We're now in Series Five of Black Mirror, and there are three episodes to go through. Prepare to be shocked, disgusted and entertained in varying degrees.
Warning - spoilers ahead, important plot points discussed!
I try not to hold back where spoilers are concerned, and at this point, Black Mirror isn't exactly new. There's really no point in being coy about spoilers.Also... if you don't approve of video games, stop watching. If you don't like bad language, stop watching. And if seeing two grown men kiss makes your brain implode, definitely fuck off and stop watching.
The Premise
Striking Vipers is the first episode, and it is centered around two old friends playing a fighting video game, but with VR Black Mirror style.
As both of them become obsessed with their time within the game, however, this results in their real lives suffering for it.
Generally, this episode warns against the dangers of getting too absorbed in a game. The tech used appears to be the same one used in USS Callister, and bears the same Aesop.
The Characters
Anthony Mackie as Danny Parker. He's the serious responsible type who's now married with a kid, but sex has become a bit of a chore. Mackie gives us a tremendous portrayal of a man who's not a cheater by nature, but gets caught up in something that doesn't feel like cheating until it's too late. I've been watching Mackie on-screen as Sam Wilson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and this isn't too far from what he portrays there.Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as incorrigible manchild Karl Houghton with Peter Pan syndrome. He's finding it increasingly harder to relate to the girls he dates, because they're so much younger, even though the sex is presumably great. And the actor delivers with such earnestness lines like the one below.
"I fucked a polar bear and I still couldn't get you out of my mind."
Only in a series like Black Mirror would that quote make sense.
Anyway, I've seen the actor in superhero flicks like Aquaman and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. He gets a lot more to do here.
Nicole Beharie as Theo Parker. She has a role as Danny's wife and Tyler's mother, and while her portrayal is a little generic, Beharie does bring in some sassy charm into it.
Pom Klementieff is a breath of fresh air as Roxette. I loved seeing her in Mission Impossible: Dead Recknoning Part One and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and she brings the same zany offbeat quality to the role, almost perfectly mirroring Karl offline.
Ludi Lin as Lance. Last saw him in a similar role as Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat. This time it felt a little flat, if I'm being honest. Nice abs, but I can't seem to buy him as Danny Parker's online alter-ego.
Fola Evans-Akingbola portrays Karl's girlfriend Mariella as this slightly bimbotic girl who's obsessed with her phone. Serves to show us that Karl gets great sex physically but he's missing that extra emotional connection. Someone who gets him.
August Muschett is Danny and Theo's son Tyler Parker. He's a cute little tyke, perfectly normal. And only serves to underscore how much Danny has going for him.
The Mood
Scenes of wedded bliss and suburban serenity are interspersed by nighttime landscapes within the game.
Unlike the usual Black Mirror fare, none of this is particularly unsettling, but there is a fair bit of drama and tension as we get into it.
What I liked
The banter between Danny and Karl, at Danny's birthday barbecue, is delightful. It really serves to illustrate what a vibe these two buddies had before things got weird.I normally prefer Black Mirror episodes to be dark and creepy (maybe even violent) but this episode focused on the friendship between two men and it was glorious even though relationship drama isn't really my thing.
The name "Striking Vipers" is really such a sly nod to gay sex. Not that what's between Danny and Karl is 100% gay sex. When it happens, they're choosing to use avatars Roxette (a female) and Lance (a male).
The locations within the game are gorgeous. We can really see the effort they put into it. Also, the fighting moves. So outlandish. Love it! Especially that pancake slam by Roxette.
Could be just me, but I thoroughly enjoyed this over-the-top visual representation of Tetris.
What I didn't
I find it extremely hard to believe that the anatomical accuracy in the game would be so high as to facilitate sexual intercourse. And since this is a major plot point without which nothing else makes sense, it's pretty difficult to ignore.The ending's also a little off, I think. So once a year Theo and Danny both get a license for infidelity? Looking at how obsessed Karl was, is once a year even enough? What does he do in between, fuck more polar bears?
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