21 votes

Black Mirror S1E02 "Fifteen Million Merits" discussion thread

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Black Mirror Season 1 Episode 2 - Fifteen Million Merits

After failing to impress the judges on a singing competition show, a woman must either perform degrading acts or return to a slave-like existence.

Black Mirror Netflix link


Warning: this thread contains spoilers about this episode! If you haven't seen it yet, please watch it and come back to this thread later.

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If you don't know what to say, here are some questions to get the discussion started:

  • How does the title relate to the episode itself?
  • Are there any similarities between real life events and the episode?
  • Are there any references or easter eggs in the episode, such as references to past episodes?

30 comments

  1. [4]
    Comment deleted by author
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    1. Amarok
      Link Parent
      I'm with you on that analysis, though I did love the entire episode. This is the reality that 'corporations' will gladly create for us, if we let them. I thought the episode got that across...

      I'm with you on that analysis, though I did love the entire episode. This is the reality that 'corporations' will gladly create for us, if we let them. I thought the episode got that across perfectly with a minimum of BS.

      9 votes
    2. [2]
      what
      Link Parent
      It definitely is a more obvious episode, but I think it was very well executed and it’s a very good hook into the series. While the first episode was alright, I think this one would’ve been a...

      It definitely is a more obvious episode, but I think it was very well executed and it’s a very good hook into the series. While the first episode was alright, I think this one would’ve been a better introduction to the series, for exactly the reasons you mention. It’s less complex/deep than the other episodes, and one of the more relatable (grounded, realistic?) episodes, because it’s taking our current problems with technology and amplifying them to show us the potential of what the future could become.

      Edit: also yeah, the ending was incredible!

      3 votes
      1. [2]
        Comment deleted by author
        Link Parent
        1. what
          Link Parent
          Very true, I didn’t word that too well. I guess I meant in the sense that the problems in the episode already exist (heavy gamification and microtransactions, docility, reality TV etc) and this...

          Very true, I didn’t word that too well. I guess I meant in the sense that the problems in the episode already exist (heavy gamification and microtransactions, docility, reality TV etc) and this episode just amplifys that, while many other episodes need technology that we don’t have yet (brain implants with AR or memory access, strong AI, killer robots, etc), so it’s more difficult to relate to that in your everyday life.

          3 votes
  2. JayJay
    Link
    One of my favorite episodes and the one that really got me hooked on this show. I love technophobic/dystopian stories and this one hit the spot. It was like they were living in a real life...

    One of my favorite episodes and the one that really got me hooked on this show. I love technophobic/dystopian stories and this one hit the spot. It was like they were living in a real life gamified cell phone app store. Maybe it was a straight forward story, but I don't think it needed to be that complex to get across its point.

    As an aside, did anyone else find the Netflix choice of description interesting? I kind of thought Bing was the main focus of this episode but I guess Abi did have a pretty tragic story.

    https://i.imgur.com/Y2gSNHQ.png

    10 votes
  3. [2]
    DanBC
    Link
    They were showing this, un-ironically, on a loop on the big screens at Barbican Arts Centre. Some people like the building but to me it's a dystopian nightmare straight out of J G Ballard, and...

    They were showing this, un-ironically, on a loop on the big screens at Barbican Arts Centre. Some people like the building but to me it's a dystopian nightmare straight out of J G Ballard, and this episode on a loop in the concrete entrance bunker alley just added to the grim feel of the place.

    Anyway: I love this episode. I particularly like how it neatly shows that all rebelion is eaten up and repackaged and sold back to the next generation.

    7 votes
    1. papasquat
      Link Parent
      Brutalism is never a good idea. All those buildings should have been torn down after the cold war.

      Brutalism is never a good idea. All those buildings should have been torn down after the cold war.

      2 votes
  4. [2]
    Fin
    Link
    The silent build up to ANYONE talking was great. It may have been like 20 minutes with nobody saying a word. I'd have to go back, I loved it.

    The silent build up to ANYONE talking was great. It may have been like 20 minutes with nobody saying a word. I'd have to go back, I loved it.

    6 votes
    1. what
      Link Parent
      That’s a very good point! I guess I didn’t really notice it, but it created a really strong atmosphere that helped set the tone for the rest of the episode.

      That’s a very good point! I guess I didn’t really notice it, but it created a really strong atmosphere that helped set the tone for the rest of the episode.

      3 votes
  5. [18]
    what
    Link
    Please reply to this comment with your rating of the episode, a number from 1 to 5, where 1 is the lowest and 5 is the highest. After we've watched all the episodes, I'll average these and get our...

    Please reply to this comment with your rating of the episode, a number from 1 to 5, where 1 is the lowest and 5 is the highest. After we've watched all the episodes, I'll average these and get our collective rating for each episode!

    Half-ratings (such as 2.5 or 3.5) are allowed.

    I prefer if you reply with just a number, as this makes it easier to average later. Please put discussion in a separate comment thread, and collapse this comment to hide the ratings.

    5 votes
  6. Usie
    Link
    I consider this my guilty-pleasure episode, as far as Black Mirror is concerned. I've heard numerous talking points about everything from how the bikes couldn't generate enough electricity to...

    I consider this my guilty-pleasure episode, as far as Black Mirror is concerned. I've heard numerous talking points about everything from how the bikes couldn't generate enough electricity to power the facility to the episode's deviation from the more grounded nature of the rest of the show, but I still can't help but really enjoy it. The exaggerated nature of the world of this episode works for me and doesn't tarnish the message. Much of the episode is told through visuals rather than dialogue, so making the visuals much more unique is certainly a plus.

    5 votes
  7. CrazyOtter
    Link
    This is the episode that really got me into the series. Yeah it's not realistic but I don't think that matters. None of the inmates/workers/volunteers can have any personal possessions, everything...

    This is the episode that really got me into the series. Yeah it's not realistic but I don't think that matters.

    None of the inmates/workers/volunteers can have any personal possessions, everything is virtual and people are encouraged to work towards a shot at stardom or buying pointless accessories. I mean I guess it's a send up of our consumerist society but applied to a post apocalyptic world.

    Forced viewing of ads, well smartphones already have a rudimentary ability to sense when you're looking at the screen so maybe YouTube ads that stop when you're looking away could happen sooner than we think.

    I think they nailed the creepy nature of the talent show and the stupidity of the people watching it. Obviously I'm biased since I can stand that type of show in real life but I suspect most people on tildes don't like them either. The packaging of Bing's anger & pain into just another product to be consumed was so effective, it really capped the episode off. A controlled "rebel" as an outlet for people who don't like the system so they do nothing.

    4 votes
  8. Fin
    (edited )
    Link
    Also, this is exactly replicated in the Fallout 4 dlc, which im currently addicted to. The cycles generating I would believe electricity for the inhabitants to live under.

    Also, this is exactly replicated in the Fallout 4 dlc, which im currently addicted to. The cycles generating I would believe electricity for the inhabitants to live under.

    3 votes
  9. [2]
    Comment removed by site admin
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    1. what
      Link Parent
      I think you hit the nail on the head with that description - this episode is basically our current society, but heavily simplified and gamified, with consumerism taken to the extreme.

      I think you hit the nail on the head with that description - this episode is basically our current society, but heavily simplified and gamified, with consumerism taken to the extreme.

      5 votes