Black Mirror season 6 will feature a parody of Netflix's streaming service which is nearly pointless. The acclaimed technological dystopian series is set to return with its first episode in four years on June 15th. A new trailer has revealed the five new films that will be included in the season. The anthological series from creator Charlie Brooker has essentially become the modern-day equivalent of cautionary tales of the evils of technologies such as George Orwell's 1984.
The season of Black Mirror features a new ensemble cast with episodes that span continents and decades. One episode titled "Beyond the Sea" is thought to be a sequel to the "USS Callister" episode, one of the most popular of the series. Black Mirror's typical intention is to dig into the darker side of modern life and expose social concerns that could potentially affect humanity in the real-life future. Based on the trailer, some technological innovations in Black Mirror season 6 are likely to continue to critique the dangers of new devices and services, while others, such as the "Streamberry" streaming platform, could feel more like a missed opportunity.
Will Netflix Really Let Black Mirror Season 6 Criticize Streaming?
The satirical Netflix platform Streamberry will appear in the Black Mirror season 6 premiere episode titled "Joan Is Awful." The streaming giant is seemingly parodying itself; the famous red N is changed to an S in a similar font while the home page layout looks like a simplified version of the real streaming platform's interface. However, with Netflix producing the series, questions remain about how strong the critiques in the episode will actually be.
The issue with Netflix parodying itself in Black Mirror is that it will probably not critically analyze itself in any depth, particularly through the sinister dystopian lens of the show. It seems unlikely that the streaming giant would poke fun at itself or take the opportunity to make critical statements about the negative aspects of streaming platforms, such as binge-watching content and the subsequent isolation that can occur. Streamberry will likely be reduced to a narrative tool and will not take much of a role in the thematic critiques of the "Joan Is Awful" episode.
Black Mirror Season 6's Netflix Episode Looks Like A Missed Opportunity
With Netflix manning the ship that is Black Mirror, the potential for numerous criticisms of Streamberry within the topic of streaming is very slim. The "Joan Is Awful" episode of Black Mirror likely won't have much to say about the negative aspects of Netflix or streaming services at all.
Netflix could take the stance that they are so dominant and influential in the streaming space that they wouldn't lose anything by allowing writer Charlie Brooker and director Ally Pankiw to take an honest angle that detracts from the integrity of streaming services at large. If Netflix takes the conservative approach and suppresses any thematic criticisms, the Black Mirror episode could end up feeling somewhat meaningless and out of touch.