Season 3:
Episode 1 "NoseDive"
This is my absolute favorite episode of the entire season, no, I take that back, the entire show (thus far). I have heard a lot about the show from friends, and when I opened up Netflix to watch it, for some reason I clicked on this episode instead of the first episode of the season. Don't ask me how, all I know is, since then I have been hooked and since then, no other episode could compare. Although "The Entire History of You" and "Be Right Back" did come fairly close...
You know that feeling when you leave your phone at home when you're going out? Especially when it's somewhere like the DMV where you know you'll be waiting in line or maybe it could be a quick trip to McDonalds down the street? It's a sucky feeling. You don't know who is texting you, what if someone called you? You need to check your Instagram to see how many likes you have received on your last photo right? What about on Twitter to see what people are complaining about or showing off?
In a lot of Black Mirror episodes all the "good stuff" happens towards the end of the episode. You know what I mean-all the plot twists, the character development, the answers to all the questions, ect. Yet I want to focus on the beginning of this episode, the opening scene where Lacie is doing yoga. She is outside of her house but still inside of her neighborhood, and just from a few shots the audience can tell that it is a very picturesque area. Each house resembles the next, and even the color scheme of the neighborhood looks serene and calming with all the pinks and purples. Yet instead of focusing on doing yo
ga, Lacie has her eyes glued on her phone. She is strolling through an app that looks very similar to Instagram, but instead of liking her friends' post just once like Instagram allows us to do, she has to rate the photo from a series of one to five stars. She is strolling through the photos quickly, giving all of them five stars without seeming to really look at them.
I partially love this scene because 1. how many of us have seen people out for a walk or out at the beach and instead of immersing themselves in the activity, they are instead looking at their phone? Or how many of us are those people? and 2. the fact that Lacie is just giving out five stars as if it meant nothing to her shows that this rating system must mean a lot to her if she's spending so much time liking other people's photos. The reasoning for why she rates everyone so highly is shown later in the episode but it just got me thinking, "do most people like other people's photos on social media because they genuinely like it or are they just doing it because they want those people to like their photos in return?" Is there an obligation to "return the favor" in some way?
Lacie is quite a relatable character because she strives for more in her life. Her apartment that she shares with her brother isn't a place she wants to stay in, and she has her heart set out for Pelican Cove. The way the real estate agent persuades Lacie to buy the place is really interesting because she doesn't hide the fact that she is trying to manipulate her. Real estate agents or any profession where people are trying to sell their products to consumers, are always going to persuade the consumer in one way or another but sometimes they are so subtle about it that the customers do not know that they are being persuaded. She conjures up this display of Lacie and a handsome young man in the kitchen, laughing and holding on to each other as if they are in love. In a way, the real estate agent is persuading Lacie to buy the house not by showing her the beauty of the house itself but by showing what kind of life she can have if she buys it. It's the same with social media-all the likes and comments and followers truly do not do anything for people in real life; yet, they like the idea of being popular and being liked by others.
What I loved the most about this episode and what made it stand out to me is the fact that this alternative reality is a dystopian. What fascinates me about all dystopias is that the people creating this new world, created it with only good intentions. In Aldous Huxley's Brave New World the creators wanted to created a world where everyone was happy with their given status in life. All the Alphas are intelligent and hard working and they are the ones that lead society, while the Epsilons, who were purposely given alcohol when they were just fetuses, are made to do serve and clean because their minds are not capable of higher understanding. Yet what makes this society work, at least for a while, is that all the people in their respective classes are proud of to be in their respective classes. The Alphas believe they are the smartest of their kinds and look down on the other classes, while the Epsilons believe that they are lucky because they don't have to take on the strenuous activities that the Alphas do. Everyone is happy where they are, but a system that controls its people like that takes away any and all individuality.
For example, when Lacie goes into the cafe to order her coffee, the worker at the counter says they have extra cookies so he asks if she would like one. When Lacie accepts the server looks at her and by the look on his face, it shows that he wants more than a verbal thank you; he wants her to rate him five stars for his "act of kindness." Yet is it really a genuine act of kindness if he's looking for something in return?
