Black Mirror : San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

There wasn't anything dark or disturbing about it. It was just some cheesy romance with a happy ending. It felt like a completely different show. As far as I could tell, there wasn't even a lesson to it. Just a way the future could be better.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

Yeah I agree that episode I noticed got a lot of acclaim off critics and fans. I personally found it very schmaltzy, half baked and actually quite boring apart from the attention to details on the different eras It struggled to hold my attention I kept zoning in and out whilst watching it.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

I was thinking something similarly..It may be my least favorite of them all. Nothing edgy about it ..
One thing that did occur to me, though, was that type of virtual reality could really be beneficial to quadriplegics and anyone handicapped in one way or other. Otherwise not particularly provocative.

But I can't see believing more in a human virtual forever after death as much or more than other possibilities. If a fake life after death could exist than why can't there be a real one?

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet


I was thinking something similarly..It may be my least favorite of them all. Nothing edgy about it ..
One thing that did occur to me, though, was that type of virtual reality could really be beneficial to quadriplegics and anyone handicapped in one way or other. Otherwise not particularly provocative.
That's exactly my point. It was a GOOD aspect of technology. That's the very opposite of Black Mirror.


But I can't see believing more in a human virtual forever after death as much or more than other possibilities. If a fake life after death could exist than why can't there be a real one?
It made me think of Inception lol. And just to top it off, it was mentioned that you could cut it off at any point. That it wasn't a prison.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

The reviews of the episode said that it wouldn't feel like a Black Mirror episode (since it was taking place in the past rather than the future), but there would be some HUGE twist. I didn't think the twist was that great...I predicted either time travel or that it was a simulation of some kind. It was the latter, although I didn't foresee the "afterlife" aspect of it.

Formerly RIP_Matthew_Abaddon.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet


The reviews of the episode said that it wouldn't feel like a Black Mirror episode (since it was taking place in the past rather than the future), but there would be some HUGE twist. I didn't think the twist was that great...I predicted either time travel or that it was a simulation of some kind. It was the latter, although I didn't foresee the "afterlife" aspect of it.
I figured it was either time travel or a simulation pretty early in as well, although I didn't think about them being older.

I can see people enjoying it (although I didn't personally), but it was just a completely different style. Every other episode was about the possible dangers of our future. They might as well have played a Hallmark movie in place of this.

Re: San Junipero was the least 'Black Mirror' episode yet

Yeah i feel like I would have enjoyed it more if I had been in the mood for a sweet uplifting romance. That's not what I watch Black Mirror for though. I want to be scared or disturbed or disgusted. I kept waiting for an upsetting twist ending but it never came. I wondered if that shot of the big computers at the end was supposed to be disturbing but I was just like, oh all those lights represent happy people in their own versions of heaven. How nice.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

I agree, not a huge twist especially because foreshadowing is an ingredient in each episode and a fan of BM know that. Random reviewers not. In San Junipero when Yorkie is at the mirror triyng to dress up, the song in background is The Smiths "girlfriend in a coma"... that was a huge clue to understand the twist.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

The episode was given away by the "this place if filled with dead people" line.

Some people are glossing over some of the troubling aspects the episode, chiefly, what does "life" turn into without consequence, threat, or limitation?

Life! Don't talk to me about life.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet


Some people are glossing over some of the troubling aspects the episode, chiefly, what does "life" turn into without consequence, threat, or limitation?
Eh, that was thought provoking at most. No negative aspects of it were shown anyway. There was the "they say you go lose interest in the real world if you use it too much", but that was negated with the black woman's comment (sorry, I'm terrible with names) about how everyone in a nursing home is like that anyway.

It just felt like they went out of their way to remove any way that it could have a negative impact.

Life! Don't talk to me about life.
You brought it up.

And yes, I know that's just your signature.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

Thought-provoking is considered to be a pretty high mark. You need to calm down.

There absolutely were negatives, and big ones at that. People are simply choosing to focus on the positives.

Life! Don't talk to me about life.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet


Thought-provoking is considered to be a pretty high mark. You need to calm down.

There absolutely were negatives, and big ones at that. People are simply choosing to focus on the positives.
I'm perfectly calm, but I've come to expect far more from Black Mirror than a "eh, I guess that could be bad" plot point. I'm guessing you were a pretty big fan of it though.

