What Makes Black Mirror So Good?

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6 жыл бұрын

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Black Mirror is widely loved, but it's also horrifying to watch. So what makes it so compelling, and is it more than a critique of technology?
Credits ###
Video footage is taken from episodes of Black Mirror, a show written and created by Charlie Brooker. The full series can be found on Netflix.com
The first song is The Snow Queen Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
The second song is Mariage d'Amour - Paul de Senneville || Jacob's Piano which can be found at • Mariage d'Amour - Paul...
The article titled "The Case Against Black Mirror" can be found at www.vulture.com/2016/10/black-... The section in this video was taken directly from that article, but is not the entire article.
The poll of favorite episodes is www.strawpoll.me/11556061/r and was found on the Black Mirror subreddit.
Charlie Brooker clip is • Creator Charlie Brooke...

Пікірлер: 485

@PolyMatter 6 жыл бұрын

There are NO spoilers for Season 4!

@spurrya 6 жыл бұрын

Pin this! :)

@XsimD 6 жыл бұрын

Yeah, you should pin this. You have to scroll 5 comments down to see it

@solaireofastora3 6 жыл бұрын

Pin this daddy

@rfldss89 6 жыл бұрын

and thanks for that btw :)

@pneumaniac14 6 жыл бұрын

Oh thank god

@potatopalooza6537 6 жыл бұрын

The show is about humanity and how technology accelerated the human condition and the bad in it.

@cmooreHD 6 жыл бұрын

Potato Palooza I like this explanation as well.

@youweechube 6 жыл бұрын

i like when he said that "the shows arent supposed to be realistic" .... forgetting the Waldo moment ? lol

@carne1667 6 жыл бұрын

youweechube the purpose of that episode was the personality over the policy in politics, like people not voting for trump because of his accused racism. Just like waldo gets voted for because of the name calling but lacks policy.

@MrMilkman29 6 жыл бұрын

"i can only make metaphors to political events using pop culture xddd"

@kmaz8329 5 жыл бұрын

Potato Palooza art of tyrate.pleaenter mark.Howell.team.the sleeping problem.free and accepted new York city mimic lodge no ideaatntalg about.

@WordUnheard 6 жыл бұрын

What makes this show so compelling is that it doesn't follow the norm. It doesn't crank out an obligatory amount of episodes per season. Hell, it doesn't even air every year. Because of this, we don't get "filler" episodes, we don't get the every day, run of the mill seasons. We get stand-alone episodes that make you run the gamut of emotions and always leaves us wanting more. Every episode lingers in your mind, long after you've watched it. I cannot praise this series enough.

@buffalokay 3 жыл бұрын

Yes! It’s not drawn out for views! Exactly this! We get right to the point, and the entire story is wrapped up in less than an hour! No waiting a week to see what happens next. We get satisfaction. We get closure.

@cortezttd6225 Жыл бұрын

never seen it should i start wafching it?

@spurrya 6 жыл бұрын

When one of your favorite KZfaqrs analyzes your favorite show. I love your analysis. Love from Canada.

@alexanderrosales4882 6 жыл бұрын

Pisses me off when people refer to a science fiction series as “unrealistic”.

@Rilows 6 жыл бұрын

Same with games. Why does it have to be realistic in the first place lol

@johnhenderson4833 6 жыл бұрын

Scientific Fiction is one or a couple things that seem logical in the future. It's different from Science Fantasy.

@wolverinelogan9430 4 жыл бұрын

Dumb asses watch TV..

@wolverinelogan9430 4 жыл бұрын

Its bitch...... made up orchestrated phony like u.

@menicman7044 4 жыл бұрын

@@wolverinelogan9430 what?

@PolyMatter 6 жыл бұрын

Patreon launched! www.patreon.com/polymatter Thanks so much, and I'll be in the Discord much of today to talk to new supporters about this video! :)

@rellan3170 6 жыл бұрын

When I was the title I thought "Why would anyone make a black miror, black doesn't even reflect light well"

@joshy3069 6 жыл бұрын

I love Black Mirror so much, Waldo, the futuristic exercise club thingy, the realistic virtual reality horror simulation and the social ranking app episodes are my favourites ❤️

@Orikron 6 жыл бұрын

Hey! This ain't Nerdwriter!

@PunzL 6 жыл бұрын

The Suicidal Muffin why do i see you everywhere?

@Orikron 6 жыл бұрын

Because I *am* everywhere.

@bowtieboi4711 6 жыл бұрын

Prometheus Titan I need a 🅱illion

@paulgarcia2887 6 жыл бұрын

Season 4 of black mirror is out already just in case someone forgot!!!!!!

