The Black Mirror is a British science fiction anthology television series exploring dark, satirical themes in modern society and technology, featuring stand-alone episodes with different plots and characters.
The Black Mirror is a British science fiction anthology television series created by Charlie Brooker. It first aired on Channel 4 in 2011 before moving to Netflix in 2016. Each episode features a self-contained story examining modern society, particularly with regard to the unanticipated consequences of new technologies. The series is known for exploring dark, satirical themes intended to examine modern society and technology.
The title of the show refers to the black screens on electronic devices that can actually be reflective, showing us a dark image of ourselves and the world we have created. The standalone episodes vary dramatically in tone and genre, looking at everything from virtual reality to social media to crimes committed in the pursuit of fame and fortune. Recurring themes throughout the series include the infiltration of technology into modern life, the often unforeseen pitfalls of innovation, and questions about reality and human nature.
While some episodes have more optimistic conclusions, the overarching theme tends toward cynical, playing off viewers' anxieties about where modern society might be heading. The series has received critical acclaim for its writing, acting, and direction, and is renowned for its take on emerging technologies and their influence on human behavior. Since its debut, Black Mirror has become a worldwide phenomenon, winning awards and influencing popular culture with its bleak outlook on humanity's future relationship with technology.