One of my favorite scenes in this episode is when Lacie finally loses her cool because her flight has been cancelled. This was a scene that was bound to happen because throughout the whole episode, it is easy to see that Lacie is trying really hard to fit it but it is harder for her to adapt to this world than it is for most people. For instance:
It's no secret that aside from Lacie's brother, Ryan, who despite being lazy is actually a really honest person, Susan the truck driver is one of best character in this episode. Everything about her feels so genuine from her honest words to the way she looks and sympathizes with Lacie. Her rating is very low and because of this many people shun her and avoid her. They are conditioned to believe that you can look at someone, glance at their rating, and this rating will tell you all you need to know about this person. There is no question as to why someone's rating is the way that it is and most people don't have to ask, they can just judge at a glance. Yet Susan's story shows why this rating system is absurd because people act out for different reasons, and it is simple human compassion to get to know someone's story before they judge. People who glance at Susan's low rating would think she's dangerous or not right in the head somehow, but Susan explains that she used to be obsessed with her ranking the same way Lacie did. It wasn't until the doctors refuses to give her husband, who was dying of cancer at the time, treatment because they prioritize another person with a higher rating than him, that she realized how flawed this system was. What was the point of it all? Despite Lacie looking a little skeptical, there is compassion and a bit of understanding in her eyes. She doesn't blame Susan and she doesn't make excuses for why the doctors did what they did, I believe that deep down she knows what happened to Susan and her husband was wrong and the fact that she acknowledges that shows that Lacie is fair above all of the other citizens.
Lacie's meltdown at Naomi's wedding was hard to watch because it wasn't uplifting or impressive, in fact it was pretty much a big mess. It is without a doubt that Naomi is a horrible person, and a horrible friend to Lacie. Even from their first video chat Namoi shows that she couldn't care less about Lacie, and that she was using her for her own private agenda. It turns out in the end, that Naomi only invited Lacie to higher her own ranking, since she views Lacie with her low 4.2 rating, as a charity case. The same way some people do charity work just to post it on their social media sites or celebrities donate to charities just to get their names in the paper. It isn't genuine and it isn't important to them-what is important to them is the fact that other people think that they are good people, rather than them actually being good people.
This whole society is about looking good rather than being good, it's a society where you can't be yourself because your whole life depends on how much other people like you. There's none of that "I do what I want and people can think whatever" because the way this society is so structured, that it makes sure that none of that thinking can prevail.
Of course, I need to talk about that liberating scene in the end where Lacie lands herself in jail. The last few minutes of the episode contrasts starkly from the first few minutes of it-Lacie, who at the beginning looks pristine in pastel clothes and fresh makeup, is now wearing dirty clothes and has her makeup running-also the pastel colors that are always in the background fade to this sort of black and gray scene of the jail cell. It is in jail that Lacie believes that she has hit rock bottom, after all, who in their right mind would want to end up in jail with their ranking reaching the negatives? It is never mentioned but I assume Lacie won't be integrated back into the society now that the government probably sees her as a threat to the system, or if she is permitted to come back, she might be forced to live on "the other side of town."
Yet when all seems to be lost, she looks across the cell and sees another prisoner and because she is already agitated, starts a verbal fight with him. The other prisoner shouts back and there's this freeing moment of both of them exchanging insults that otherwise would have never be permitted in the outside world because of its vulgarness. Even if the citizens feel annoyance or anger, they would never outwardly show it because of the fear that they will be ranked down by others. Yet Lacie and the other prisoner do not care about being ranked down because 1. they cannot rank each other without their devices and 2. and this is the most important, they do not care to. It's both ironic and beautiful that in a jail cell, a place meant to trap and limit freedom, is the place where Lacie finally feels free to be herself.
Like I've mentioned before, this is my absolute favorite Black Mirror episode. It is written and filmed so well, and the ending of the episode leaves you feeling empowered and free. Most Black Mirror episodes end with a huge twist that makes the audience feel, in a sense twisted, twisted at the horrors in which the characters have endured or what they would endure later on. Yet although I know that Lacie won't be living a plush life in a nice house, I know that she, like Susan, is better off than the rest of the citizens because she has rid herself of the mold that her society has tried so hard to force her in.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
- Quick Synopsis:
"NoseDive" takes place in a reality where citizens are rated by one another based on a five star rating system. This rating system is like a social hierarchy where those who have higher ratings are given more opportunities over those with lower ratings.
Lacie Pound has a solid rating of 4.2 that she tries very hard to obtain. Her whole life is centered around social media, and she is constantly thinking of ways to boost her rating. Lacie wants to move out of the small home she is currently sharing with her brother, but realizes that her dream home costs more than she can afford. However, she is told that if she is able to boost her rating up to a 4.5 that a very generous discount would be given to her. Determined to obtain her dream home, Lacie hatches a plan that will put her in the same circles as The Elites-those in the community with the highest ratings-and if she is on her best behavior, their ratings will give her the boost she needs to obtain her 4.5 end goal. However as Lacie is diving deeper into her scheme, she realizes that her plan is not as flawless as she thought it was.
