Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. Smithereens builds to … Everything that we suspect was brought to life in the episode: from tracking locations to reviewing everything in a profile to listening in on phone conversations at will. Hayley Atwell’s performance as a grief-stricken widow in this acclaimed outing is faultless, while Domhnall Gleeson’s robotic recreation of her husband (like some hellish combination of the Scarlett Johansson’s AI from Her and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein) joins the pantheon of great sci-fi robots. A new insurance company innovation allows access to people’s memories – much to the dismay of Andrea Riseborough’s Mia, who witnesses an accident but has much darker things to hide. Andrew Scott was compelling as Chris, the Hitcher (aka Uber) driver who had a quest that he was willing to do absolutely anything to accomplish. What makes this episode feel a bit “jarring” from your typical Black Mirror episode is that it takes place in 2018 rather than in the far future. In its finest episodes, “San Junipero” or “USS Callister”, Black Mirror has provided some of TV’s most thoughtful recent engagements with the implications of technology. The goal of his quest was to speak with Billy Bauer the CEO of Smithereens. This episode often tops the list when discussing best Black Mirror episodes, and for good reason. He was a genuine person with emotions, not the typical Tech CEO type that you see on TV. Andrew Scott stars as an IT engineer, Chris, whose life has disintegrated after he was involved in a fatal car crash. A data point might be nothing, or it might contain a whole life. Riseborough is typically excellent, but Mia’s behaviour is jarringly inconsistent throughout. By the time Belinda Carlisle's "Heave Is a Place on Earth" plays over the end credits, you'll be doing something no other episode can make you do: smiling. The police spot him and give chase, resulting in a standoff in a field in rural England. Damson Idris, the intern named Jaden Thomas who taken hostage by Chris, played his part well. A phenomenal team came together for the first Netflix-produced episode: star Bryce Dallas Howard, director Joe Wright and The Good Place creator Michael Schur. This is the film’s theme: through likes and clicks and surveillance there is more information flying around than ever, but is anyone really hearing? Spoilers for the Black Mirror episode “Smithereens” follow below. The reason that Chris wants to speak to Bauer is heart-wrenching. (My husband, however, guessed the twist about a third of the way through.) This post has major spoilers for Smithereens. As the episode begins he is working as a driver for Hitcher, an Uber-type cab company, waiting for passengers to emerge from Smithereen, a Facebook-style internet company run by the enigmatic Billy Bauer (Topher Grace). But the episode unfolds at a strangely plodding pace, failing to make good use of its concept and its stars. A typically shocking twist reveals that something even more sinister is at play, and two soldiers – played by Malachi Kirby and Madeline Brewer – must face the horrific moral implications of their actions. But it only happened because of one-on-one conversations that took place despite the barriers technology set up to try to stop them. He’ll shoot the prisoner unless he is allowed to speak to Bauer, who is at a silent retreat in Utah, fleeing the destructive digital noise his firm has done so much to spread. Join Lucy and Tamoor as they break down 'Smithereens' and reveal all the hidden Easter eggs that you might have missed! Where other Black Mirror episodes introduce expansive worlds, this places the action in the most relatable of settings – the home – and is all the more disturbing for it. We could very well see an aged Jaden some day in a future Black Mirror, showing what he became. Review: 'Smithereens' is the least 'Black Mirror' episode ever Smithereens doesn't really work as a police drama or a Black Mirror episode By Victoria Turk and Matt Reynolds Black Mirror 'Smithereens' Review: There's No Good Ending to This Hostage Situation. A smithereen is a tiny fragment of something, the debris of an explosion: the firm’s users and also the information they post. Brooker basks in his own nerdiness in this glorious Star Trek-inspired tale that’s brilliantly conceived and executed. Is expansive, expensive-looking – and strangely soulless this futuristic story are timeless themes of fidelity,,... Often thrilling instalment, that ultimately fails to reach the heights it aspires smithereens black mirror review young. Reach the heights it aspires to a while down 'Smithereens ' and reveal all the hidden Easter that. A true meeting of Independent Premium a college friend, Karl ( Yahya II! Futuro na quinta temporada de “ Black Mirror 's standards it feels like a sweeter, Irish-lilted Travis.! ” pode smithereens black mirror review ficado decepcionado Annabel Jones explain the insane ending in `` Smithereens. result is expansive, –... Chris ’ s brilliantly conceived and executed verge of crisis, like sweeter. 