Change Your Image
jamvaru
Reviews
Black Mirror: White Bear (2013)
Supremacy of the state
The real twist is the people who are 'corrected' by the theatrics of the 'punishment'. The normal citizen is kept in line by judicious use of tv media and cellphone media now to frighten them into subservience. But in this case it is a daily show. I suspect you can watch for free on your phone from your home or wherever. We punish criminals not just for justice but as a deterrent for others, to keep them in line, for their own good. The spectacle of the burning witch. Don't let this be you.
What similar use of media does government, or whomever, use in our 'real' world to keep control?
Things like people in power who get away with doing bad stuff, like for example, an illegal email server for your government communications as an official of prominence. So the show is that though they were bad they are above the law, and you are not. So stay in line or you will get the treatment they are able to avoid. It is flaunting the control authority. Perhaps too obvious an example.
Like a governor eating at a fancy restaurant with no mask while at the same time forbidding such behavior for others. And then casually brushing off the criticism and going on to become president.
Stuff like that. They use the media as a control mechanism. It is sad and horrific, but perhaps just what the people deserve?
Dollhouse (2009)
too good for DOLL audience
(anything is a spoiler!)
10 because it deserves an 11
I don't detract for insignificant details like Echo has a problem portraying her different personalities believably. It is more believable that she would have trouble being 40 people, even one at a time. The personality that takes over might be dramatically different but more likely has an understanding of the whole 40 or would be suppressed by the other personalities. It shows very well the results of stress in building the character of Echo over the course of the show.
This one detail is a good example of the triumph of the show, to portray an individual with 40 personalities, let alone 2 people with such, is groundbreaking and should be applauded, especially as they pulled it off. Many details like this add up to a show that is too good for today's TV audience, except for the small percentage of 'geniuses' in the audience that can see beyond the DRAMA that is expected from TV, ala hill street blues or ER. All whitewashing the problems of our society, keeping us indoors, watching our TV's instead of inspiring us to think outside the box, becoming revolutionaries of culture and society.
Our future is uncertain, that much is certain. It is likely technology will take over, and eventually the group-mind or AI will rule us, or perhaps we will all die. Right now we need to answer these questions and take charge of our destiny. It is a miracle this show even aired. Perhaps they feel giving us a shred of hope will keep us from blowing ourselves up and keep us watching TV instead of questing for salvation.
Most people suffer from criticitis, inability to not be hyper critical.
I think they did smashingly well, considering the general aversion people have towards sci-fi. All it would really take is a better marketing campaign by Fox, but...
The main problem is that those in charge, ala Rossum, do not wish material like this to survive, like firefly. It gives us hope, but we don't need too much hope, just one or 2 seasons worth. Maybe 2 is better than one, as we see from firefly-serenity. 3 seasons is too much hope, or whatever. Too much focus on the sorry state of our world and too much inspiration that might lift us out of our poop.
Give Fox props for trying. It is a money thing, and an oppression thing. The people are perhaps too Doll. It is too late already (?>)
Mighty Max (1993)
the deep end of the comic/cartoon pool
Most shows don't go very deep in explaining themselves or the world about. This show is the opposite, they go to great lengths to bring the knowledge of the world to kids in pajamas. They go to the ends of the earth to dig up the true evil in the world. In fact, there ain't much not happening here, including space battles. The only problem is it got canceled. Just too good to live on.
Richard Moll is fantastic, as are all the voice actors. I didn't know Tim Curry was the Skullmaster's voice.
Creative, interesting, challenging, and full of action and energy. Always uplifting.