The Entire History of You

This for me was the best episode of the two series of Black Mirror, and also the best piece of Television drama over the past 5-8 years.

As a television production student I am critical of drama pieces, but this episode completely blew me away and gripped me from start to end. If anyone asks can television drama be effective over 45-60 minutes , I will always tell them to watch this episode.

This is a masterclass in directing by Ben Welsh. The direction of the cast was perfect, the camera-work suited the feel of the piece , and choice of locations and props for me really added to this film. How they were able to add this futuristic technology to the characters felt 'scarily' believable (especially these days with the development of Google Glasses)

For me this films shows thats you can make an effective drama without making over dramatic and unbelievable plots. As this films grabs its audience, and using its 'gritty' and 'subtle' style makes it for me as one of my favourite dramas ever broadcasted on TV

Some people say that "we are defined by our memories" and that "without memory we would lack any perspective" with which to assess the world. Others say that "memories are meant to fade." and that "time heals all wounds."

What if we lived in a world where memories literally own us and where they never, ever fade and are accessible in high definition and slow motion replay... Forever to anyone? What if they could be stored and digitised... or even traded as a commodity? What would memories become then?

They would become our most prized possessions: More irreplaceable than hand-crafted treasures, more valuable than any diamond or gold. Imagine, our very essence and experiences captured (and with liberal editing) all the best parts distilled into a narcotic, addictive stream of consciousness, on tap wherever and whenever we desire.

We could go back, time and time again to revisit out best experiences. We could show these details at will to others on any available screen. Alternatively, we could expunge forever that which we never wish to see again, and be forever distrusted as someone with no proof of what they've done or where they've been...

Or, we could even keep those most painful moments it as a lash with which to whip ourselves while saying a dozen Hail Marys.

This is the story of a family that live in such a world, where things once experienced can be recorded forever and used to wager a strategic, rightful war on those around us. But at what cost to ourselves and our relationships?

In the not too distant future, everyone has implant technology that allows full recall of all memories. After a poor review, Liam joins his partner Ffion at a party where an ex of hers is a guest, Liam obsessed over it.

An early episode, and a definite classic, The Entire history of you is one of the best episodes of this amazing show, it never gets tired. What's so stark and unnerving about this one, is that it could potentially happen, who knows.

Does anyone have the right to personal memories? It's one thing we have that nobody else has access to, a scary thought to imagine losing that one thing.

I think I miss the early years of Black Mirror, a heavy reliance on story and scenario, less focus on budget and star names, hopefully if the show returns again, it'll go back to stories such as this one.

The green eyed monster is the worst emotion of all, there's nothing like it to eat you up inside, imagine having access to memories to stoke the flames, paranoia and envy overdrive or what.

Toby Kebbell is outstanding here, he's so good, and it's one of the best performances of Jodie Whittaker I've ever seen.

9/10.

For whatever reason, this episode is the most memorable to me of the Black Mirror series. I am not saying it's the best written or acted, but it epitomizes Black Mirror and the dark side of technology. Great pace and tone setter for the series.

Loved this episode because it looks too true to not believe. With the revolution that started with cameras and selfies, there are security cameras and drones flying everywhere. Gradually there would be cars and tons and tons of data flying everywhere. There will absolutely be no movement or activity that will be hidden but do we really want to keep rewinding and living the past activities.

Liam hardly seems to be living in the present. all his activities be it sex, drinking viewing or work are carried out by looking towards the past ... thereby no new experience. The grain chip technology is no doubt a great resource for goverment and crime agencies; classic example will be where the security guy allows him to board by looking at his past but I wonder if a human needs access to his history all the time. It will only make a person live his traumas and virtual pleasures over and over again.