Overall, pretty disappointing.
Joan is Awful: A good start to the series. It was sharply funny and self-referential (Streamberry/Frida/Salma Hayek etc. etc. – only occasionally was it BIT too over-deliberate). I was not sure about the ‘explanation’ given for the technology that created the main plot device or the extent to which it made sense at the end (could it ever, though, as it referenced quantum computers and this an area of vast ignorance) but ending did make a thoughtful point about human lives. The story had best Black Mirror element in that makes us say either (or both) ‘is the world really like this?’ or ‘Is this what the world is going to be like?’
Black Henry: Very disappointingly average. A dully standard thriller in almost all respects although the final shots were quite quietly powerful and engaging with the implied comment on what can sometimes be sacrificed in the pursuit of a great film. tbh not really worthy of its place as a Black Mirror episode.
Beyond the Sea: This was a superb episode. Wonderfully slowly paced and an exquisite emotional modulation in terms of relationships between the characters as the story unfolded. And the use of Charles Trenet music was magical and very powerful. A superbly mature piece of filmmaking.
Mazey Day: A very muddled and dramatically incoherent episode. The majority of the focus in the episode seemed to be on role and effects of paparazzi – which was potentially interesting and involving but then towards the end it suddenly lurched, very unconvincingly, rather ridiculously and illogically, into horror. But the final shots did return to what should have been the main and more interesting theme. However, like Loch Henry, this really was an episode, which, in terms of both content and quality of story and ideas, really was not at all worthy of being Black Mirror-worthy.
Demon 79
Stylistically and visually a very well-observed and entertaining picture of the 70’s – furnishings, decorating colours and politics. Slightly absurd story but getting nice character development of central character who, bizarrely through what she has to do, in fact becomes a more positive and in some ways, better and stronger person. But still a bit trivial compared t the darker seriousness of the pervious series which is such a unique hallmark of the series.