I just finished watching the second season of 'Black Mirror'. I can't believe that I ignored this series for so long. Of course, I knew that it existed and I also knew that it was probably cool. I'd been meaning to watch it for years, but I just kept putting it off. This fact is regrettable. After having watched the show, it is clear that 'Black Mirror' is outstanding. 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 of the twenty first century. It doesn't show what may happen, it shows what is happenning right now.

Although <em>Black Mirror </em>is hauntingly similar to our current reality, it is a grotesque and exaggerated version of our society. For instance, the second episode of the first season represents a strange world where people work their entire lives pedaling and watching ads. The only way to escape is to win the talent show. Isn't it the same to our current situation? The majority of people live in terrible conditions, working all their lives to earn money, and to spend it on food and entertainment. Who can avoid the 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 instead became the part of the system that he hates. Abi — a girl who wanted to be a singer, but instead became a pornstar. A foregone conclusion: the system can bend anyone.

I enjoyed noticing how accurately the writers copied distinguishing features of 'talent' TV shows: overacting judges, staged phrases of participants, talentless hysteric singers. A few years ago I spent some time watching 'Ukrayina maye talant' — an Ukrainian TV show that is a foil of 'America's Got Talent'. After two or three episodes I was able to predict what would be in the next one. How can it still be so popular?

I love that 'Black Mirror' shows the weaknesses of technology, but technology itself is never a pure evil, like it is usually depicted in other distopias. The only constant is that only we decide how to use it. We can save the world, but most of the time we ruin it

NOTE:

Hi there! Just a note, I think that your argument could be strengthened with more clarity. You can speak more to rhe role of technology in the episode of <em>Black Mirror. </em>Hope this is helpful!