San Junipero

All the feels.

ALL of them.

Anything over than tears and cheering at the TV as Belinda Carlisle plays over the credits is evidence of some severe lack of emotional aspect.

This is not what I expected, not from Black Mirror, not from the tone of episodes 1-3 (and every episode from the earlier seasons). But Charlie Brooker has shown he can do more than creepy or scary or unease. This was ~EXPLETIVE~ beautiful. And somehow it fits. It works. I don't feel like I've been cheated by this Black Mirror episode. It makes the series feel more rounded, more whole. That glint of gold among the sand.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Mackenzie Davis are spectacular. The soundtrack is just perfect.

Just... just go watch it. Or re-watch it. I can't do justice to this episode, it is truly spectacular.

There are no words to describe how perfect this episode was, I was always impressed by the darker theme of this TV series and the way it portrays humanity's future in a dire way.

This episode managed to showcase that, but with a happier ending, without dropping any quality that Charlie Brooker accustomed us in other episodes, his ideas and writing are stunning and I didn't even get to talk about the acting, which was also incredible, as well as the design of the scenes, it felt so genuine and when I thought it can't get any better, there came the soundtrack, it was just sublime, combined with the wonderful acting of the two women and with the perfect cinematography.

This episode was truly a masterpiece.

Are you like me? Someone now in their 40's or 50's who got the privilege of experiencing their teenage years in the 80's? Do you ever think back to those times and miss them? The music, the clubs, the fashion, the atmosphere. Did you also experience "the transition" at some point. From listening (and looking like) you listen to music like Duran Duran, Nik Kershaw and early Madonna, then suddenly discovering your gothyness. For me it happened when a friend took to me a secret goth club where membership was required, but you could bring a guest. I looked around: Every single surface painted black. No colored lights, only white dramatic spotlights shining down on gaunt, fluffy haired, black lipped goths with chiseled cheekbones encompassed in fog machine smoke. Striding about theatrically to the beat of the Cure and Bauhaus. I knew it, right there and then that I'd found my people. Anyhow, fast forward to tonight. I watched this episode of "Black Mirror" and woooooshhh!!! - it zapped me right back to those times. It even had a "transition" of sorts, as it started off with a disco playing Robbie Nevil and progressed to a more underground club with punks, goths and all sorts of riff raff, with the Pixies blasting away. I enjoyed the episode so much, that I re-watched it immediately. First time to immerse myself back into the 80's and second time to pay more attention to the wonderful story playing out. If you have a history like me, you will ADORE this episode. It will take you right out of this world and immerse you in another. Once you've seen the episode, you'll know what I mean!

Yorkie, a shy and timid girl from an uptight family, goes to a night club, a place where she definitely feels out of place. And there she meets Kelly, a girl who is totally in her element there. Somehow these opposites develop a connection stronger than anyone could expect.

This is about as much as I can give out without spoiling anything (and I truly believe this episode shouldn't be spoiled even the tiniest bit).

I know two ways to explain what Black Mirror is about: 1. It's a show about our fears; 2. It's a show about how technologies could change our lives.

Most of the show's episodes lean heavily towards the fear aspect. This episode is an exception; in fact, I could say, it's probably the only episode that shows how technologies could change us not just in a scary way, but in a new and in many ways wonderful way.

However, while many say that it's entirely positive and light (some even claim it goes entirely against Black Mirror style), I wouldn't be so sure. As I said, I'm not going to spoil anything here, but after watching this episode a second time I can say that there are some ideas in this episode that are rather creepy if you look closely. It's just that in this one, in contrast to other Black Mirror's episodes, the creepiness is not a fact but rather a matter of interpretation.

Nevertheless, I'd say this is Black Mirror's only episode that isn't wholly dark and cynical; in fact it's actually sincere and sensual. So, if you're looking for the show's usual dark/scary aspect, this episode won't work for you. But if you just want to have a good time, I can tell you, this is one of the most touching stories I've seen in drama TV shows.

I find this episode to be among my all time top five TV favorites. The others, in chronological order, are: first and last episodes of Twin Peaks, Jose Chung's From Outer Space of X-Files, and Blink of Doctor Who. Yes, all sci-fi/fantasy (I was spoiled by 2001: A Space Odyssey when I was ten years old).

The backbone on which this episode is built is a flawless script that depicts a love story in an uncanny background. This being Black Mirror one pays attention to details, and the initial eighties setting raises questions (that are later answered). The cinematography, lightning, and other technical details are first rate, up to the point that San Junipero feels "real". The music, mostly from the eighties, is great and all the tracks relate to the plot so well that it shows the art put into making this episode.

But what makes San Junipero stand out (and make it to my personal top five) is the acting. In particular Mackenzie Davis transmits the emotions of her character with such authenticity that it increases the suspense of the story to a point that even having seen it several times in two months, I do not get tired of watching it. Or her.

Other reviewers complain that San Junipero is not your typical Black Mirror episode of technological darkness. While that is true, believe me it is worth watching even if you have only a dark side. Also I understand that the LGBT community might feel particularly for this episode. But it is really a timeless and placeless love story, which can take place between a man and a woman, two persons of the same sex, or even between bytes.

Finally other reviewers suggest this should be made into a movie. This was done before (I remember at least one of Kieslowski's Decalog). But instead I suggest making a San Junipero 2 centered on Billy Griffin Jr.'s character. He is the only other person in SJ wearing glasses. And at the beginning he tells Mackenzie Davis' character that the video game she is playing was the first one made with two different endings depending if there are one or two players. Cross my fingers.