Lacie Pound has a solid rating of 4.2 that she tries very hard to obtain. Her whole life is centered around social media, and she is constantly thinking of ways to boost her rating. Lacie wants to move out of the small home she is currently sharing with her brother, but realizes that her dream home costs more than she can afford. However, she is told that if she is able to boost her rating up to a 4.5 that a very generous discount would be given to her. Determined to obtain her dream home, Lacie hatches a plan that will put her in the same circles as The Elites-those in the community with the highest ratings-and if she is on her best behavior, their ratings will give her the boost she needs to obtain her 4.5 end goal. However as Lacie is diving deeper into her scheme, she realizes that her plan is not as flawless as she thought it was.
- Discussion:
This is my absolute favorite episode of the entire season, no, I take that back, the entire show (thus far). I have heard a lot about the show from friends, and when I opened up Netflix to watch it, for some reason I clicked on this episode instead of the first episode of the season. Don't ask me how, all I know is, since then I have been hooked and since then, no other episode could compare. Although "The Entire History of You" and "Be Right Back" did come fairly close...
What makes this episode standout to me is the fact that it is very relatable. I am someone that is always on my phone or I am on my computer or I am watching television. Are there moments where I step away from these items and go out for a walk? Definitely. It's something that I prioritize. I make sure to walk my dogs everyday or go outside into the garden and water the plants. I feel lethargic when I am sitting inside all day, attached to my phone. I used to think that this little break was a good thing, until I realize how sad it is that I have to plan to give myself a break. I am so attached to these items that I have to remind myself that they are not good for me.
A lot of people need this validation in order to feel good about themselves. That's why people post pictures and constantly check their phones to see how many likes they have on Instagram, or why people make a big deal about how many followers they have on Twitter, or how many friends they have on FaceBook. It's this human need to be wanted and loved by others that many brands take advantage of, and "NoseDive" takes this social media craze that we have in the world today and twists it into a very scary and very possible alternate universe.
ga, Lacie has her eyes glued on her phone. She is strolling through an app that looks very similar to Instagram, but instead of liking her friends' post just once like Instagram allows us to do, she has to rate the photo from a series of one to five stars. She is strolling through the photos quickly, giving all of them five stars without seeming to really look at them.
I partially love this scene because 1. how many of us have seen people out for a walk or out at the beach and instead of immersing themselves in the activity, they are instead looking at their phone? Or how many of us are those people? and 2. the fact that Lacie is just giving out five stars as if it meant nothing to her shows that this rating system must mean a lot to her if she's spending so much time liking other people's photos. The reasoning for why she rates everyone so highly is shown later in the episode but it just got me thinking, "do most people like other people's photos on social media because they genuinely like it or are they just doing it because they want those people to like their photos in return?" Is there an obligation to "return the favor" in some way?
Lacie is quite a relatable character because she strives for more in her life. Her apartment that she shares with her brother isn't a place she wants to stay in, and she has her heart set out for Pelican Cove. The way the real estate agent persuades Lacie to buy the place is really interesting because she doesn't hide the fact that she is trying to manipulate her. Real estate agents or any profession where people are trying to sell their products to consumers, are always going to persuade the consumer in one way or another but sometimes they are so subtle about it that the customers do not know that they are being persuaded. She conjures up this display of Lacie and a handsome young man in the kitchen, laughing and holding on to each other as if they are in love. In a way, the real estate agent is persuading Lacie to buy the house not by showing her the beauty of the house itself but by showing what kind of life she can have if she buys it. It's the same with social media-all the likes and comments and followers truly do not do anything for people in real life; yet, they like the idea of being popular and being liked by others.
What I loved the most about this episode and what made it stand out to me is the fact that this alternative reality is a dystopian. What fascinates me about all dystopias is that the people creating this new world, created it with only good intentions. In Aldous Huxley's Brave New World the creators wanted to created a world where everyone was happy with their given status in life. All the Alphas are intelligent and hard working and they are the ones that lead society, while the Epsilons, who were purposely given alcohol when they were just fetuses, are made to do serve and clean because their minds are not capable of higher understanding. Yet what makes this society work, at least for a while, is that all the people in their respective classes are proud of to be in their respective classes. The Alphas believe they are the smartest of their kinds and look down on the other classes, while the Epsilons believe that they are lucky because they don't have to take on the strenuous activities that the Alphas do. Everyone is happy where they are, but a system that controls its people like that takes away any and all individuality.
For example, when Lacie goes into the cafe to order her coffee, the worker at the counter says they have extra cookies so he asks if she would like one. When Lacie accepts the server looks at her and by the look on his face, it shows that he wants more than a verbal thank you; he wants her to rate him five stars for his "act of kindness." Yet is it really a genuine act of kindness if he's looking for something in return?
