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Black Mirror is one of the most famous science-fiction and dystopian anthology series in the present day. Created by Charlie Brooker, the show explores various genres but commonly looks at the effects of the ever-increasing role of science and technology in human lives. The show, therefore, comments upon social issues and features near-future dystopias. The series is critically acclaimed and is much loved by viewers. Throughout its seven seasons, there have been many quotes that have commented upon the human condition and society, and are therefore revealing.
"People don't even look up anymore", "Everything happens for a reason", and other quotes from Black Mirror
1. “He thinks he’s got free will, but really he’s trapped in a maze, in a system.”
Black Mirror is a show that not only deals with the harmful consequences of the technological revolution, but it also explores human free will under those conditions. Therefore, the quote above has a lot of meaning. The lines come from the Black Mirror special episode, Bandersnatch, which allows the viewers to make decisions and change the narrative’s outcome. The interactive episode was one-of-its-kind and focused on a young programmer who wants to adapt an adventure book into a video game. The lines above are spoken by an eccentric character in the episode, Colin Ritman, and the lines not only define the plot of the episode, but also force viewers to contemplate the themes of free will and predestination. The episode requires multiple viewings as each viewing gives a different ending and it therefore explores questions of philosophy, life, and the illusion of control and freedom.
2. “I know people, we love humiliation. We can’t not laugh.”
These chilling lines come from the very first episode of the first season of Black Mirror. The lines above highlight the baser desires of humans and their need to indulge in a public spectacle, even if it is disgraceful for the people being mocked. The episode deals with the moral dilemma that the British Prime Minister faces after a member of the royal family is kidnapped. Even though it is the first episode of the show, it is unflinching and immediately reveals a dystopian world where people are consumed by media and technology. The episode highlights the negative influences of media sensationalism and how easily it can turn the tide and sway public opinion. Further, the episode also discusses themes of morality and ethics. At the end, however, the show reveals that humans love the public humiliation of others, and everyone’s morality blurs when such an instance arises.
3. “People try so hard to look how they think they should look.”
A simple but illuminating quote about how people dim their inner light just to fit in society, this quote is a part of the third season’s fourth episode, San Junipero. Black Mirror usually has some of the bleakest episodes on TV. But this episode is critically acclaimed and well-loved by fans because it has a tone of hopefulness and also has touches of humor. The episode focuses on two girls, Kelly and Yorkie, who fall for each other. However, the episode also deals with death and loss and introduces the idea of digital immortality. The show has a clever way of introducing revolutionary scientific concepts, and in this episode, the viewers see the repercussions of a technology that allows humans to upload their subconscious mind into a digital cloud, which allows them to live for eternity, even after their physical body dies. The episode, therefore, poses heavy questions about mortality, memories, ethics, and love. The above quote highlights questions about identity and self, and highlights the importance of embracing oneself in total and letting go of one’s insecurities and others’ opinions.
4. “You’re giving me commercial tourettes?!”
This intriguing quote comes from the first episode of Black Mirror season 7. Spoken by the character Amanda, the episode is one of the most gut-wrenching episodes to date. The episode focuses on a couple, Amanda and Mike. However, their lives are turned upside down when Amanda is diagnosed with a brain tumor. Her husband, Mike, therefore, encounters a cloning company called Rivermind that allows Amanda to live with a tumor-free brain, but there are limitations. As the couple enters into a contract with the technological company and begins a subscription model of health services, they soon realize that the company has trapped them and is now increasing their fees regularly. The episode is a harrowing watch as the couple have limited income and has to let go of many of their dreams so that Amanda’s medical service can continue. The Black Mirror episode finally ends on a devastating note and highlights the negative consequences of subscription-based services in the medical field. The above line points to a hilarious but unsettling situation where the subscription model has ads and Amanda randomly spouts them, calling them “commercial tourettes”. Therefore, the episode showcases a reality where humans are nothing but marketing robots for companies, even at the cost of people’s health.
5. “Thanks to the technological revolution, we have the power to rage and accuse, spout bile without consequence.”