@marceloizukawa5347 6 жыл бұрын

Paul Garcia black museum and uss callister were so good!!

@NTJordan 6 жыл бұрын

You did a great job with this! Your motion graphics are smooth and clean. You've definitely refined your style. Looking forward to seeing more content!

@amstel5468 6 жыл бұрын

The writing and hidden details/layers that make it the most rewatchable show in television history.

@Cpenguiner123 6 жыл бұрын

2:37 I don't understand why people didn't like Men Against Fire, it was good.

@eugeniadecima2528 6 жыл бұрын

Cpenguiner me too ! its one of my favorites episodes

@Derry123456 6 жыл бұрын

I thought it was a good episode as well but it was to obvious for me, as soon as the roaches were introduced I knew they were going to be immigrants or the poor or handicapped something along those line, so the eventual reveal was under whelming which is why I diddnt rate it personally as high as some of the others. Still a good message in the episode though

@niamh4735 6 жыл бұрын

I loved this episode too!!! each to their own

@CandyKiller1231 6 жыл бұрын

I liked it but the twist just didn’t shock me as much as other episodes like shut up and dance did.

@indyfmw 6 жыл бұрын

Same but I liked other episoded better so it always ends near the bottom of my list. But after this season it's I the middle

@Pining_for_the_fjords 6 жыл бұрын

Shut Up and Dance is my favourite episode for the reasons you mentioned, and because it's one of the few episodes that doesn't use any futuristic technology, like most of the episodes, or fictional societal construct, like in White Bear. Everything that happens in Shut Up and Dance could, in theory, happen today. And I'm sure there are some bored, tech-savvy people out there who would love to mess with the lives of a few paedophiles and adulterers just for fun.

@romanski5811 3 жыл бұрын

I think pedophiles should be ostracized from society. The more isolated and hated they feel the less likely they are to seek out help. And then they are more likely to give into their urges resulting in more children being raped. Every time I read hateful comments about pedophiles I smile because I know it will result in more children being harmed.

@xavierliu6146 6 жыл бұрын

Excellent analysis! After watching the first episode of "Black Mirror" I was absolutely hooked because each episode had such a unique take on human nature and our innate fears. On Season 3 now, and a lot of its messages about the human condition are really resounding with me and making me think about the constructs of human society. Thank you for making this video!

@markusdemedeiros8513 6 жыл бұрын

Seriously great production value! Love seeing this channel grow, it's one of my favs

@CanditoTrainingHQ 6 жыл бұрын

I think youre giving a bit too much credit to character development on that poll and not enough to how under-discussed the theme is relative to today. The creator even said he made it because it's what isn't on TV as much. For example, Waldo is about politics. That's extremely overdone already, and it scored the worst. San Junipero is about mind uploading which is extremely under-discussed (outside of high dudes talking about the Matrix). Shut up and Dance had elements of the dark web in a way with child porn being mentioned, thus did better than stories with basic murder as the primary element. I think its clear that the more it focuses on social media being bad, the more basic it becomes. The more it goes on about AI in remotely believable scenarios, the more it's still ahead of the curve. When AI fully becomes a hallmark political topic (as it already should be), then the edge will finally be softened completely. Not there yet though.

@thomaaas_8487 6 жыл бұрын

Enjoyed the video despite I haven‘t watched Black Mirror yet. Please make more videos about series like this one.

@ContinualImprovement 6 жыл бұрын

I’m looking forward to the day you get past 100k subs. You deserve it :)

@endelvelt7650 6 жыл бұрын

103k subs now!!

@ContinualImprovement 6 жыл бұрын

kelan andersson I’m sure I checked like 3 days ago and the sub count was like 109k and now it’s over 125k. Incredible growth. Far above mine 😂

@JM-wc1jc 6 жыл бұрын

Continual Improvement Now close to 200K

@DarthMakroth 6 жыл бұрын

+kelan now 329 in 1 week

@tuatarian6591 6 жыл бұрын

333k

@Striveofficial 6 жыл бұрын

Love your videos, keep it up!

@user-ov5ko2jj9w 6 жыл бұрын

Absolute hidden gem of a channel, thank you for this amazing content!

@noah-2940 6 жыл бұрын

I think that you are my new favourite KZfaqr! Love your art style!

@SeremPoStanovima 6 жыл бұрын

the thing that you pointed out are main reason why I like White bear, Man against fire and similar episodes more. they don't spend time introducing us to characters, but are more focused on current situation and story, they kinda break traditional storytelling formulas and leave more space to our own interpretation, and our own conclusions (they don't try to preach to us but made us think).

