Just watched the Black Mirror season 4 episode Crocodile. It's the first real stinker in the four seasons of the show. The kind of stinker where you wonder why nobody brought up all the face-palm plot ploints and terrible choices when they first saw the script. I hope Charlie Brooker hasn't reached the stature where nobody has the guts to tell him when he's screwing up.
What did you think were some of the issues? I thought it was kind of a slow episode, but it fit in with the overall arc of the series with the Black Mirror teaching lesson. Of any, I think I liked Arkangel the least.
The premise of the setup was good. Acting was good. Direction some of the best in the series.
I just didn't buy the story.
Spoiler!
Woman is worried that her past will come back to haunt her, so in an act of rash desperation, kills the guy who is going to put her successful life in jeopardy. Okay. I guess I can buy that.
But then killing the insurance investigator? And then going to her house to kill her husband in cold blood? And her baby? If this woman was a sociopath all along, they didn't do anything to develop that in her character. If she wasn't, I just don't buy that she goes on a ruthless killing spree.
Smaller issues were the guy getting hit by a driverless van going at walking speed. It just seemed really contrived. Same with the science of the memory chip. Black Mirror has done a good job showing how these powerful technologies have been integrated into society. I didn't buy it in this case. If you could tap peoples' memories for insurance claims, you could do it for all kinds of things. None of the people in the show seemed aware of this incredible technology.
Then there's the black irony of using the implants on the guinea pig. Which might fit the tone of the show - if a baby hadn't just been murdered. And making the baby blind was just too on the nose and contrived.
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If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
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I've been a big fan of Derren Brown's shows for years. His latest one The Push is on Netflix now. He creates a large social experiment to see if he can manipulate someone into committing murder. Not gonna say too much else about it except to go watch it. It's really really good.
I just watched that, and my initial reaction afterwards that the people who made this should go to jail. That's honestly an unreasonable thing to put people through.
jesus christ the new chris rock special should be titled "#### white people". unfunny and stupid.
I remember reading this post a few weeks ago and thinking it was just exaggeration.
I absolutely love Chris Rock, Bigger & Blacker and Bring The Pain are incredible. Put on the new special last night and hit the stop button just 3 mins in.
I just binged "Everything S#*ks". It was entertaining. Kinda like Degrassi, but with lesbians. The black kid was a pretty good little actor. But there was something about the chick that just weirded me out. Something about her eyes... alienish...no emotion. Was just what I needed for a stay at home sick day.
We're near the end of season 4 of the American Shameless and we're disliking it. I checked IMDB and the viewer reviews continue to be good but we're fast losing interest. We'll take a time out and may go back to it, or maybe skip a few episodes to get past Fiona's legal problems and see if it gets better. I figure we can quickly catch up on the story lines if we skip a few episodes.
I really enjoy Shameless but the last few seasons have felt pretty cyclical. No one ever gets ahead or makes real progress as a character. Debbie was the only one I didn't hate before but that changed a couple seasons ago when she went off the deep-end too.
I've been a big fan of Derren Brown's shows for years. His latest one The Push is on Netflix now. He creates a large social experiment to see if he can manipulate someone into committing murder. Not gonna say too much else about it except to go watch it. It's really really good.
+1 to this, going into this cold makes it much, much better.
I really enjoy Shameless but the last few seasons have felt pretty cyclical. No one ever gets ahead or makes real progress as a character. Debbie was the only one I didn't hate before but that changed a couple seasons ago when she went off the deep-end too.
Its almost like... real life!
I get what you're saying but I have enjoyed all the seasons that are on netflix. Still a top 5 show for me of all time.
Mute was released today. It's getting panned by critics and, after watching it, it's pretty deserved. It felt like two movies and the story was all over the place. Paul Rudd was the shining star in it and at times I thought was the lead. 5/10 probably.
Totally agree with you. The story just didn't know where it was going and the characters and their motivations weren't convincing. Good concept, good visuals, pretty poorly written story.
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Just finished Manhunt: Unabomber. Really good show, I was a little too young to remember the specifics but it was truly fascinating. Normally my wife and I don't get too deep into shows but we finished the entire series in two nights (after the baby went to sleep).
I really enjoy Shameless but the last few seasons have felt pretty cyclical. No one ever gets ahead or makes real progress as a character. Debbie was the only one I didn't hate before but that changed a couple seasons ago when she went off the deep-end too.
Agree with you on Shameless. I binged the first 4 seasons because it was real and it was raw. Then it felt cyclical and my interest slowly faded in the middle of season 5 and then just stopped watching altogether.
Agree with you on Shameless. I binged the first 4 seasons because it was real and it was raw. Then it felt cyclical and my interest slowly faded in the middle of season 5 and then just stopped watching altogether.
You outlasted us. We stopped near the end of S4. It got boring.
Dunno wtf people are talking about. I think the new Chris Rock special is hilarious. All of the white people stuff is clearly facetious so I kinda have to agree with the white fragility label.
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Just saw the new Ricky Gervais special Humanity. The best of the Netlfix comedy specials, IMHO. The bits on why he isn't a parent were classic.
Absolutely, the new Gervais is right up there with "Animals" and "Science" which I have watched more than a few times.
Not sure if I see many people talking about Colin Quinn's recent one man shows. "Long Story Short" just blew me away, his cadence and delivery have always been enjoyable but the entire show is amazing. By far my favorite show by any stand up in the past 5 years. "New York Story" as well, just brilliant and available on Netflix right now.
