Warning
There will be spoilers ahead. And plenty of profanity. And stories of tech fouling up our lives. Basically, whatever you've come to expect of Black Mirror, is gonna be in there, and more!The Premise
This next story, San Junipero, takes place largely in a virtual reality world, where the time periods vary. It's also pretty much a love story and there's even a happy ending. But it wouldn't be Black Mirror if there wasn't a little something at the end...The Characters
Mackenzie Davis is the lanky and timid Yorkie, who learns to live even as she dies. I last saw Davis in Terminator: Dark Fate. I didn't love the movie, but this woman's one hell of an actress! These two characters couldn't be more different.Gugu Mbatha-Raw is Kelly. Vivacious, bodacious. And those bedroom eyes! And that temper when its let out. This lady delivered.
Gavin Stenhouse as Wes, whom Kelly describes as "not a bad guy" despite being all obsessed after their one-night stand. Stenhouse plays him as a somewhat decent guy who has his own issues to work through.
Denise Burse as actual Kelly. She looks like she could actually be an aged Kelly. Burse plays her with grace and just the right amount of cheekiness.
Annabel Davis as actual Yorkie. There doesn't seem to be much to the role; they could have just used a mannequin.
Raymond McAnally as Greg, Kelly's nurse. He's played as this jovial nice guy with an "aw shucks" demeanor. Not gonna lie, I snickered a little at the actor's name.
Billy Griffin Jr puts in a couple appearances as video game nerd and romantic hopeful Davis. There's something very endearing about his puppy-dog enthusiasm.
The Mood
It begins in colorful fashion as the episode tells us that this is the 80s with references to Max Headroom, The Lost Boys and Belinda Carlisle. It's a very party vibe complete with big 80s hair, disco and even arcade games. Later time periods are less flashy, showcasing movies like Scream, The Bourne Identity and even what looks like a Pink music video.Soon, we're taken on a tour of the seaside town that is San Junipero and things get rather strange from there. And all around, there's always a hint of something else going on beneath the surface, like nothing is what it seems.
This also seems to be the first episode in Black Mirror that's set in the USA, rather than in the UK.
What I liked
The little subtle nods to what was really going on. Yorkie turns down a chance to play Top Speed when she sees the animated car crash because it reminds her of her own accident. The club is named Tucker's, and the company that actually sets up the simulation, is TCKR. Even the name "San Junipero" is a Spanish version of the hospital's name, "St Juniper's".The music! The 80s fashion! The 90s visuals! So good. Even the arcade games change with the time priod. Love it!
The Quagmire is awesome in its depravity and I'm really hoping it gets more airtime in future episodes.
The lesbian sex between Kelly and Yorkie is kept brief and just long enough to be obvious as to what's going on. It's not played for titillation, and the pillow talk is both tasteful and contains clues as to what San Junipero really is.
That scene where Kelly breaks the mirror and it magically repairs itself, is such a sly nod to the series.
That futuristic vehicle that Kelly rides in... that design. It speaks to me.
Yorkie's vanity plate is cute.
That slightly creepy vibe in the mid-credits. This is Black Mirror, remember?
What I didn't
I was slightly disappointed to find that there's no nasty ending to this episode. Yes, Black Mirror has conditioned me to expect certain things.That close-up of Kelly's gravestone was nowhere clear enough for me to see the name. Minor quibble, I know.
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