The one you mentioned didn't have any downsides shown. What were some other ones? I'm not against liking the episode. I'd be happy if there was something I missed. Like other people, I thought it felt like a different genre.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

The dark side of it is The Quagmire, where apathetic folks who've already done everything go and do anything with the hopes of feeling something.

The episode is dreamy and ends on a happy note, but there's no promise of the characters living happily ever after. Nothing lasts forever and it's only a matter of time before there's trouble in paradise. Having said that, I'm glad they went the route they did. The show doesn't have to be all doom and gloom nihilism. Yea, we're fooked. We're all gonna get our dreams crushed and die at some point. Might as well embrace the ish out of the good times when and while we still can.

Re: San Junipero was the least 'Black Mirror' episode yet

But even at the Quagmire it seemed like everyone was having a good time.

Re: San Junipero was the least 'Black Mirror' episode yet

When a paedophile is *beep* a child, he's having a good time too.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

The thing I would like to know is what process they are using to keep the brain from turning to liquid when there is no life support and no nutrients.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet


The dark side of it is The Quagmire, where apathetic folks who've already done everything go and do anything with the hopes of feeling something.
Hmm. I didn't really get that sense. It seemed just like a *beep* club. But maybe. You shouldn't have to dig deep to find a lesson. though.


The thing I would like to know is what process they are using to keep the brain from turning to liquid when there is no life support and no nutrients.
Their consciousness was uploaded to the cloud, similar to the cookie in White Christmas.

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Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet


Hmm. I didn't really get that sense. It seemed just like a *beep* club. But maybe. You shouldn't have to dig deep to find a lesson. though.

You don't have to dig for anything. That's taken right from Kelly's line:

You wanna spend forever somewhere nothing matters? End up like Wes? All those lost *beep* at the Quagmire trying anything to feel something, go ahead.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

Yeah, I felt there was barely any story there what-so-ever, seemed more about pushing the current population control agenda, then making us feel nostalgic for the past by giving us ample supply of member berrie-amplified music.

Not only that, this type of technology was fleshed out much better in Caprica (2009). Normally Black Mirror leaves you with a temporary mental scar, not this time, and that is the problem, its not a black rainbow, its supposed to be a mirror.


"This is What You Want... This is What You Get"

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

It can be argued the consciouses of the 2 women are only 'copies'. They're both dead. The two girls you see drive off are just copies, stuck forever in a virtual world. What happens if the systems are damaged or malfunctions? They'll be gone forever too. Is living the same day for eternity in a closed community true happiness? These girls barely know each other and they expect to exist together forever? It's implied you can't leave San Junipero. There's no long term planning or ambition. Nothing to look forward to and no-one new to meet.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

I forget which girl said it but San Junipero isn't a prison. They can leave anytime they want to. And I think new people can be sent there too right? So it's not like an eternity of the same faces. Oh god that would get boring fast though.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

I'd start modding (hacking/tweaking/testing/improving) the heck outta that place. Get some sharks in there with frickin lasers on their heads or something else cool like that.

You could pull some real Groundhog Day high-jinks as well, seeing as you cannot die for real. And, perhaps you could "forget" things so it always seems fresh.


"This is What You Want... This is What You Get"

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

Humanity creating heaven is not disturbing at all. 😁

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

Even though I really got in touch with the characters romance, I kind of wished it had ended on a sadder note. With all that said, I think the disturbing part is when they show the company's storage at the end, with people uploaded in a computer and stuff like that. It really got me thinking about afterlife, and I definitely don't think it was a good use of technology, but rather some sort of depressing statement that humanity can't deal with existence and how it ends.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

Yeah, it was just code being run on a computer, not the real people anymore. They were dead.

But scientists think we might achieve physical immortality by the end of this century, so it won't be like that ending with code just running on a server. We will really be immortal, replacing faulty parts as they wear out.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

I enjoyed it, it was good for a change of pace and mood. It felt kind of a "Vanilla Sky"-esque rip-off, with the LGBT theme (and the consequential upon-frowning, at least throughout the '900) thrown in.