The above quote is extremely telling and perfectly encapsulates the present condition of society. Many people have encountered online hate, and everyone knows that social media is a place that is overrun by hatred. This phenomenon is explored in the third season’s sixth episode of Black Mirror. The episode is about a detective and her sidekick, who have to investigate a series of deaths that are linked to social media. The series might be set in the near future, but the reality they have portrayed in the episode is already happening in the world. People have no remorse over spewing hatred behind the safety of their screens, and the episode rightly explores the toxic online culture. The above lines from Black Mirror are spoken by the character, Garrett Scholes, who rightly highlights the damage that has been caused by social media. Another important theme in the episode is about media manipulation, and Black Mirror has several episodes where the media’s influence is scrutinized. The episode, therefore, targets the negative effects of social media and how it absolves people of any responsibility over their behavior.
6. “People don’t even look up anymore. The sky could turn purple and you wouldn’t notice for a month.”
One of the most impactful and thought-provoking quotes, these lines comes from the fifth season’s second episode of Black Mirror. The episode focuses on an Uber driver, played by Andrew Scott, who has a personal agenda of his own and decides to kidnap the employee of a social media tech company in order to talk to its CEO. The episode is emotional and telling as it revolves around the Uber driver, Chris, who reveals that a few years back, he and his wife were driving and when he decided to check his phone for a notification that had come from the tech company, he had a terrible accident in which his wife died. While Chris blames himself for the accident, he is also furious at the addictive nature of the social media company, Smithereens. The episode from Black Mirror is a straightforward look at how online technology has taken over the lives of people and has left them with no time to even look at their surroundings. The above quote is memorable as it encapsulates the message that Black Mirror has always driven through—the disconnect of people from reality and their dependence on technology.
7. “People want to be noticed. They don’t like to be shut out. It makes them feel invisible.”
The above lines hint at the universal human need for validation and attention and are a part of the second season’s second episode of Black Mirror. The episode, White Christmas, is critically acclaimed and features Jon Hamm. The episode is about two men who are stuck at a remote outpost and are surrounded by frozen wilderness. Stuck and nowhere to go, the men decide to tell various tales that are interlinked by the harmful effects of technology. Like other episodes on the show, this one also has themes of public judgment and the harmful effects of science and technology. The above lines from Black Mirror are important and are spoken by the character Matt. The quote highlights the people’s need to be seen and heard, and highlights the psychological effect that exclusion can have on humans. If people do not get attention and validation, they can lose themselves and have low self-worth, therefore feeling invisible.
8. “Everything happens for a reason.”
Sometimes, Black Mirror not just offers a pessimistic take on the world, but it also leaves nuggets of hopefulness and caution. The above line, when taken out of context, is a powerful reminder about life’s reality. Even if something does not go according to one’s expectations, there is a reason behind it. The line is spoken by the coach, who is a character in the fourth season’s fourth episode. The episode looks at online dating and the pitfalls that come with it. It tackles themes of love, relationships, and dating in the world of technology. The episode of Black Mirror is poignant and has many thought-provoking scenes as it explores an unconventional love story that has its own challenges. While in the show, the lines refer to the reason behind Frank and Amy not being able to be with each other, when read on their own, the lines suggest that there is a meaning to every outcome.
9. “You see most people’s food, um normal food, it doesn’t tend to linger afterwards.”
These revealing lines come from the sixth season’s fifth episode of Black Mirror. The show has many interesting episodes that blur the line between reality and imagination. Demon 79 is one of them. The episode is not as straightforward as the rest of the episodes and focuses on an immigrant worker, Nida, who routinely faces racism at the hands of her co-workers. The episode deals with themes of fantasy, imagination, and horror. It is one of the few episodes in Black Mirror that deals with supernatural elements. The above lines are an instance where Nida is once again picked on for her ethnic differences. As a coworker is irritated by her eating biryani, the boss decides to send Nida to the basement to eat the food. The episode has flights of fantasy, but it also deals with the very real question of racial exclusion.
10. “You’re just a performance of stuff that he performed without thinking.”
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Black Mirror has many episodes that deal with the limits that are stretched in the name of technology and how it hampers the natural flow of things. The lines above come from the second season’s first episode of Black Mirror that deals with a young woman, Martha, who loses her husband. However, she lives in a world that allows her to create an android version of her husband based on his social media information. While technology can numb the pain for some time with its advancements, it can never bring true peace. Therefore, Martha is happy for a short time that she has her husband back in some form, but she soon realizes that he is just a hollow and performative representation of her husband. She therefore says the above lines that highlight the empty progress of technology. Science can do a lot for humans, but it cannot replace the depth and soul of a human, and has no memories and attachments. Further, social media always presents an incomplete picture of people.
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