One of my favorite scenes in this episode is when Lacie finally loses her cool because her flight has been cancelled. This was a scene that was bound to happen because throughout the whole episode, it is easy to see that Lacie is trying really hard to fit it but it is harder for her to adapt to this world than it is for most people. For instance:
- When she is seen practicing her smile in the mirror. Most people would just brush this off as her being weird or trying too hard, but for me this is one of the first hints that I picked up that Lacie is more fragile than she lets on. After all, why do people practice something? It's because they want to get better at it, and if Lacie is supposedly so well adapted into this world why would she need to practice? Why does she need to practice being happy? Shouldn't a smile come naturally? Shouldn't happiness come naturally?
- When all of her coworkers decide to shun one of their own because of some breakup rumor, Lacie actually feels bad for him. These people live in a world that is design to bring out the best in them since the society functions on this "be good and get rewarded" frame of mind. As long as you are a good person and other people can see it, then you will get ranked highly and in return get to live a good life. Yet because these people all want to live the most comfortable and lavish lifestyle, they will do anything to maintain their high marks or in Lacie's case, improve their marks. This means that they will look the other way when people might need their help, if they fear that their ratings might get lowered. Imagine that-living in a world that is designed for everyone to be the best version of themselves; yet, this competition actually brings out the worst in people. It is said that humans beings are, down to the core, selfish individuals and the work scene shows it. Lacie grabs a smoothie from her coworker and rates him five stars because she feels sorry for him, but her generosity will cost her later since not everyone is as understanding as she is. Later on in the episode, Lacie will meet people who will not treat her as kindly as she would treat them, and she gets a rude awakening that not everything is as perfect as she may want to believe it is.
The fact that she loses her cool is seen as a shock for everyone because they are conditioned to be calm and compliant. Lacie just had a string of bad luck, and she can get angry if she wants. She can lose her cool and vent, and do all the things that normal people would do in her shoes. Yet in this world, that is seen as red flag. Everyone looks at her as if she had lost her mind and is dangerous, and they even ranked her lower. I felt really bad for Lacie in this scene because it's like, can't this girl catch a break? Yet at the same time, I'm glad that she cracked a little because it shows that despite this society trying to make everyone perfect, she is a crack in their foundation.
It's no secret that aside from Lacie's brother, Ryan, who despite being lazy is actually a really honest person, Susan the truck driver is one of best character in this episode. Everything about her feels so genuine from her honest words to the way she looks and sympathizes with Lacie. Her rating is very low and because of this many people shun her and avoid her. They are conditioned to believe that you can look at someone, glance at their rating, and this rating will tell you all you need to know about this person. There is no question as to why someone's rating is the way that it is and most people don't have to ask, they can just judge at a glance. Yet Susan's story shows why this rating system is absurd because people act out for different reasons, and it is simple human compassion to get to know someone's story before they judge. People who glance at Susan's low rating would think she's dangerous or not right in the head somehow, but Susan explains that she used to be obsessed with her ranking the same way Lacie did. It wasn't until the doctors refuses to give her husband, who was dying of cancer at the time, treatment because they prioritize another person with a higher rating than him, that she realized how flawed this system was. What was the point of it all? Despite Lacie looking a little skeptical, there is compassion and a bit of understanding in her eyes. She doesn't blame Susan and she doesn't make excuses for why the doctors did what they did, I believe that deep down she knows what happened to Susan and her husband was wrong and the fact that she acknowledges that shows that Lacie is fair above all of the other citizens. Of course, I need to talk about that liberating scene in the end where Lacie lands herself in jail. The last few minutes of the episode contrasts starkly from the first few minutes of it-Lacie, who at the beginning looks pristine in pastel clothes and fresh makeup, is now wearing dirty clothes and has her makeup running-also the pastel colors that are always in the background fade to this sort of black and gray scene of the jail cell. It is in jail that Lacie believes that she has hit rock bottom, after all, who in their right mind would want to end up in jail with their ranking reaching the negatives? It is never mentioned but I assume Lacie won't be integrated back into the society now that the government probably sees her as a threat to the system, or if she is permitted to come back, she might be forced to live on "the other side of town." Yet when all seems to be lost, she looks across the cell and sees another prisoner and because she is already agitated, starts a verbal fight with him. The other prisoner shouts back and there's this freeing moment of both of them exchanging insults that otherwise would have never be permitted in the outside world because of its vulgarness. Even if the citizens feel annoyance or anger, they would never outwardly show it because of the fear that they will be ranked down by others. Yet Lacie and the other prisoner do not care about being ranked down because 1. they cannot rank each other without their devices and 2. and this is the most important, they do not care to. It's both ironic and beautiful that in a jail cell, a place meant to trap and limit freedom, is the place where Lacie finally feels free to be herself.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
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