@Mical2001 6 жыл бұрын

@ anyone who watched this: are there S4 spoilers? I know it's unlikely seeing how recent S4 came out, but just in case...

@PolyMatter 6 жыл бұрын

No spoilers for Season 4

@Mical2001 6 жыл бұрын

PolyMatter nice

@Kp96321 6 жыл бұрын

This video is just incredibly well made, so are most of your other videos. You should have so much more subscribers than you do now!

@franciscrivelari 6 жыл бұрын

Dude, your videos are AWESOME! Congrats! Excellent job!

@OwenRhodri 6 жыл бұрын

That Waldo Moment had fantastic characters, it is one of those episodes where you'd have to understand how the British electoral system works and how the politicians act in it though.

@ScrandHD 6 жыл бұрын

This is one of the most meaningful and well done channel I've been watching, massive credits to you!!

@airwrist 6 жыл бұрын

First video of yours I've seen. Great stuff! I can't wait to check out more!

@niamh4735 6 жыл бұрын

this video is so impressive - perfectly articulated my thoughts on black mirror without being too long. I've never seen your videos before either which is so annoying! subscribed

@hmm2928 6 жыл бұрын

Can someone tell me the music in background at 2:00 ? I forgot the name 😅

@aarond9563 6 жыл бұрын

0:59 - THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I've been waiting for someone to finally say that. Also it hurts me so much that people rate Shut Up And Dance so highly. It's literally not even that good and I would even argue to say in the lower 4th of the whole catalogue. It's not even all that compelling compared to other episodes.

@fa-ls9jw 6 жыл бұрын

I just watched season 4s 'black museum' it's sooo good. Interesting, captivating, original, scary. Just great.

@AS-ps9mr 6 жыл бұрын

You put so much work into your videos nice job!

@shaylempert9994 6 жыл бұрын

Nice.. just on time for the new season!

@jessbragg1 6 жыл бұрын

awe man,the video is over already?! it got me by surprise and i was hoping there was more :( nice job on the video

@endelvelt7650 6 жыл бұрын

Love this video!! Good job :)

@parrymagpie 6 жыл бұрын

I really love your channel you just got a new fan from Thailand

@hasansalman7369 6 жыл бұрын

Shut up and dance in my opinion is the best episode.

@cmooreHD 6 жыл бұрын

Hasan Salman that's episode had me shookth! It was good though lol

@presidentrichardnixon1264 6 жыл бұрын

Agreed. It was so good.

@georgeflexen-pallot5823 6 жыл бұрын

Hahah it was fine until the end I think! That bit shook me!

@bendover04me 6 жыл бұрын

Hasan Salman giiive mee mah-ney!!!

@bendover04me 6 жыл бұрын

I like play test 😊

@TRexProMC 6 жыл бұрын

I'm subbing and liking just for someone actually supporting the show. Hopefully you and the show can grow from this video.

@blastoiseddr 6 жыл бұрын

TRexPro you say that as if this show isn't incredibly popular...

@uninspired4ever 6 жыл бұрын

this is my first time watching your content and and definitly subscribed now

@arvindhmani06 6 жыл бұрын

That final scene of "Shut up and dance" with Radiohead playing - spine-chilling!

@jacksonofalltrades2665 6 жыл бұрын

Awesome channel. Keep going bruv. +1 sub!

@emielvanderzwet2068 6 жыл бұрын

Very interesting! This also sort of explains the title. 'Black Mirror' is interpreted as the screen of any device when it's off. At first glance, that might be focused on the device itself, which is feeding you with social media-bullshit and giving you these addictions. But it's actually focused on you. The person you see in the black mirror. It's not about technology, it's about people influenced by it Great video :)

@cmooreHD 6 жыл бұрын

This is perfect! Just when my phone notified me that season 4 is now on Netflix! Loved this video btw!

@TheBlueToad 6 жыл бұрын

1 minute in and you convinced me to watch the show. I watched Season 4 Episode 1 (I thought I was watching season 1 but I screwed up) Man, this show is amazing!

@PolyMatter 6 жыл бұрын

One word of advice: don't binge the episodes too much, you'll go crazy :)

@m.b.0310 6 жыл бұрын

also, don't worry if you don't watch the episodes in order!

@bendover04me 6 жыл бұрын

emtomb try crocodile, white bear or play test. Those are the lightest episodes to binge

@madi_beee 6 жыл бұрын

Ben Dover why u lie?

