This submit accommodates spoilers for the “Black Mirror” episodes “Eulogy” and “The Whole 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 system now to how a typical “Black Mirror” episode ought to go down: a seemingly sympathetic character is launched to sci-fi know-how, the tech seems be eviler than first assumed, and the principle character is revealed to be extra complicit on this evil than we might’ve guessed. For the character to be a pure harmless sufferer of the know-how is not sufficient; the horror would not land until the sufferer a minimum of partially brings it upon themself.
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On the floor a minimum of, “Eulogy” checks off all of these 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 The know-how permits him to stroll into outdated photographs, letting his recollections fill in and improve the stuff current exterior the body. It is a cool idea but it surely’s not one Phillip is thrilled to participate in. He hates his recently-deceased ex-girlfriend Carol, and this technique of revisiting his comfortable moments together with her rapidly 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 quite a lot of guilt beneath his bitterness. Round midway via 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 drawback, that he hadn’t taken her musical pursuits as severely as he ought to’ve, and that he simply wasn’t an excellent boyfriend normally. Like a lot of “Black Mirror” protagonists over the present’s run, Phillip is not any saint.
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‘Eulogy’ is the alternative of ‘The Whole Historical past of You’
Some followers would possibly evaluate “Eulogy” to an episode like season 4’s “Crocodile,” which options related memory-scanning know-how. Or possibly they will evaluate 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 Whole Historical past of You.” In that episode, a jealous boyfriend obsessively rewinds and over-analyzes moments between him and his spouse, ultimately 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 all the time disliked “The Whole 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 principle 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 really 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 in regards to the breakdown of a relationship, full with a reveal that the lady concerned had cheated and had one other man’s child. However despite the fact that 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 enthusiastic about 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 Whole 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 may be 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 provides Paul Giamatti a spectacular appearing second
“The Whole Historical past of You” remains to be an efficient critique of poisonous masculinity, with the principle character ultimately regretting his obsessive conduct. Nevertheless it’s a chilly, merciless examination of the subject, one that always feels prefer it’s sneering at humanity itself. “Eulogy,” in the meantime, is optimistic at its core. Phillip slowly proves himself value rooting for, and the memory-enhancing know-how right here is undoubtedly a web constructive for the world.
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Very like Paul Giamatti’s character’s arc in “The Holdovers,” you may see life returning to grumpy outdated 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 vital 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 considered one of course, but it surely’s a thrill to see Phillip determine this out for himself. It is cathartic to observe him go from reluctantly pulling out a couple of photographs to excitedly rummaging via his outdated 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 enjoying an unique music on her cello, Giamatti’s enjoying a person who’s lastly let himself really feel once more. He is been via a tragic journey with a number of ugly moments, together with one particularly devastating intestine punch within the closing act, however not like most “Black Mirror” protagonists he is come out of it a greater particular person. “The Whole 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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