Funny how, even in an anthology show, the episodes have a way of feeling like they build off one another. Maybe it’s that this, the final episode of Series 3, was put to last specifically because of its longer running time but it feels like it serves as a full stop on the series and a nice way to tie back into what’s come before.
There’s a lovely finality to Hated in the Nation as it’s scope is perhaps the biggest and broadest yet. The consequences are greater than those of previous episodes and compared to the gut punches of Shut Up and Dance or the complicated hope of Nosedive, it’s a chilling and weirdly complex ending which sends us into hiatus.
For the most part, however, this is the simplest set up for any episode yet. Hated in the Nation follows Karin Parke (Kelly Macdonald) a London detective investigating the murder of outspoken journalist Jo Powers, which leads her into an increasingly bizarre investigation involving a mysterious hashtag and bee drones.
From the outset this is clearly Black Mirror doing what it does best, focusing on social media in a London-set story that makes you reconsider what you post online. It has the same feel, the same wry, satirical Britishness that made Series One episode The National Anthem feel like a continuation of Brooker’s TV work.
From sarcastic lines to sharp condemnations, the mood is established through the excellent casting and colourless, yet evocative cinematography from Lukas Strebel and Director James Hawes. London feels metropolitan and the distinct, almost unnoticeable addition of future technology creates a feeling of unease and uncertainty.Â
If anything, Black Mirror has taught us to be wary not of technology, but how it brings out the worst in us. The story here of online abuse and internet mob justice is on the nose yet necessary but never feels like it’s got nothing new to say. For an episode that many have said could make for the first spin-off series, focusing on the techno crime adventures of two female detectives, it’s got a lot of space to grow.
I don’t want to spoil anything but the twists and turns of this episode feel earned and genuine. The revelation of just how these people are being murdered is silly when describing it but terrifying in practice.
As the plot builds towards its finale and the beautiful, haunting ‘Fall Into Me’ by Alev Lenz plays over the unfolding terror, I got chills. The concept here is so wild but works so well and the implementation of a hashtag which singles out the people to be murdered is a piece of socially conscious trickery that Brooker plays so well.
The only thing I’m less keen on is the very ending which does somewhat spoil the impact of the episodes final. The final shot seems like it came out of a different show entirely and it doesn’t feel totally earned.Â
However, the proceeding hour and a half are as chilling, sharp, breathtaking, imaginative as Black Mirror has ever been. Few shows could do what this show does in the final third of this episode and even during moments of fairly obvious contrivance, Charlie Brooker shows a skill in working human nuance into every inch.
Series three has varied in quality with no truly bad episode but a couple of disappointments. All in all, the quality of the best episodes have been some of the most intricately brilliant TV of the year and there’s no denying how it makes people think and feel.
That’s what good TV is and Black Mirror does it in spades.
Verdict
