Just watched the first episode of the highly anticipated Season 6 of Black Mirror, titled “Joan is Awful.” Here are some of my initial thoughts:

The story is truly captivating, following the classic Black Mirror formula at the expense of reality. It’s hard to believe that any contract allowing such impersonation would still be valid. However, drawing the line between what’s acceptable and what’s not is not an easy task.

Interestingly, there is a real-life case similar to the one portrayed in the show. It involved a sex scandal fabricated by an “award-winning” screenplay writer, aimed at boosting box-office numbers. The victim of this defamation was Cui Yongyuan, a highly acclaimed state-running TV host in China. Unlike the protagonist in the show, Cui didn’t end up wearing a house-arrest sensor on his ankle because such “Quanputer” technology didn’t exist at that time. Instead, he single-handedly brought down those media magnates by exposing their yin-yang contracts designed for tax evasion.

This is why I believe reality is always more thrilling than drama.

Just watched Better Call Saul S06E12 Waterworks.

Some Quick Thoughts :

Yes you showed me the High brought by drugs, and with your storytelling, I am now feeling the despair from abstinence. Lu Xun once said, ” a tragedy is to tear the good thing apart and show it to us.” And for this time you choosed Kim, when I heard her filthy husband was yelling yep on her body, I think you, Vince Gilligan, you really did it.

Even for Hollywood producers, a morality play or ending is always a safe bet. To achieve this, to hell with the logic, Why would Kim leave Saul the money on sandpiper settlement ? And Why would Saul take the deal like without any hesitation ? Those are not Kim nor Saul I know from the previous episodes. Where are the commitments between them ? Remember shortly after Kim decided to quit her practicing, Saul was begging her. How come the sudden change on Saul ?

I remembered years before I was arguing with people on characters between Chuck and James. I was not giving away my believes on the transformation of Slipping Jimmy and his idol wife. Now, I have to. It seems you are arranging the plot purposely against people’s prophesies and even at a cost of denial on goodness tendency. I didn’t see any color in the future timelines because you stabbed my eyes.

A heart-breaking masterpiece !

 

Basically my hunches on s01e01 the Comedian are like the hidden referring to Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business, and maybe Death Note (actually it’s easier for Wassen by just saying their names). With all due respect, but i will say this adaption from the original episode is not quite successful. Like if the plot is meant to have a moral ending at a cost of logical integrity, Why not try introducing JC Wheeler at the very end ? Everything would be back to normal after his vanish, and Samir would learn his lesson too, and alive. Maybe I am just too smart to be a screenplay critic.