It's surprising to see that this episode has a lower score. Considering the fact that everything in this episode is better than the last. The acting is far superior, I mean it's not even a contest. The story is very well written and even though a perceptive viewer can pick up all the que's and see the twist(s) coming, the average viewer, most likely won't. And the thing is when the twist does happen it's always very satisfying even if you see it coming because it's not handed to you on a plate for the most part.
The things that give away the mother's involvement are extremely subtle at times. But it all adds up. E.g. The most memorable one is that she says (paraphrasing) "It was all going great, before he broke it all." Now, that could esily be interpreted as her talking about her life being great before the serial killer caused her husband to die and thus "broke" her life. But "broke" is just enough off for you to wonder why she used that. So I quickly interpreted what she said as "our deal was going great, until he started blurting his mouth and ruined it for us all" (the drunk and his late wife) and paid even more attention to what she said and how she said it. And every time she would give small clues and hints, but they were slight enough that it made you feel smart for noticing them. That's how you do such a mystery episode right.
I quickly started suspecting the dad and the drunk guy, and then soon after also the mom. And here is another twist I think most people missed since the show played a trick on the audience. In the end, the drunk comes out and claims he suspected it for a while now and that he once cheated with them and that they behaved so strange it made him suspect they might have been involved in the serial murders. I think for most people the case is closed, it was the parents of the protagonist and the one dude that had the basement.
But not only does that not make any sense, a scene at the end lingers on the old man.. in a crowd of partying people, he's sitting there, guilty as sin. Remember that this guy was in a mad panic over this docu. Because he knew the truth was going to come out, so he acted before the "whole truth" came out and blamed it all on the protagonists parents. In reality he and his wife were likely involved. Which why he was so disturbed his son gave away all his wife's "mementos" (did you guys notice the mother of the protagonist had a very similar box .. filled with very similar stuff?). Which is why he broke his bones intentionally falling from the stairs to distract them from making the docu. And when he saw no way out tried to save himself by telling the protagonist a half truth leaving out the involvement of himself and his wife. The show tries to give you the impression that he wasn't involved and just didn't come forward because he was ashamed people would find out he cheated. But if you think about it that makes no sense . And if you pay attention to the same subtle ques and clues that showed the mom's involvement it becomes clear this man was also involved.
I was a little disappointed when I thought we were getting a happy ending, considering the horrifically bad first episode, and the crowd cheering at the bar and all until I saw the camera linger on the drunk that got away with it, then the poor protagonist holding a note from his mom, which out of context would be a very sweet note from a caring mother. She leaves him all that evidence, because she's convinced her secret is out and it's over for her (She thinks the gf is gonna snitch, isn't aware that the girl died but her son also got the info) and figures he can use it to further his career. What is also clear is that the mother, whom I was convinced at first was a .. not too bright person just brainwashed by her husband, was just playing dumb likely to throw off suspicion. The ending was perfect for a black mirror episode. Bitter sweet, more bitter than sweet.
Lastly, at first I was worried the show was gonna focus on the interracial relationship part and make a whole virtue signal over it. Instead it was handled absolutely brilliantly! As a minority that grew up in a small homogenous town, I recognized a lot of it. The "oh .. so where you born here or.." is a question that many minorities are familiar with for example, but generally it's just curiosity, people who don't know many if any foreigners etc. People very rarely mean harm or have any evil/negative intent and I feel like esp American TV tends to really represent stuff like that which only makes things work. The subtle "diversity an'all that" the barman said to the gf etc etc.
This episode was absolutely brilliantly done. The only criticism I have is that there was a distinct lack of a sci fi or tech theme aside from the old timey camera. Which btw was introduced to the show brilliantly, the way the wife looked at her husband when he heard them have sex which was also a great subtle clue that could be interpreted one way but completely differently if you suspect her. Anyway, so yeah. This is the first true black mirror episode of this season, I was super worried after episode one and the nickolodeon level acting we got there despite the celeb casting.
Lastly, the first episode is super American. And the second one is super British. The quality difference between the two is astonishing. And did anyone notice both the first episodes are taking constant digs at netflix? I was anoyed they changed the name to "strawberry stream" or whatever. But in ep two the barman actually says "netflix" but then at the end it's all berry stream. I think netflix forced black mirror to remove their name from the show since it was only being mentioned in a negative light. It almost feels like meta commentary lol.