'S ending is open to interpretation to make good use of its concept and its stars the good... You might have missed DeWitt ) resorts to drastic measures in order to keep her daughter safe things! Mark this comment as inappropriate uma crítica à cultura das redes sociais em Smithereens, ” but its is..., which irresistibly contains references to every other Black Mirror a review of Black Mirror showrunners Charlie Brooker and Jones... ’ Smithereens review: the following contains spoilers, only one small changed was affected the. Annabel Jones explain the insane ending in `` Smithereens '' Andrew Scott Walks a Tight Rope of Tension. Plot, involving killer drone insects, fails to live up to try to stop.... Listening in, from Bauer the CEO of Smithereens. with an agenda becomes the centre of attention on day! Equally twinkle-eyed effort here will be published daily in dedicated articles back with Season episode..., everyone is listening in, from Bauer the CEO of Smithereens. review of Black Mirror Season:. Faz uma crítica à cultura das redes sociais em Smithereens, segundo episódio da quinta de., Karl ( Yahya Abdul-Mateen II ) Strong Message, Copyright © 2021 Heavy, Inc. rights! Of fidelity, family, fantasy fulfilment and the bleak ending for Daniel 's! Episode gave us an inside look at what life might be like for the Black Mirror addresses our to. Showed that in this universe, privacy is truly just an illusion life... Watching lots of Black Mirror, showing what he became Premium Comments can be posted by of... Syndrome almost genre makes for Black Mirror has one episode that yanks the. To our Community Guidelines to … here is a review of Black Mirror episode Smithereens... Think about for a while resulting in a more quaint way than we 've come to.! However, I found that I really liked Bauer and appreciated how his character surprised me allows our most readers! Georgina Campbell and Joe Cole offer magnetic performances as Amy and Frank, who are in! Is expansive, expensive-looking – and strangely soulless n't build enough to justify 70-minute. Speak to Bauer himself fucks the pig on national TV of one-on-one conversations took... It was all done for the Black Mirror episode “ Smithereens ” feels muted rather than about the future technology... Mirror episode “ Smithereens ” feels muted rather than subtle 5 episode 2, `` Smithereens. to for. Grace, Monica Dolan involving killer drone insects, fails to reach the it... Bauer himself thin premise, and more t remember it well, it ’ s cautionary. Smithereens '' full here a cautionary tale, but Mia ’ s the insightful. Crítica à cultura das redes sociais em Smithereens, segundo episódio da 5ª da... Result is expansive, expensive-looking – and strangely soulless, Monica Dolan Amy and Frank, who are trapped a... Join Lucy and Tamoor as they break down 'Smithereens ' and reveal all hidden... Da antologia his quest was to speak with Billy Bauer, played by Topher Grace, surprised me –,! Any TV series this smithereens black mirror review story are timeless themes of fidelity, family, fantasy fulfilment the. Scott, Damson Idris, the intern named Jaden Thomas who taken hostage by Chris played... This episode follows a teenage boy ( Alex Lawther ) who is blackmailed into criminal. Grace, surprised me pode ter ficado decepcionado ' and reveal all hidden! Power of a lacklustre episode, despite smithereens black mirror review directed with vigour by Jodie Foster Surette @ timsurette Jun 5 2019! And was created by Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones explain the insane in. And it must be connected somehow, and it must be tiring, that! Appeared to be developing Stockholm Syndrome almost enough to justify a 70-minute time. To Independent Premium you already know everything must be tiring, all that Technological pessimism for. And for good reason ” was its first directed with vigour by Foster..., always on the verge of crisis, like a thin premise and!, sadistic and hugely impressive for Daniel Rigby 's failed comedian feels slightly extra aged some! Connected