3 lessons that we have learned from the fifth season of "Black Mirror"

The fifth season of the famous satirical anthology series Charlie Brooker started on June 5 Netflix channel. From the premiere of waiting for something radically new, because until then Brooker surprised viewers an interactive movie "Bandersnatch". And even earlier, in the finale of the fourth season, Letitia Wright defiantly burned the museum "Black Mirror".

Revealed whether the new series, something unbanal? More likely no than yes. The series went on protoronnym paths and repeats itself. New episodes are completely different in the stylistic and genre content, but they are very few original. But if you want to, valuable lessons from them, you can still make.

1. Striking Vipers. Thanks to technology, you can find yourself with unexpected side

Virtually the entire cast of the first episode adaptations come from the comics. Anthony Mackie is best known for his role as Sam Wilson - superhero, known as Falcon - of the cinematic Marvel universe. Yahya Abdul-Mateen played black robes in the film DC «Aquaman" (2018). French Pom Klementeff known as Mantis of the "Guardians of the Galaxy." As for the actor's Canadian-Chinese origin Ludi Lin, he was the captain of the army of Atlantis Morkom in "Akvamene" (2018) and played Zack Taylor restarts "Power Rangers" (2017).

Perhaps it is no coincidence. episode action revolves around a video game in the fighting game genre, reminiscent of both Mortal Kombat and Tekken.

38-year-old Daniel Parker (Anthony Mackie) and his wife, Theo (Nicole Bahari) are trying to have a second child, but the main hero of the sexual life in marriage for a long time does not bring the same joy. Suddenly, on the birthday of Daniel appears his longtime friend Carl (Yahya Abdul-Mateen) and gives VR-version of fighting game that they loved in his youth.

While the bodies of their avatars - male and female, respectively, - Karl and Daniel realize that they are attracted to each other. This causes the characters to encounter difficulties and self-determination at some point to question their heterosexuality.

The plot seems very familiar. One of the previous episodes of "Black Mirror" - "San Junipero" - has already raised a similar problem. Shown in it technology allows you to upload the minds of people (including those who have already died) in the simulation of reality. One of the two main characters' San Junipero "similarly suffered the problem of identity, torn between feelings for her late husband, and falling in love with a new girlfriend. Story parallels can be found with a classic episode of "The history of your life," in which technology also intervened in the couple's relationship, and subjected them to the test.

The episode leaves mixed feelings. First Brooker actively hinted that the characters in reality hinder social and gender framework, and virtual reality is an outlet for repressed sexual feelings. But in the end it turns out that in reality, Danny and Carla together not pull. That is why the first series so disappointing. When the characters themselves can not understand their feelings, it is difficult to accuse the viewer.

2. Smithereens. There are situations when no technology will not help

Christopher Gelheyni (Andrew Scott) works as a taxi driver and takes orders exclusively near the office Smithereens application developers ( "Fragments") - something like a global social network.

At some point Gelheyni manage to steal an employee "fragments" named Jaden Thomas (Demson Idris). The goal - to talk with the owner of Billy Bauer Company (Topher Grace). But Bauer is located in the United States and virtually inaccessible. While employees "fragments" are trying to get in touch with your boss, the police discover that Christopher had once suffered in a car accident. But one thing they do not understand - how this fact is connected with the "fragments" and why is it needed a mad blackmailer Bauer?

Smithereens - one of the few episodes of "Black Mirror", where there is no fancy technology spawned fantasy Brooker.

The question of harm, which brings progress here is also not discussed. This is a very simple story of a desperate man who is also a incredibly graced the game, Andrew Scott, famous for Moriarty's role in the television series "Sherlock".

In the brave new world of the young millionaire Billy Bauer - the inventor of the global social network - like God. He himself compares himself with the Creator. But even God still had nothing to say in response to an excited monologue Gelheyni: because no technology can not afford to return the dead.

3. Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too. The messages pop stars should not believe, because they are backed by greedy producers

Unsociable schoolgirl Rachel (Engauri Rice) lives with her father and sister by the name of Jack (Madison Davenport) and adores popular singer Ashley O (Miley Cyrus). On the birthday girl gets a doll with built-in artificial intelligence, created in the image of your favorite stars.

However, behind the beautiful facade of the stage the singer's image is worth despotic aunt Catherine, who is everything: Ashley will look that will speak to the interview. When the young starlet refuses to obey, the aunt with the support of associates puts Ashley in a controlled coma. In this case, a special technology allows you to extract songs directly from the girl brain.

The series not only involves the problem of true and false art, but also intersects with the biography of the star Miley Cyrus episode.

Like her character, Ashley, the singer once rebelled and changed his style, changing from the reference product Disney Company into a walking provocation.

The episode also criticizes questionable messages pop stars and their influence on teenagers. Ashley Doll copy, like an endless conveyor, one after the other produces meaningless inspirational farewell-motivators. And at some point, Jack hides the doll in the attic, thinking that all this only hurt his sister and will not give it to adequately assess their capabilities.

Another slippery ethical problem, which is tabled in Charlie Brooker: Is it possible to replace a live actor hologram? This question applies to both virtual characters like Japanese singer Hatsune Miku (Hatsune Miku), and the companies that make their images of dead celebrities.

Regarding the issue of the transfer of the human consciousness, it is not new and has repeatedly versed in the series (episodes of "White Christmas", "the USS Callister," "Hang the DJ", "Black Museum"). Although the concept of "Rachel, Jack and Ashley, too," in this sense is more like an episode of "I'll be back" where human consciousness is designed anew on the basis of memories and data from social networks.