@marcopolo8193 6 жыл бұрын

I did the same 😂

@grob1717 6 жыл бұрын

I thought this video was on how a black phone screen reflects things so well.

@affalaffaa 6 жыл бұрын

In a way it is.

@capitalismisbestism8639 6 жыл бұрын

I've heard of mirrors, but I have never seen one. Once, I saw someone who look like me, then I heard a loud crack. This keeps happening wherever I go? People say I keep cracking their 'mirrors', and my debt is going up. Any suggestions?

@TheFushigiFan99 6 жыл бұрын

I absolutely love this show. Great video!

@JulianVerdream 6 жыл бұрын

Does anyone know the name of the song that plays for second at the end of the video?

@friedkeenan 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for reminding me that the episodes come out today

@enzmondo 6 жыл бұрын

The true enemy in each Black Mirror episode is human error.

@kevinlane1219 6 жыл бұрын

I like your channel because it makes it easier to learn. Also, my favorite episode of Black Mirror is USS Calister.

@matyasmatta 4 жыл бұрын

Exactly, USS Callister is amazing and this channel too👌

@c-gcoconutgun2577 6 жыл бұрын

Windmill windmill for my dad

@zach8901 6 жыл бұрын

Already finished season 4

@dragonskunkstudio7582 6 жыл бұрын

Same here and it suuuuucked!

@noodlery7034 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for showing me this amazing show, I don't think i would have watched it if it weren't for you.

@michaelmilam4472 6 жыл бұрын

Okay first of all.... WHY ISN'T 'HATED BY THE NATION' NUMBER ONE ON AWESOMENESS?!

@devoidcolors 6 жыл бұрын

Hang the DJ and San Junipero portrayed technology as being "good" in contrast to many of the episodes "critiquing" it so many have already missed the point, the show is about people and their morality.

@raddy21 6 жыл бұрын

San Junipero was the best episode I've ever watched of any show Ever and I don't say that lightly

@paulhudson6846 6 жыл бұрын

Not trying to hate, but I found that episode extremely boring, I'd just like to know what it was that you liked about that ep?

@raddy21 6 жыл бұрын

To be honest, I think it was the "wow, I did not see that coming factor" as I'm usually very good at predicting where a plot is headed. This was the first time in a while I was ACTUALLY surprised/impressed at the story writing. But this episode isn't the normal type of thing I watch, so I get it. I usually am a sucker for explosions and action movies/ typical guy stuff but this I was watching with my wife. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have watched the entire thing.

@localcrackhead2904 6 жыл бұрын

Mostly cause it ended happily with them being together

@sik92222 6 жыл бұрын

I'm not sure. I would say the ending is bittersweet. It is my favourite episode too. And I think the reason for all the love for the episode is that it is such a human, touching story with great characters. The plot twist is just a bonus. And the song in the ending is just perfect.

@alexbosworth1582 6 жыл бұрын

San Junipero was the most boring episode out of all of them

@hanniffydinn6019 6 жыл бұрын

No black mirror is a futurist commentary on change of society with technology. It's not meant to be really entertainment and all about characters. Charlie Brooker said its trilight zone updated changing supernatural with technology. So it's an anthology comparing episodes is literally dumb as rocks ... Like comparing twilight zone episodes. It misses the point...

@stasoline 6 жыл бұрын

Great channel! A little rough around the edges with the editing and analysis but you'll get there. Subbed and will pledge on Patreon if I keep watching. :-)

@brighamblundell4457 6 жыл бұрын

Congrsatuarations on 1 million, you deserve it.

@PolyMatter 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks dad

@smoke4131 6 жыл бұрын

LOL, that arrow at 0:23 😁😁

@ClashBerry 6 жыл бұрын

Once again great analysis, even though I don't necessarily agree with the poll you included. Also supported you on Patreon!

@LouisOnAir 6 жыл бұрын

ClashBerry - Tutorials & More Yeah, be right back is definitely in my top 3

@philingupspace 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for introducing me to one of my favorite shows! :-)

@xray788 6 жыл бұрын

Does anyone know what program he uses to animate?

@erinthomas2 6 жыл бұрын

You're videos are great! ☺

@adonistv15cantu 6 жыл бұрын

Shut Up and Dance and White Bear are easily my favorite episodes in Black Mirror

@ZetterStudios 6 жыл бұрын

This video makes a good point. One example is how in The book Les Miserable Jean Val Jean is given a yellow passport deaming him a dangerous person and thus is left in a permenant cycle of homelessness leading to crime. This is just like the review system NoseDive in black mirror but without computers.

