This put up comprises spoilers for the “Black Mirror” episodes “Eulogy” and “The Total Historical past of You.”
“Black Mirror” followers typically fear that the present has run out of real surprises or significant issues to say. There is a acquainted components now to how a typical “Black Mirror” episode ought to go down: a seemingly sympathetic character is launched to sci-fi expertise, the tech seems be eviler than first assumed, and the primary character is revealed to be extra complicit on this evil than we’d’ve guessed. For the character to be a pure harmless sufferer of the expertise is not sufficient; the horror does not land until the sufferer no less than partially brings it upon themself.
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On the floor no less than, “Eulogy” checks off all of these packing containers. Paul Giamatti’s character Phillip is launched as a lonely, heartbroken man, who’s requested to make use of a sentient picture-enhancing laptop to revisit key moments from a relationship in his twenties. The expertise permits him to stroll into previous photographs, letting his reminiscences fill in and improve the stuff current exterior the body. It is a cool idea nevertheless it’s not one Phillip is thrilled to participate in. He hates his recently-deceased ex-girlfriend Carol, and this technique of revisiting his glad moments together with her shortly brings out his vindictive facet. He cannot cease speaking about how Carol was egocentric and he or she ruined his life.
However as we watch him speak about Carol, it is clear there’s plenty of guilt beneath his bitterness. Round midway by means of we discover out that Phillip cheated on her simply as a lot as she cheated on him. We additionally study that he had a consuming downside, that he hadn’t taken her musical pursuits as critically as he ought to’ve, and that he simply wasn’t an important boyfriend typically. Like a lot of “Black Mirror” protagonists over the present’s run, Phillip isn’t any saint.
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‘Eulogy’ is the other of ‘The Total Historical past of You’
Some followers may examine “Eulogy” to an episode like season 4’s “Crocodile,” which options comparable memory-scanning expertise. Or possibly they’re going to examine it to season 3’s standout “San Junipero,” a love story the place the characters get to revisit the many years of their youth. For me it is most harking back to a narrative from all the best way again in season 1: “The Total Historical past of You.” In that episode, a jealous boyfriend obsessively rewinds and over-analyzes moments between him and his spouse, finally confirming that she’s not solely cheated on him however has knowingly had a child with the person she cheated with.
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I’ve at all times disliked “The Total Historical past of You,” not as a result of the writing is unhealthy however as a result of I discovered the episode depressing even by “Black Mirror” requirements. The story’s made extra disturbing by the undercurrent of misogyny all through it: the primary character is controlling and vindictive in direction of his spouse, which solely makes it messier and extra uncomfortable when his suspicions about her are confirmed 100% right. We by no means truly get the spouse’s full facet of the story right here; we solely see her from her indignant, bitter husband’s standpoint.
“Eulogy” can be concerning the breakdown of a relationship, full with a reveal that the lady concerned had cheated and had one other man’s child. However though the episode additionally sticks to the person’s perspective — to the purpose the place we do not see Carol’s face till the very finish — “Eulogy” is extra fascinated by asking how the lady feels. As Phillip trash-talks Carol all through, the Information he is with (a digital consciousness following him alongside within the reminiscence simulation, performed by Patsy Ferran) is continually nudging him (and the viewer) to contemplate Carol’s standpoint.
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What occurs to the spouse and child after “The Total Historical past of You” is a complete thriller, however “Eulogy” follows up on Carol and her child, ending their story in a dignified approach. There’s much more to Carol than what she did to Phillip, and the episode by no means forgets to verify we all know this.
Black Mirror offers Paul Giamatti a spectacular appearing second
“The Total Historical past of You” continues to be an efficient critique of poisonous masculinity, with the primary character finally regretting his obsessive habits. However it’s a chilly, merciless examination of the subject, one that usually feels prefer it’s sneering at humanity itself. “Eulogy,” in the meantime, is optimistic at its core. Phillip slowly proves himself price rooting for, and the memory-enhancing expertise right here is undoubtedly a web optimistic for the world.
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Very like Paul Giamatti’s character’s arc in “The Holdovers,” you’ll be able to see life returning to grumpy previous Phillip, little by little, as he will get deeper into reminiscing about Carol. By the point the episode reaches its largest reveal — Phillip discovers Carol had left a very essential letter for him — all of Phillip’s protestations have dropped: this man nonetheless loves Carol deeply, irrespective of how a lot he is claimed in any other case. Giamatti’s efficiency hints at this from minute one among course, nevertheless it’s a thrill to see Phillip determine this out for himself. It is cathartic to observe him go from reluctantly pulling out a number of photographs to excitedly rummaging by means of his previous issues for something Carol-related.
When Phillip lastly will get to see younger Carol’s face once more, revisiting his long-sought reminiscence of her taking part in an unique music on her cello, Giamatti’s taking part in a person who’s lastly let himself really feel once more. He is been by means of a tragic journey with a number of ugly moments, together with one particularly devastating intestine punch within the last act, however not like most “Black Mirror” protagonists he is come out of it a greater individual. “The Total Historical past of You” was a couple of man who succumbs to his rage and insecurities; “Eulogy” is a couple of man who lets them go.
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