The things that give away the mother's involvement are extremely subtle at times. But it all adds up. E.g. The most memorable one is that she says (paraphrasing) "It was all going great, before he broke it all." Now, that could esily be interpreted as her talking about her life being great before the serial killer caused her husband to die and thus "broke" her life. But "broke" is just enough off for you to wonder why she used that. So I quickly interpreted what she said as "our deal was going great, until he started blurting his mouth and ruined it for us all" (the drunk and his late wife) and paid even more attention to what she said and how she said it. And every time she would give small clues and hints, but they were slight enough that it made you feel smart for noticing them. That's how you do such a mystery episode right.
I quickly started suspecting the dad and the drunk guy, and then soon after also the mom. And here is another twist I think most people missed since the show played a trick on the audience. In the end, the drunk comes out and claims he suspected it for a while now and that he once cheated with them and that they behaved so strange it made him suspect they might have been involved in the serial murders. I think for most people the case is closed, it was the parents of the protagonist and the one dude that had the basement.
But not only does that not make any sense, a scene at the end lingers on the old man.. in a crowd of partying people, he's sitting there, guilty as sin. Remember that this guy was in a mad panic over this docu. Because he knew the truth was going to come out, so he acted before the "whole truth" came out and blamed it all on the protagonists parents. In reality he and his wife were likely involved. Which why he was so disturbed his son gave away all his wife's "mementos" (did you guys notice the mother of the protagonist had a very similar box .. filled with very similar stuff?). Which is why he broke his bones intentionally falling from the stairs to distract them from making the docu. And when he saw no way out tried to save himself by telling the protagonist a half truth leaving out the involvement of himself and his wife. The show tries to give you the impression that he wasn't involved and just didn't come forward because he was ashamed people would find out he cheated. But if you think about it that makes no sense . And if you pay attention to the same subtle ques and clues that showed the mom's involvement it becomes clear this man was also involved.
I was a little disappointed when I thought we were getting a happy ending, considering the horrifically bad first episode, and the crowd cheering at the bar and all until I saw the camera linger on the drunk that got away with it, then the poor protagonist holding a note from his mom, which out of context would be a very sweet note from a caring mother. She leaves him all that evidence, because she's convinced her secret is out and it's over for her (She thinks the gf is gonna snitch, isn't aware that the girl died but her son also got the info) and figures he can use it to further his career. What is also clear is that the mother, whom I was convinced at first was a .. not too bright person just brainwashed by her husband, was just playing dumb likely to throw off suspicion. The ending was perfect for a black mirror episode. Bitter sweet, more bitter than sweet.
Lastly, at first I was worried the show was gonna focus on the interracial relationship part and make a whole virtue signal over it. Instead it was handled absolutely brilliantly! As a minority that grew up in a small homogenous town, I recognized a lot of it. The "oh .. so where you born here or.." is a question that many minorities are familiar with for example, but generally it's just curiosity, people who don't know many if any foreigners etc. People very rarely mean harm or have any evil/negative intent and I feel like esp American TV tends to really represent stuff like that which only makes things work. The subtle "diversity an'all that" the barman said to the gf etc etc.
This episode was absolutely brilliantly done. The only criticism I have is that there was a distinct lack of a sci fi or tech theme aside from the old timey camera. Which btw was introduced to the show brilliantly, the way the wife looked at her husband when he heard them have sex which was also a great subtle clue that could be interpreted one way but completely differently if you suspect her. Anyway, so yeah. This is the first true black mirror episode of this season, I was super worried after episode one and the nickolodeon level acting we got there despite the celeb casting.
Lastly, the first episode is super American. And the second one is super British. The quality difference between the two is astonishing. And did anyone notice both the first episodes are taking constant digs at netflix? I was anoyed they changed the name to "strawberry stream" or whatever. But in ep two the barman actually says "netflix" but then at the end it's all berry stream. I think netflix forced black mirror to remove their name from the show since it was only being mentioned in a negative light. It almost feels like meta commentary lol.