but it's still a perfect show to watch an episode with my spouse after the kiddos are in bed and have a good chat. This episode wasn't the most thought provoking but the most enjoyable for me.

I've seen a lot of comments saying that this episode has nothing to do with black mirror. And I agree. The closest connection is using old style tech to present the story. However, despite this out of place situation, I felt the episode as something pretty solid. It build good caracters, make nice parallels, and don't follow the most previsible path. In the end, was a nice experience, a well made story that doesn't involve the black mirror core ideas, but suggests something new and yet, exciting.

I've seen someone suggesting in the comments that they should create a new série for episodes like this. I agree. Mazey Day and Demon 79 definitely could be in a ontology about terror and fantasy movies.