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The return of Black Mirror in a rapidly changing world.
Although it has only been a few years since Charlie Brooker’s dystopian show, Black Mirror, last aired, the world has become increasingly unpredictable. The show returns for its seventh series amidst significant shifts in technology and politics that challenge our understanding of the modern landscape.
Since the initial episode debuted in 2011 with the launch of Siri and the iPhone 4S, technological advancements have accelerated, introducing features like Meta AI within WhatsApp and the Apple Watch Series 10. This evolution has enabled Black Mirror to explore a vast range of concepts from unsettling memory devices to actors transforming into werewolves.
Brooker expresses his enthusiasm for the show’s longevity, noting that technological progression continues to provide a fresh wellspring of ideas. He remarked, “Technology is developing in the real world very quickly, which means there are more sources of inspiration, and viewers are experiencing more [technological] things in their everyday life.”
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Emma Corrin, known for her roles in The Crown and Deadpool & Wolverine, stars in an episode this season and shares her perspective that the show resonates more deeply as technology like AI becomes more integrated into daily life, making it a potent cautionary tale. Both she and Brooker agree that the show should continue indefinitely, as they find new relevance in the narratives.
They both discuss a specific episode titled “Hotel Reverie,” featuring Corrin as screen siren Dorothy Chambers, alongside Issa Rae, reflecting on the charm of 1940s film acting and the emotional gravity intertwined with the exaggerated style typical of the era.
AI remains a central theme in the season’s storyline, provoking concerns among the cast regarding its implications for creative professions. While acknowledging the potential risks, Corrin expresses hope for AI as a tool that, if applied responsibly, can enhance creativity rather than diminish it.
Brooker shares similar sentiments, emphasizing that while AI can be a valuable creative aid, it becomes troubling when human elements are stripped from artistic expression. The show also revisits the theme of gaming, featuring a new episode titled “Plaything,” with returning actors from the interactive film Bandersnatch.
Black Mirror series seven is available to stream on Netflix starting Thursday, April 10.
