Loch Henry

Honestly this was a really welcome episode. I'm glad to see that Brooker has not turned his back on writing dark tales that don't need to rely on future technology or dystopian sci-fi to feel relevant. There is more than enough "commentary" in here the ethics of true crime content and money hungry streaming services just to name a few. No complaints with any of the actors or performances in this episode and it was great to see BM returning to a UK based epsiode, made me nostalgic for the Channel 4 years.

I think a lot of reviewers on here have missed some crucial points in this episode. Many are complaining that there was no technology based element to this episode which I find ridiculous. The technology was there and it was key to the plot, it was simply analogue technology rather than futuristic technology. It was the characters discovering tapes and digitising them (making use of once futuristic technology and bringing it in to the contemporary) that led to the whole secret being uncovered.

Honestly I find it confusing that people clearly missed the point with this one.

And there's even reviewers on here complaining that the ending was confusing? If you found this episode confusing I don't think Black Mirror is the show for you. Clearly.

Evidently, creator Charlie Brooker's turned his existential anxiety inwards for this latest batch of episodes (immediately solidifying the installment as one of the most creatively audacious seasons since its inception) & so rather than expressing worry about the exterior world around him, he's inventively found a way to evolve "Black Mirror" in to something far more introspective so it's able to perfectly communicate his justifiable concerns regarding the cynicism of the content he's expected to continually make for prospective audiences in the film / TV industries.

It's a valid point, well made (in his defence) - considering the constant production of macabre material does likely contribute to societies' gradual desensitisation to inconsolable misery (something we should understandably never become accustomed to, for good reason, nor witness as frequently as we do, on screen) & therefore, I appreciate the self-aware, emotional maturity shown - in acknowledging the inadvertent detrimental consequences to feeding a particular (arguably unethical) demand, for the sole purpose of commodification & profit in a dystopian system that wrongly rewards those acts of inconsiderate selfishness.

Plus, rather than attempting to wondrously predict the future (admittedly, a reliable foresight which has transformed in to a bit of a gimmick, these days), it's also refreshing to see the executive producer gift us with something new, reflectively looking back at his own legacy with hindsight instead - to question if the price paid for success has truly been worth it.

We don't normally get that hesitation in response to mean-spiritedness... Though as this asks; maybe we should?

Hence, with "Loch Henry", he & director Sam Miller dig deep, using one genre we heavily tend to associate with controversy as a basis on which to form their argument (acting as a general example of the well-intentioned, indulging in immorality), delivering a scathing commentary, analysing the theoretically senseless damage done to every-day people by the commercialisation of exploitative true crime documentaries - in easily one of the darkest, most disturbing features ever included in the show.

This episode of Black Mirror left me absolutely spellbound. It was an exceptional blend of brilliance and darkness, making it one of the best episodes I've ever watched in the entire series. From start to finish, it gripped me with its sinister atmosphere, taking me on a journey that grew increasingly unsettling and dark as the plot unfolded.

I found myself pausing the episode multiple times. Scenes left me with a wave of shock, surpassing even my most horrifying expectations. Just when I thought I had a grasp on what was going to happen, the episode took a twisted turn, leaving me in a state of - well I would say unease but I loved it.

The last 20 minutes were an absolute rollercoaster. The intensity kept building, and I couldn't tear my eyes away from the screen. But it was the final 30 seconds that make me love black mirror. In that moment, I sat there in complete silence, I didn't even bring myself to notice the next episode playing. I had a smile on my face and a tear running down my eye.

I can't stress enough how much I recommend watching this episode.

I much prefer this episode over the first. It hits all of the things Black Mirror does best: Realistic settings with realistic characters exploring some morally gray subjects with technology at the base of it. It's classic Black Mirror. This episode also has a whole lot more character in its cinematography and editing. Unfortunately I think it is slightly predictable, especially in how some of the actors portray their roles. But the story is still told and acted well, despite some predictably. I do hope the rest of the season stays at this level of quality, but this was really needed after the slop that was episode one.

Black Mirror has always been a startling commentary on technology. This season has been drifting away from that and bordering on some kind of horror/fantasy. Why can't the writers pause and remember that San Junipero was their best episode and realize that we don't need to feel scared, we need to be mesmerized and surprised by new concepts surrounding technological advancements. And if those concepts happen to excite us or just freak us out, cool. But the goal doesn't need to simply be to freak us out. Mazey Day & Demon 79 had the same problem. While these kinds of episodes are entertaining on their own, they aren't Black Mirror.