Black Mirror : Didn't get Playtest

Didn't get Playtest

Is the moral really just Switch off your phone / Answer when Mom calls?

Because that's pretty weak.

Re: Didn't get Playtest

Moral? There doesn't have to be a moral to the story but if there is one here, it is to not sign papers to let people put implants into your brain Willy Nilly.

Re: Didn't get Playtest

I agree, this was the weakest episode. Nearly every other episode has some sort of message about how technology and the media can take over people's lives, but that's completely missing in Playtest. Cooper's death was an accident caused by him not knowing that leaving his phone on could interfere with the equipment and fry his brain. No deep message here, just suspense for the sake of it.

Re: Didn't get Playtest

You seem to have missed the fact that his NEED to use Social Media, take a picture and post it, led to his demise. That along with being self-absdorbed enoug to not listen to what others are telling him.

How is this not "some sort of message about how technology and the media can take over people's lives"?


It fits perfectly with the theme of this series.

Re: Didn't get Playtest

Social media? He texted the picture to the girl who sent him to the game company, with the expressed purpose of getting pictures of what the company was working on.

That's not a need to use social media. That's espionage.

Re: Didn't get Playtest

Thanks for the spoiler alert ass hole!

Re: Didn't get Playtest

Unmarked spoilers really suk, but it's always better to avoid reading the forums before watching the thing, juat in case.

Spain

Re: Didn't get Playtest

In all fairness any thread titled "Didn't get X episode!" is clearly going to contain open discussion about that episode, you could find a 6 year old who would understand that so it's not the OP's fault that jerseyd1 has the same IQ as a mushroom.



Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived. -Isaac Asimov

Re: Didn't get Playtest

Asshole, why are you reading comments on an post titled "Didn't get Playtest"??? You are an IDIOT for doing that before watching the actual episode!!!

Re: Didn't get Playtest

I took it as you can't run away from your problems(or fears in this case). He went on vacation to get away from his mom who kept calling him. later on it's his mother's call that causes his death. If he'd just picked up one phone call he'd still be alive.

Re: Didn't get Playtest

If there's any moral its that corporate espionage can easily backfire on you. Cooper turned his phone back on so he could snap pictures of the secret technology.

I'll pump her full of motley seed, until she pops out a little me! -Shagwell

Re: Didn't get Playtest

There doesn't have to be a moral but the first one I would go with is if your mom calls you, call her back. You never know when it's going to be the last time you talk with her. He at least called her in the end with his last words. He just wanted his mom :'(

Re: Didn't get Playtest

There is no need for a moral at the end in order to enjoy a good story. This is one of my favorite episodes especially because of that reason, there is no cliché or in-your-face moral, just a well done science fiction story.

Re: Didn't get Playtest

Totally agree! One of my favourite episodes. Talk about suspense!

Re: Didn't get Playtest

I figure that at the basic level the moral is, "call your mom". At the more advanced level it's, "running from your fears and seeking escapism instead of dealing with them may lead to your downfall."

Re: Didn't get Playtest

Whatever the moral, the final scene with him calling / yelling for his mom got me; really got me like a gut punch. I have a 30 year old bearded son who never answers my phone calls, you get out a story what you bring into it.

Re: Didn't get Playtest

you know it's basically just total recall, meets The Game.

Re: Didn't get Playtest

I liked about playtest that in a way - you can never really really be sure to be out of the virtual reality.

See this concept of a 'horror VR game' - of course the 'best' Horror VR Game is one that makes you really think you are not in virtual reality anymore... but you still are... and you can never escape it.
And the episode made this horrifying thing more horrifying by basically saying that one second in VR could feel like eg one week, if that it's possible then it's really much more terrifying.

Re: Didn't get Playtest

It's 1408

Re: Didn't get Playtest

I'm on the same page as @antimike.
I find this episode very interesting since it touches on two very new technologies that are slowly moving into our lives: VR (virtual reality) and AI (artificial intelligence). And people are exploring the possibilities of what it can do. In a couple of tens of years, this episode could become a reality.

The moral? How about: we should think very well about what limits and regulations should be imposed on technologies that we don't fully understand and have a big potential of changing our lives. Did I mention that AI is on the shortlist of human existential risks http://cser.org/research/areas/artificial-intelligence/ ()?

Re: Didn't get Playtest

I agree more with you (constantin_horia) than with most others who posted in this thread. Calling your mother and running away from problems are side issues in this episode. The real focus (or "black reflection from the black mirror") is on the point of the so called simulation, which is to face your fears in a video game so you can come out happier for it.

The danger with this begins with the escapism that video games provides (which can also be seen with the escapism that being connected to social media brings). I myself enjoy a good first person shooter that allows me to leave reality and come back to it after a fun time shooting the bad guys. But this episode points out the using our own fear as a way to entertain us (like a good horror movie used to) does nothing to help us overcome those fears.

So, my take on the moral of the story is that trying to entertain ourselves with our own fear, through VR games or any other source, doesn't make us happier. Dealing with our fears in real life is a much better way to overcome them.

Re: Didn't get Playtest

I'm not sure if there was an intended moral for this specific episode. I think it was intended more to point out the dangers and possibilities of video games and virtual reality experiences that use brain implants.

Re: Didn't get Playtest

Greetings,

I posted a reply lower down this thread, and I would like to cut and paste this to you from my post as a response to your initial question:

"...this episode points out the using our own fear as a way to entertain us (like a good horror movie used to) does nothing to help us overcome those fears.

So, my take on the moral of the story is that trying to entertain ourselves with our own fear, through VR games or any other source, doesn't make us happier. Dealing with our fears in real life is a much better way to overcome them."

Re: Didn't get Playtest

I didn't see any moral in this episode really. Just an ironic ending

Re: Didn't get Playtest

The moral of the story was that if you play VR hard, you get it hard.
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