When Black Mirror kicked off in 2011, it did so with a bang via “The National Anthem.” Series creator Charlie Brooker didn’t just start with technology; he wanted to make a statement on British politics. In the process, he created a more sadistic version of V for Vendetta, a story that also took shots at the public and what their minds are preoccupied with.
V for Vendetta came from the minds of Alan Moore and David Lloyd in 1988 under the Vertigo imprint. It focused on a masked vigilante, V, going up against the neo-fascist totalitarian that took over the United Kingdom. In 2015, it was adapted into a movie with Natalie Portman as Evey, helping Hugo Weaving’s V wage war on the government. He wanted the public to wake up and fight back, coming off as a terrorist to remind everyone governments should be afraid of its people, not vice versa. He successfully conditioned Evey to take up his mantle as society revolted. However, in Black Mirror’s premiere, terrorism is fought on a more cerebral plane.
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In “The National Anthem,” Princess Susannah was kidnapped, and the mysterious terrorist made it clear that Prime Minister Callow (Rory Kinnear) had to have sex with a pig on live TV for her safe return. Callow eventually bowed to the pressures of the public and the palace, as they couldn’t get clues as to where Susannah was being kept or who did the crime. By Callow engaging in the act, it showed that if taxpayers wanted to revolt, they could blackmail politicians.
The entire world was glued to their sets, watching the depravity. However, the twist came when Susannah was found wandering on a bridge. She was drugged and released 30 minutes before Callow’s incident by an artist who then hung himself. He knew no one would be patrolling the streets. If they had been, they would have found Susannah, and Callow’s blushes would be spared.
But the artist wanted to make a statement that the media and society were hypocrites because, as much as they wanted proper governance, they were all too eager to soak in the drama and controversy for laughs. No one was focused on the princess, just the scandal. The artist even sent the authorities his finger, faking it as Susannah’s, but no one tested it because the media already spun their angle, which the politicians played into. Callow’s aide even covered up the timeline, so no one else knew what transpired.
With the artist dead, Susannah went on a tour a year later to perform more humanitarian acts. But when Callow and his wife got back home, she left him alone because he didn’t tell her what he was going to do back then. It proved that most people want change and justice, but they’re often too selfish to do their part, focused on distractions or, in the case of Callow’s wife, their own pride and ego.
All five seasons of Black Mirror are available on Netflix.
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