Joan Is Awful

"Joan is Awful" is the first episode in the series after a four year hiatus. After three of the weaker episodes of the entire series aired in the previous season, I did not have sky-high hopes for this new season as many die-hard fans did.

But "Joan is Awful" was a welcome addition to the Black Mirror series. And a perfect introduction episode after a long time off as it was one of the more comical episodes of the show. It lets the audience dip their toes back into this universe without jarring us.

You can expect to hear rave reviews for Annie Murphy's performance. She had to run through virtually every emotion and mood in an actor's arsenal, and she did it seamlessly without overacting.

While Annie Murphy carries the episode on her back, there are still good performances all around. It helps that most of the roles were obviously written by Charlie Brooker for certain actors specifically. Salma Hayek does well; and comedy fans will appreciate cameos from Rich Fulcher (Mighty Boosh, Snuff Box) and Michael Cera.

A welcome return from Black Mirror.

Black Mirror's 'Joan is Awful' isn't just an incredible episode; it's an unnerving prophecy of a potential future where deepfakes could run rampant, and it's frighteningly plausible.

The series has always been admired for its ability to take contemporary technologies and extrapolate their implications into haunting narratives. With 'Joan is Awful,' the show introduces deepfake technology into its chilling anthology. It's a bold and profound commentary on the digital landscape and the rise of deceptive technologies that can effectively blur the line between reality and fabrication.

Joan's character, a complex web of contradictions, becomes a victim and a perpetrator in the world of online cancel culture and public shaming, with deepfakes playing a significant role. The way this episode navigates the implications of this emerging technology is nothing short of brilliant. It's not just a backdrop or a plot device; it's interwoven into the very fabric of the narrative, heightening the suspense and raising the stakes.

The frighteningly realistic portrayal of deepfakes, coupled with the intricate exploration of societal issues, sets a disturbing yet thought-provoking stage. The narrative is clever, the suspense is palpable, and the characters are expertly crafted and brought to life by an excellent cast.

The episode concludes with a powerful punch of dark satire, leaving a lasting impression and provoking introspection about the world we're heading towards. It's one of those rare episodes that resonates on a deeply personal level, echoing within your thoughts long after the screen goes black.

Comparatively, this episode set a high standard that the subsequent 'Loch Henry' episode couldn't quite live up to. But standing on its own, 'Joan is Awful' is a bold exploration of our immediate reality, a thrilling narrative, and a profound critique of our digital society.

In conclusion, 'Joan is Awful' demonstrates the heights Black Mirror can reach when it combines compelling storytelling, societal critique, and the possible implications of emergent technology. It's an unnerving yet engaging piece that deserves a solid 9/10.

This episode had everything, and it should have been a kick-ass start! I thought Black Mirror would have a hard time generating new, unique ideas. However, in this case, it was really a good idea. But... yes, there's a "but." They decided to execute it in a cliché Hollywood-ish way that would please teenagers. Black Mirror is all about provoking thought, not offering solutions. The challenge presented here with the deepfake technology was truly alarming, providing ample food for thought. Sadly, it was all undermined by the actions and plot twists. It ended up being disappointingly mediocre and catering to the crowd. What a tremendous waste of opportunity! I did enjoy it, but as a Black Mirror fan, it didn't live up to the mark.

Joan is bored with her life, fed up of her boyfriend Krish, and genuinely stuck in a rut, at a meeting with her therapist she is offered the chance to change things up, which she accepts, unaware of what she's signed up to.

It's been a while, over four years to be precise, you always worry that some of the well earned polish may have rubbed off, fortunately no sign of that here, this was a cracking return, it is far from perfect, but a bleak scenario of the future, that's exactly what Black Mirror delivers here.

Be careful what you download and click accept to, because you never quite know what the terms and conditions are.

This was fun and chilling in equal measure, you honestly had no idea what was coming next, I imagine there were lots of in jokes here, there were certainly lots of Easter eggs to look out for.

I was worried that the show might have moved to focusing on names, rather than the winning formula that made this show so great, but Salma Hayek added a little something, I'm not quite sure what.

Annie Murphy was terrific, her timing was perfect, you couldn't help but feel sorry for Joan, Hayek clearly had a lot of fun, a different role for her to play.

8/10.

The central idea is classic Black Mirror, but each moment that had potential for dramatic tension is undermined by a script that ranges between silly and simply dull. It seems like they came set with an interesting idea but had no idea what to do with it. Lots of celebrity references and cameos that ended up being flat name dropping. The ending feels hurried and certainly didn't leave me "thinking" as the best Black Mirror episodes did.

I gave it a six because there are moments of humour. The cast seemed to have done their best with what they were given. Many people will find it a pleasant time waster, but if you are looking for dark compelling sci-fi drama or techno horror, you will be disappointed.