It’s only taken me 7 years, but I got there! I've been working my way through this generally excellent and thought provoking series on Netflix recently. There are four seasons, each with a differing number of episodes, each with their own running time.
In terms of a summary, can’t put it better than someone else has in Wiki… “...a [2011] British science fiction anthology television series created by Charlie Brooker. It examines modern society, particularly with regard to the unanticipated consequences of new technologies. Episodes are standalone, usually set in an alternative present or the near future, often with a dark and satirical tone, though some are more experimental and lighter.”
Some of the episodes are weaker than others, one or two are boring, but generally they are top quality, interesting stories, usually thrillers, but not exclusively. Most of them are set in England, but not all, being mainly played by British actors. There’s a real mix of drama to get your teeth into. The time normally flies with a fresh story each time, which is always a good sign.
I wanted to highlight this particular episode as it has been my favourite so far, excellently presented, acted and directed with a buzzin’ storyline! It’s also all but 90 minutes long, like all of them stands alone, and so very nearly qualifies as ‘film’ anyway.
The story is told largely from the point of view of the police who are investigating the death of a journalist, outspoken on social media. And then another. Same thing. They quickly link the deaths to the spread of a hashtag on social media whereby the public all-but vote on who the next person to be executed will be, initially without knowing about the consequences of their actions.
Meanwhile, honey bees have been made extinct in the country. Died out. A technology company has created ADIs (Autonomous Drone Insects) to replace them. Robot bees! Millions of them. Controlled by this tech company - or are they! You can probably work out the rest as the story unfolds in near-linear fashion (hurrah!) and we see what’s what.
It’s a real taut thriller/mystery with edge-of-the-seat wide-eyed reaction to some of the discovery as to what’s going on and some grizzly dark shots of the end results. The acting, in almost every corner is sparkling, from the likes of Kelly Macdonald (Swallows and Amazons, No Country for Old Men, Gosford Park), Faye Marsay (Darkest Hour, Dr Who, The Bletchley Circle) and Benedict Wong (The Martian, Annihilation, Marco Polo). They are all very convincing, driven by the leadership of director James Hawes (The Alienist, Genius: Einstein, Penny Dreadful).
Highly recommended, as is the rest of the series, which, because each one is so stand-alone, can be dipped in and out of over time without feeling the need to remember what’s gone on before. Most of the episodes ask big questions about what technology is doing to, and with, a society which can’t see the implications of their actions on themselves, being drawn in by mass cultural behaviour, globalisation and entrusting information to organisations. Makes you think!
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