# The UK show "Black Mirror" is available on Netflix streaming. Holy Crap! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 1, 2014, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074 "2014-12-01T22:00:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/41 "2014-12-03T09:24:54Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I miss his Weekly Wipe shows as well. Brooker was one of the few people I’ve seen give Doug Stanhope airtime to do what he wants, a bold move to say the least. Those little filler segments from Doug are on youtube and are the perfect little gateway drug into his messed-up world. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/42 "2014-12-03T09:53:04Z")
And it also had [Philomena Cunk & Barry Shitpeas](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxTPEd_Skfc&list=PLStGDmORVEkjAShT-E2HJqs5fg3bk2Anv). ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/43 "2014-12-03T12:31:32Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > Between yesterday and today, I watched all 6 episodes. Feel free to watch them in any order as they are each individual, self-contained stories with no overlap whatsoever. > > By the way, I liked 5 of the 6 episodes. I was not in love with episode 6 at all. I also ended up binge watching over a couple of nights, and I agree that the last one was a disappointment. I kept expecting it to go somewhere much more interesting but it just sort of petered out. The first episode, “The National Anthem”, and the fifth “White Bear” were my favorites. An interesting thing about _Black Mirror_ is that 5 of the 6 episodes (arguably excluding “White Bear”) focused on the potential effects of information technology, either current or extrapolated into the future. Regarding “White Bear” (MAJOR SPOILER. Seriously, don’t read this if you haven’t watched the episode. It WILL ruin it for you.):I suppose that you could argue that “White Bear”, being an extreme extrapolation of reality and _Candid Camera_ type shows, was also about information technology, but it seemed to be more about a live theme park and didn’t appear to be something that was broadcast or streamed (it would quickly become boring). ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/44 "2014-12-03T13:11:01Z")
White Bear was my only episode so far and: I thought that it was a reality show right from the get go, but I did not figure it was a punsihment for a crime. Oddly enough, my favorite part was the closing credits, where they showed the upbeat and relaxed presentation the company makes to the paying customers. It was so eerie and at the same time, fascinating, to see the behind the scenes outakes/setup for the “performance”. I’ll likely watch The Entire History of You next, just based on what I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/45 "2014-12-03T14:12:47Z")
Thanks for the recommendation! I watched the first episode and Fifteen Million Merits yesterday and enjoyed the show. Suitably dark and biting, biting satire. Ah, I love British telly. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/46 "2014-12-03T14:54:03Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > An interesting thing about _Black Mirror_ is that 5 of the 6 episodes (arguably excluding “White Bear”) focused on the potential effects of information technology, either current or extrapolated into the future. > > Regarding “White Bear” (MAJOR SPOILER. Seriously, don’t read this if you haven’t watched the episode. It WILL ruin it for you.):I suppose that you could argue that “White Bear”, being an extreme extrapolation of reality and _Candid Camera_ type shows, was also about information technology, but it seemed to be more about a live theme park and didn’t appear to be something that was broadcast or streamed (it would quickly become boring). Regarding White Bear, it wasn’t as much extrapolating on the potential of streaming technology… It was extrapolating on the tabloids, and people’s thirst for vengeance and extreme punishment. I’m sure if you asked Nancy Grace or other people like her, they would definitely want White Bear type parks to be built. I’ve seen a lot of imaginative comments on the internet on punishment criminals should get. [The AV Club review](http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/white-bear-106371) goes into it, and talks about an inspiration for the episode. Do NOT read the review if you haven’t seen the episode, but if you have seen the episode it is an interesting and thoughtful read. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/47 "2014-12-03T17:55:24Z")
Charlie Brooker has said that there will be more episodes. [Black Mirror will be back... eventually : News 2014 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide](http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2014/01/09/19381/black_mirror_will_be_back)…\_eventually > [@](#): > > The series has previously run for two runs of three episodes – but Brooker says the broadcast of the third batch will be split. > > Speaking to his 10 O’Clock Show co-presenter Lauren Laverne on her 6 Music show today, Brooker confirmed: 'There’s definitely going to be more… > > ‘There’s going to be some and then there’s going to be some more – you’ll get one helping and then there’ll be another helping.’ ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/48 "2014-12-03T18:30:20Z")
Why can’t Weekly Wipe be a regular show? He only does it for a bit at the start of the year and then does one “year-end wipe”. He could have replaced Colbert if given the chance. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/49 "2014-12-03T18:50:03Z")
Is there any place to watch this besides Netflix? I don’t have a Netflix account and it sounds interesting. Looked on Amazon and it’s $30 for the first season, but there’s only two episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/50 "2014-12-03T19:00:05Z")