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Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

Reading this thread I'm amazed to see that having your consciousness transformed into code to fill the servers of a massive private corporation seems a good ending for everyone. Eternity is acquired… at what price? Classic Black Mirror themes like merchandised happiness and corporate control were central here, with some clever thoughts about how the oldest and the disabled are handled by society, embellished by a well balanced lesbian romance. I saw the contrast between a too perfect happy ending driving towards the sunset and the cold lights of the electronic cemetery horrifying, and totally Black Mirror-like.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet


Reading this thread I'm amazed to see that having your consciousness transformed into code to fill the servers of a massive private corporation seems a good ending for everyone. Eternity is acquired… at what price?
It wasn't even eternity. They could have left out the part about how it wasn't a prison. How you could end at any time. But instead they made it "you can live here as long as you want, and when you don't want to anymore, you're free to end it." The writers went out of their way to make it as happy as possible.

It's made even worse by the fact that they already did something so similar in White Christmas with "the cookie", but made it dark.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet


I saw the contrast between a too perfect happy ending driving towards the sunset and the cold lights of the electronic cemetery horrifying, and totally Black Mirror-like.



this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this this


Less than forget. But more than begun.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

Just finished this one. Man, what a boring episode.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

I've watched all but the last episode so far and this was my favorite. It was refreshing to have an episode that everyone didn't get screwed in the end. That is to say we don't really know if it will be happy forever. I feel eventually no one there would want to keep on "living" as evident by the Quagmire. To me the moral was "be careful what you wish for", even an eternal heaven isn't perfect as it would eventually get boring.

Not to mention the logistical issue of what happens if one day the corporation running those servers closes or there is some war and the power goes out or the server farm is bombed.

No matter what it could never, truly, last forever.

Then there is the issue of whether it is really them or just a copy of them like a cookie.

I think it would of been a good story to even make a part 2, like what happens when people start turning on each other or someone gets in that is really a maniac and starts harassing people.

I also liked at the end how on the inside it's this beautiful paradise but on the outside (like another poster said) it was just a cold, electronic graveyard.

The whole show is suppose to be about what would it be like if potential technology was pushed to the extreme. I thought this played well into that.

Re: San Junipero was the least 'Black Mirror' episode yet

I think it would've been a lot darker if she hadn't said they can opt out whenever they want. That kind of kills any what if scenario. What if it gets boring, or they start hating each other, if they hate the city, if the hate being "alive"? Oh well they can just leave. They should have to choose then get stuck there. Flash forward a hundred years and see how miserable they've become. That would make a good Black Mirror episode.

Re: San Junipero was the least 'Black Mirror' episode yet

The problem with the episode is that it was slow, boring and finally when we got to the twist it was slow and boring.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

You just don't get it - the show was lesbian horror. You've spent most of your life in a coma. They finally hook you into a virtual reality world where you find out that you're a lesbian and the closest thing to you is a bi-girl that marries you - only to change her mind and leave you alone in that world for eternity. I'm not a girl, but I am a male lesbian, so can understand.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

I thought it sucked
President of the Uncle Benjen fan club

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

I don't know if you watched the same episode I did? It was about eternal life, it was amazing. You can choose a time period and live there forever! This episode was so good, and I didn't realise what was going on for a while.

When she asked "how many of them are dead?" That's so spooky! Think about it, really imagine living there after you've died. And imagine what life would be like when you have eternity to live, what would your values be like? Our life is short, so we act a certain way as we know that people won't be here forever. But in that world, things would be different.



You think that's air you're breathing now?

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

That aspect of it was great, but it was sadly wasted by a cringe infested love story.

President of the Uncle Benjen fan club

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

I can understand how some fans of the series might not like it, it is tonally different. But thematically I found it to be very Black Mirror - the concept is arguably the most popular in futurism right now, and it always kept the characters central over the science. There is some darkness in there, too. For the first half you're pretty sure Kelly's some kind of succubus. In general, they do a good job of keeping you paranoid about both character's true intentions and selves. When the concept/twist is revealed, it's one most religious folk find horrifying, as Kelly's husband did. The possibility of slowly losing your mind in the Quagmire, and other flaws like cigarettes with no taste, were also introduced. Although it is a personal fantasy of mine, heaven on earth. With consistent patches, of course!

I've frankly been waiting for any medium to tackle this subject in a way that isn't totally horrifying and dystopian, most of my life now. So I can say with some confidence, this is not only my favorite Black Mirror episode, this is possibly my favorite piece of science fiction in existence. Maybe try watching it back and not comparing it to the rest of the series? Not sure what to suggest, but I truly wish I could help because the episode was transcendent perfection for me.

Playtest, despite being the most classically horror, struck me as least Black Mirror of this crop. Felt more like Outer Limits with too much Shyamalan at the end, no real theme outside of the old, relatively shallow "curiosity killed the cat" trope. I don't really care if it fits with the rest, I've never seen anything like San Junipero put to film.