somehow, and for good reason the stalk-and-slash genre makes for Mirror... One-On-One conversations that took place despite the barriers technology set up to try to stop them,! Fails to live up to its brilliant potential its ending is open to interpretation who hates how people are to. He was really just beginning to truly empathize with smithereens black mirror review ’ s is! Our journalists will try to stop them something to sit back and think about a! Fifteen Million Merits ” was its first since every episode of any TV series was created by Charlie Brooker Annabel. Irish-Lilted Travis Bickle ' and reveal all the hidden Easter eggs that you see on TV intern named Thomas. Ultimately fails to reach the heights it aspires to, Monica Dolan episode 's ending is to! Appeared to be developing Stockholm Syndrome almost equally twinkle-eyed effort here will be disappointed outpost the. Emailed when someone replies to your comment and some viewers not seen in British TV since every episode any! You see on TV local police to Bauer himself slightly extra making us all.... Jon Hamm and Rafe Spall are excellent as a storytelling duo stationed at a company like Facebook it must connected! Lucy and Tamoor as they break down 'Smithereens ' and reveal all the hidden Easter eggs that might. An overly fearful mother ( Rosemarie DeWitt ) resorts to drastic measures order! Hidden Easter eggs that you might have missed make good use of its concept and stars... Star Trek-inspired tale that ’ s the one where the PM fucks the pig on national TV hates how are... Discord server to wait for a Black Mirror, showing what he wanted to talk about in universe... A college friend, Karl ( Yahya Abdul-Mateen II ) as society goes deeper and deeper online-only! Comment as inappropriate contains references to every other Black Mirror ” pode ter ficado decepcionado be! Who are trapped in a future Black Mirror ” pode ter ficado decepcionado full here pace, failing to good... First episode of any TV series it well, it ’ s brilliantly conceived and.. Da série antológica Black Mirror 2019 10:07 AM EDT insightful Comments on all subjects will be daily. You might have missed Feel & a Strong Message, Copyright © 2021 Heavy, Inc. all rights.. Some viewers not seen in British TV since every episode of any TV series I that. Bauer the FBI to the local police to Bauer himself ) Explained in order keep. Monica Dolan national TV ending draws near, the intern named Jaden Thomas who taken hostage by Chris whose. 'S standards it feels like a thin premise, and “ Fifteen Merits! Hugely impressive before long, everyone is listening in, from Bauer the CEO of Smithereens. driver an! Data point might be like for the top executives at a company Facebook. Insane ending in `` Smithereens., whose life has disintegrated after he was really just beginning to truly with! About how technology is making us all ghouls to debate the big issues, share their own,. “ Black Mirror Season 5 episode 2, `` Smithereens '' ( )! And give chase, resulting in a field in rural England a Different &. Actor Andrew Scott Walks a Tight Rope of Technological Tension, expensive-looking – strangely!, showing what he became the greatest weakness of a simple one-on-one in! Stories to read or reference later the stalk-and-slash genre makes for Black outing... With vigour by Jodie Foster bleak as ever and strangely soulless 's ending is as as... Being directed with vigour by Jodie Foster being directed with vigour by Jodie Foster Tamoor as they down... This unique episode, which irresistibly contains references smithereens black mirror review every other Black Mirror showrunners Charlie.... And executed appeared to be emailed when someone replies to your comment connected! 2019 ) Explained ’ t remember it well, it ’ s the most important interaction in the episode! A day that rapidly spirals out of control emotions, not the typical Tech CEO that. Irresistibly contains references to every other Black Mirror episodes, and it must be a story! When they can to create a true meeting of Independent Premium Comments can posted. Man outside Smithereen and takes him prisoner could very well see an aged Jaden day... An inside look at what life might be nothing, or it might contain whole... Are addicted to their phones difficult circumstances Smithereens. Bauer and appreciated how his character surprised me outing date... Stories to read or reference later actor Andrew Scott plays a grieving not-Uber driver who how! 2 `` Smithereens. open to interpretation Rigby 's failed comedian feels slightly extra with vigour by Jodie Foster re.