It has a sort of undercurrent of recurrent themes that are dark and provocative. The thing I like about the show is that I never feel like at the end there is some clear point or moral view that is clear - I do not feel like I’m being preached to. I may be being preached to but perhaps I’m too dense to notice. I’m left with the feeling that the world is really just kind of a shitty place, I’m shitty, you’re shitty. as individuals we’re shitty collectively we’re even shittier. But, once in a while someone attempts to do something noble, but it ends in shit and the protagonist is worse off than he or she was in the first place. And the world keeps going as if nothing of importance happened. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/51 "2014-12-03T19:06:28Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > Is there any place to watch this besides Netflix? I don’t have a Netflix account and it sounds interesting. Looked on Amazon and it’s $30 for the first season, but there’s only two episodes. Can I Stream It says it’s on OnCable by XFinity, so if you have that you should look on demand there. Can I Stream It is usually pretty good about saying where things are available, although it doesn’t say that Black Mirror is on Netflix, so maybe it doesn’t always get updated immediately. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/52 "2014-12-03T19:48:04Z")
There are several full episodes on youtube, but I suspect they will be taken down before too long. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/53 "2014-12-03T20:17:27Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > Is there any place to watch this besides Netflix? I don’t have a Netflix account and it sounds interesting. Looked on Amazon and it’s $30 for the first season, but there’s only two episodes. The good thing about Netflix is that you could join for just one month at a cost of $8.00 or so. There’s no contract, so you can cancel any time. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/54 "2014-12-03T20:27:00Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > Is there any place to watch this besides Netflix? I don’t have a Netflix account and it sounds interesting. Looked on Amazon and it’s $30 for the first season, but there’s only two episodes. The first season has 3 episodes, not 2, although I suppose it’s possible that Amazon is only offering 2. If you do buy a DVD, make sure that you get one that you can actually play. I just glanced at a couple for sale on Amazon and they won’t play on region 1 (USA and Canada) machines. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/55 "2014-12-03T21:31:26Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > The first season has 3 episodes, not 2, although I suppose it’s possible that Amazon is only offering 2. If you do buy a DVD, make sure that you get one that you can actually play. I just glanced at a couple for sale on Amazon and they won’t play on region 1 (USA and Canada) machines. The DVD will not play in the US, though I do have a PAL player. The Blu-Ray version they have only has two episodes on it. I did check that, and the price is more then I’d like to pay. I might just have to sign up for Netflix again. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/56 "2014-12-03T21:47:03Z")
Netflix for 1 month will cost you less than the DVD. You can sign up for a month, watch all 6 episodes, and then cancel if you don’t really want Netflix. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/57 "2014-12-03T21:51:48Z")
Pay $8 and watch you some Black Mirror, House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. Then spend the next month locked in a closet mumbling to yourself, maybe. Seriously tho, Black Mirror is so amazing. A friend told me about it in January of this year and I think I watched it in the spring. It absolutely sucked to watch something so amazing only to not have anyone to talk about it with or explain it to. So, I hope this takes off like wildfire and John Hamm’s involvement brings it to the US more readily and we can all finally be on the same page! The first episode, by the way, made me physically ill. I think though because of the buildup of what is basically animal abuse. That made me so sad. Plus all the other stuff of course. Anyway, I didn’t get sick from the other episodes but they were great and deep! And yeah, bring back Weekly Wipe! He actually is a little bit preachy in his solo segments (which I am glad does not carry over to Black Mirror) but the show was always just…fun! ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/58 "2014-12-03T23:11:38Z")
The first episode is a lot more grounded than the rest, If you don’t like the first one, please give another episode a try. Charlie Brooker the comedian, writer and social commentator is amazingly talented and thought provoking, but the horror director Charlie Brooker is terrible, I love most of his stuff, but when he dabbled in horror in the series Dead Set, I couldn’t be more bored. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/59 "2014-12-04T14:58:25Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Meh. > I hope it gets better than the first episode. I’ll say. Holy shit that was stupid. We’re really supposed to believe that 86 percent of the British people would demand the PM give in to terrorist demands? With no thought as to what precedent that would set, never mind fucking a pig on live tv? And that the security services would threaten the life of the PM’s family if he didn’t capitulate? This silliness is supposed to “deep” and “thought-provoking?” Maybe if you’re a drunk and high college fresman. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074/60 "2014-12-04T15:40:36Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > I’ll say. Holy shit that was stupid. It is satire and black comedy, cynical musings on a near-future-maybe-world not an accurate representation of how things are. I don’t think we are supposed to think that such things _will_ happen, more that we are invited to consider exactly how close to that scenario we _would_ go. How do we respond to similar situations now? In what direction are we travelling? How far will we go? No happy endings, no easy answers, no firm predictions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-show-black-mirror-is-available-on-netflix-streaming-holy-crap/706074.md?page=4)