This Is Why You Really Need to Watch 'Black Mirror'

It's somewhat safe to say that technology has in many ways taken over our lives. Depending on one's use of it, the various screens that we look at on a daily basis have the potential to influence what we read, what we see, what we watch and even what we know to be true. But at the end of the day, when you turn your phone or computer or television off, all you have is a black mirror starring back at you. And that, in an of itself, is incredibly dangerous.

At least, that's what Charlie Brooker seems to think. Brooker's genius U.K. series "Black Mirror" (available on Netflix) delves deep into the potential repercussions of a technology-reliant world through highly suspenseful, hour-long episodes.

The ideas presented in the series really run the gamut, from a political leader forced into a compromising position with an actual pig by an anonymous online threat, to a new service that allows people to reconnect with the dearly departed through the use of their loved one's social media back catalog. It may seem like I'm being vague in my descriptions, but it's necessary; to spoil the plot of a "Black Mirror" episode, with all of its winding twists and turns, is really a capital offense, worthy of a punishment like the one inflicted in the vicious season two episode "White Bear."

Much like a modern-day "Twilight Zone," each episode is independent of the others, with a rotating who's who cast of stars including Allen Leech of "Downton Abbey" and "The Imitation Game," "Agent Carter" star Hayley Atwell, and Domhnall Gleeson of "Ex Machina" and the upcoming "Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens." Even Don Draper himself, Jon Hamm, appears in the decidedly un-jolly Christmas special.

"Black Mirror" is certainly not for the faint of heart. Its plot twists often fall on the more disturbing side, leaving an unsettling feeling that doesn't quite go away when the episode ends. But perhaps that's necessary. Perhaps that feeling is what we need to stop ourselves from getting to the point where these technology-fueled stories seem like more than just a fun, fascinating, fictional tale. Regardless, "Black Mirror" is yet another excellent way to spend time staring at a screen. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Jenn Murphy is a journalism student at Columbia College Chicago and a contributor to Moviefone's Campus Beat. Are you a current college student with a love for all things movies and TV? Contribute to Campus Beat!


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