Black Mirror : San Junipero is a happier version of Frictional Games Soma ( Spoilers )

San Junipero is a happier version of Frictional Games Soma ( Spoilers )

First off let me say, that I witnessed beauty in all its forms, viewing this episode. San Junipero is elevated from mere film to high art. The lighting, the details, the music, the camera angles, all meticulously crafted, this is as close to perfection we can experience, it truly is a piece of content that will linger with me for quite some time.

Now, for anyone who has ( I hope you have, as it is brilliant ) played the philosophical horror game SOMA, which this episode inadvertently ( or not ) borrows technological themes from. If you have not you can exit for the time being -

The long and short of SOMA without delving into too much detail, is that the surface of the earth has been glassed due to a Meteor strike, and what remains of humanity survives beneath the ocean. Where a research team is working simultaneously on an A.I which goes "rouge", in placing human life as valuable seeks to continue, "life" in the best way it can, obviously a newly learning machines perception of life can lead to horrifying consequences relative to humans who do not have the same views as an A.I, which results in terrifying body horror.

The team is also working on copying the consciousness of people perfectly, the main goal is to place all those who have had their conscience scanned, and cloned. Uploaded into what is called the ARK, essentially a San Juniperan simulation.( but more Eden-esque for humans to continue, in some capacity )

This is where the Black Mirror episode and game share similar themes, although it is explored far more in-depth in SOMA, and to a far more horrific effect as the player character switches machine/animated corpse/Hub bodies thrice, leading the player to be in conflict as to which version is the real you.

The answer is obviously, that all are real, except the now the previous two you's, are continuing on a separate path. They are unaware of the clones creation. Although there is a choice to shut down a previous host body, without its knowledge or consent.

San Junipero seems to clear up the moral dilemma of having a previous/original you continuing on, by euthanasia of the first body/elder Kelly/Yorkie to avoid this conundrum. This is convenient as this is supposed to be, for all intents and purposes the theme veering off into a more pleasant tone. Whereas in SOMA the remaining humanity who has not been assimilated by the A.I commit suicide after being uploaded.

The existential crisis arises mostly for the religious, as I am a Reactionary Catholic in the belief of the soul, as well as student of Philosophy these themes are deliciously subversive, often times painful. As evidenced from the ending track "Heaven is a place on earth". Which sent all of my Catholic friends to sleep, or rather not asleep, in contemplation about Heaven being potentially a mechanical creation, and not divine creation.

As art however, we adore it.


I believe the truly depressing things about San Junipero, from our point of view as we live our day to lives, is many. For one there is uncertainty which we have to bare.

Another, is that we know, we will truly never experience that happiness, we can attempt to live full lives, and mostly fail, and or embarrass.

Fail as we have too many obligations to simply get by in life, work, family, etc.

Fear we are sometimes too scared to truly live, because of the judgment of others, and previous repeated failures in our life. Which shows it took old age for Yorkie and Kelly to essentially live, and they were gifted a second chance, which we will undoubtedly never experience - and even if we could it would not be the bliss that fictional Yorkie and Kelly achieved. This is what I believes hurts many viewers of this episode. That realisation.

Re: San Junipero is a happier version of Frictional Games Soma ( Spoiler

i loved your article. you mastered it. keep it up!!!!!

Re: San Junipero is a happier version of Frictional Games Soma ( Spoilers )

Poignant points
Nicely done
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