@Gooros27 6 жыл бұрын

2:40 people enjoy more Hated in Nation than the National Anthem? Wtf? Hated in nation is as bad as the Waldo Moment pls... And the National Anthem is soooooooo underrated.

@wedgesalad3163 6 жыл бұрын

National Anthem is arguably the worst episode

@blothsear7289 6 жыл бұрын

Yeah the national anthem isn’t very good lol. I enjoyed hated in the nation tbh. I can agree with you though, Waldo wasn’t that great.

@sheenapatricio2418 6 жыл бұрын

I agree, National Anthem was good imo, a very fitting kick starter for the entire series coz it sets the tone of what black mirror is.

@briannaapling495 6 жыл бұрын

I have yet to read a takedown of Black Mirror that bothered to do more than a shallow cursory view of the show. It's not about technology, but how people use it. You could rewrite any of the stories to remove the technology and futuristic content and come up the exact same idea. That's the point. It's about us, the technology is merely a vehicle allowing the storytellers to tell us about ourselves in a way we can quickly grasp.

@prolmandabeast6192 2 жыл бұрын

Why can't I see Black Mirror on Netflix anymore?

@acharyavivek51 6 жыл бұрын

This channel will achieve greatness...

@leatherDarkhorse 6 жыл бұрын

Turn off your tv, your phone, what you see>? the black mirror. mind blown

@nicholas7417 6 жыл бұрын

NightOdin wow

@DoctorTex Жыл бұрын

Honestly, the best way I can describe this show is "The Twilight Zone but with technological themes"

@lennybaez541 6 жыл бұрын

What's the name of that piano piece?

@tushardudeja 6 жыл бұрын

which episode is being shown at 2:48?

@Elimbi1 6 жыл бұрын

love that video! btw which program do you use to make your videos/animations?

@goodestboi7692 4 жыл бұрын

One thing i have noticed is that TCKR shows up so many times in different seasons and episodes.

@subhankar_dey 6 жыл бұрын

Very good explanation. 👏

@Jwdude123 6 жыл бұрын

Nose dive is an underrated episode

@huntrrams 6 жыл бұрын

Now I just can't wait for next December for Season 5:)

@rishighia583 6 жыл бұрын

Nerdwriter1 finally got some competition. Nice. Also, animations on point. SUBBED.

@deanestimable2555 6 жыл бұрын

Black mirror episodes are varying different but they're all set in the same timeline and there's Easter eggs to other shows laid about

@Miquelalalaa 6 жыл бұрын

The best episode is hated in the nation. It is the most accurate portrayal of what we are coming to see.

@Gardz 6 жыл бұрын

Answer to title: *everything*

@HLVM 6 жыл бұрын

I remember when you had about 8K subs. Now you have 100K.... but u should have 2M!

@lavabeard5939 6 жыл бұрын

I would have never even thought about it being a critique of technology until you said that some people think it is. It has nothing to do with technology other than possibly metalhead, and everything to do with people moralizing and being enabled by technology.

@seorsuelos9272 6 жыл бұрын

the world with the get out guy was so weird

@tonybates7870 6 жыл бұрын

I thought Hated In The Nation was masterly.

@marlonmoncrieffe0728 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, it was my first episode and still my favorite episode!

6 жыл бұрын

You’re an incredibly talented youtuber. Your channel really deserves to grow much more. Keep up the good job boy!

@phillipmorales8213 6 жыл бұрын

Can you break down every episode of Black Mirror? That would be such an awesome series for this channel.

@MyBroSux24 6 жыл бұрын

I still like white bear much more for its plot twist and recursive nature, than the linear style of shut up and dance tbh

@getlosst2675 2 жыл бұрын

going to watch that series now

@karlfinke7254 6 жыл бұрын

Great points, definitively, but when you talked about how the better-rated episodes have better characters and vice versa as well as less technology there was one falling out of line, my favorite episode, National Anthem has few but very realistic characters and is technologically realistic apart from creating a perfect face swap in 2 hours, just noticed, watching the video, but still love your content!

@jcarterla 6 жыл бұрын

Good writing, acting, and filming can make any subject compelling.

@TheGamerShawn 6 жыл бұрын

on the 'black mirror shows technology is bad' i think it shows technology is great as at the start of most episodes everyone is happy but at the end it is usually bad. i think it portrays that technology can go bad but it good for most people

@docelephant 6 жыл бұрын

The Gods Must Be Crazy is a Black Mirror episode from the bushmen's perspective.

@CHE6yp 6 жыл бұрын

15 Million Merits on the 6th place?! Well, that's surprising to say the least. Also, San Junipero on the second place, while not being surprising - is weird.