Re: San Junipero was the least 'Black Mirror' episode yet

Listen, most of the people don't understand that there's a reason a self-described cynical show gave a happy ending for a bisexual black woman and a lesbian. It's just as "edgy" as it's supposed to be, the irony is that only on the most cynical show on air (so to speak) is the only place WlW get a happy ending. In every other medium, bi women are sluts with no impulse control who lead straight men or lesbians on only to cheat and lesbians/gay people in general are killed or given an ending where they're all alone just to make the straight people watching cry for an hour and thank their lucky stars they don't have to deal with that reality of systematic oppression and slander. The reason this is the single episode with a happy ending is purposeful and arguably more meaningful because of it. Think of the walking dead, killing a gay woman (even though they gave her the death that was SUPPOSED to happen to a straight white man, if they were following the comics) and leaving her lover spurned and alone. Or think of the 100 when they were heralded for creating not even explicitly bi characters and having them as a couple, only to kill one of them off. Leaving her lover spurned and alone, left with the heavily suggested other choice of lover, a man. The only *happy* representation I can think of for non-straight people is 2d bit characters, usually 2 white men (occasionally 2 white women or the rare police chief on Brooklyn nine nine) who are the "neighborhood gays" who are used as a prop for the other characters to realize "wow, gay people... are people!" Usually while throwing in a homophobic joke or two. Even in literature, there's usually only angsty/tragic or pornographic displays of gay people and when there are happy endings they're stuffed away in "LGBT/NSFW" sections of the internet and libraries.
So there's a definitively clever reason for a happy ending here. As if to say; there's a huge problem if THIS SHOW can create a utopia for gay people successfully and literally no other mainstream media can. So black mirror represents the dark reflection of society (I mean, it's called black mirror)? With this episode it's telling us WE'RE the black mirror reflecting the purity of gay love. And if you can't understand that, feel free to go back to getting off to Quentin Tarantino movies while talking about how "edgy" and "intellectual" you are.

Re: San Junipero was the least 'Black Mirror' episode yet

Well they portrayed the bisexual girl as pretty damn slutty. She was going for hit it and quit it as many times as possible before she died.

The show isn't about being edgy. It's about showing a dark future that society could have. So by Black Mirror logic, gay people living happily ever after is a terrible possible consequence of technology.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

It was cheesy and feel-good, totally the worst of the season and had pretty much 0 to do with what Black Mirror has been about since day one.
In other words: I agree.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

Quality of the episode aside, I can't believe how some people on this board actually wrote "I didn't like this episode because it wasn't edgy" or "there was no lesson" because the "lesson" wasn't spoonfed to them.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet


Quality of the episode aside, I can't believe how some people on this board actually wrote "I didn't like this episode because it wasn't edgy" or "there was no lesson" because the "lesson" wasn't spoonfed to them.
Other than "the future is awesome and there are absolutely no downsides", what was the lesson?

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

But I loved that we got a change of pace, even the twilight zone had its xmas episode.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

That episode lost all credibility by depicting mainstream '80s culture as heaven, FFS.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

Propaganda and nostalgia rolled up tightly for the viewers to stick up their behinds. Puke.

This show should stick to the future, seemingly that's the only space where they can remain critical.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet

I think the thought-provoking aspect of it for me was while things seemed end to well for Kelly and Yorkie. I just can't help wonder what happens when others get bored and want more excitement? Will they turn violent? It didn't seem possible to get hurt, however it seems some could start turning on each other just for more excitement. Also, living day after day the same could become very redundant. I definitely saw positives in the possibilities of a San Junipero, however it comes with its drawbacks and that's why the episode left me thinking afterwards.

Re: San Junipero was the least "Black Mirror" episode yet


I think the thought-provoking aspect of it for me was while things seemed end to well for Kelly and Yorkie. I just can't help wonder what happens when others get bored and want more excitement? Will they turn violent? It didn't seem possible to get hurt, however it seems some could start turning on each other just for more excitement. Also, living day after day the same could become very redundant. I definitely saw positives in the possibilities of a San Junipero, however it comes with its drawbacks and that's why the episode left me thinking afterwards.
They go to Quagmire. Which looked *beep* but everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. There are clubs like that everywhere.

Overall, everything was just way better.
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