#1 My first impressions of 'Black Mirror' [Spoiler Alert: if you are going to watch the second episode of the first season for the first time, you'd better not read it] I had just finished watching the second season of 'Black Mirror'. I can't believe that I ignored this series so long. Of course, I knew about its existing and I knew that it's proabably cool. I've been meaning to watch it for years, but I just kept putting it off. This fact is regrettable. I think, 'Black Mirror' is an outstanding show. The most terrifying part is the thought that the world (or, rather, worlds) in 'Black Mirror' is not a fantasy. It is too similiar to the reality in XXI century. It doesn't show what may happen, it shows what is happenning right now. It is grotesque an exaggerated version of our society. For instance, the second episode of the first season represents a strange world where people work during all their lives pedaling and watching ads. The only way to escape is to win the talent show. Isn't it the same to the consistent situation? The majority of people live in terrible conditions, working all their life to earn money, and to spend it for food and entertainment. Who can avoid this rat race? Famous actors, singers, politicians, showmen, comedians. They live in luxury without troubles. Doctors, scientists, teachers surely deserve at least the same, but they don't have even a half. The characters are realistic. Bing — a guy who dreamed to change something, but he became the part of the system that he hates. Abi — a girl who wanted to be a singer, but she became a pornstar. A foregone conclusion: the system can bend anyone. I also had had fun noticing how accurately authors copied distinguishing features of all these 'talent' TV shows: overacting judges, staged phrases of participants, talantless hysteric singers. A few years ago I spent some time watching 'Ukrayina maye talant' — Ukrainian TV show that is an analogue of 'America's Got Talent'. After two or three episodes I was able to predict what will be in the next one. How can it still be so popular? I love that 'Black Mirror' shows all weaknesses of technologies, but technologies itself are never a pure evil, like it usually happens in other distopias. The main accent is that only we decide how to use it. We can save the world, but most of the time we ruin it. _________________________________ This is my first post in this site. I need to practice my writing in English, so I will be grateful for any remarks and comments. Thanks for reading!