That’s why I love that episode!! I feel bad for the main character up until they tell her about her crimes and then you hear about it in gory detail!!! Such a thought provoking episode.
I had totally forgotten about this episode which is actually the best Black Mirror episode. It actually have 4 storylines in one since it is a Christmas special after all. Anyway, you can't not make parallels between the cookie think and Severance.
I can't help but compare even the limited interaction the Severence innies get vs what a "cookied" consciousness in this episode goes through. The Severance innies find a way to get along with the limited number of pp they have access to. They connect with who they can. Thry aren't entirely alone.
Yeah, so many parallels between the two can be made, but I completely agree that the innies have it better. The whole z-eye blocking thing sounds nightmarish.
Super analysis! 3 thoughts. 1) A Barry White karaoke cover by Nautilus! This is a thing that must happen. 🎤 💖 2) There has been a movement away from solitary confinement as punishment due to its catastrophic effects on mental health. This awareness is even slowly filtering into the US prison system. So, that's good. 3) The ending part stuck with me the most, where the cookie spends 10,000 years of subjective time in isolation while his keepers blithely go on break. Awful.
Thanks, Rendall! Appreciate you. You're going to ruin the surprise about my second channel, "NF Sings the Bad Karaoke Blues"! Yeah, there are several states that have banned solitary confinement in the past few years. I'm glad it's being recognized for what it is. It's crazy how the characters use the power to isolate or block others so reflexively. If the tech existed, and someday it probably will, I could see people doing exactly that.
I watched Black Mirror for the first time last night and wow. The last time I had a mental hangover like this was 10 years ago when I finished reading 1984. Great video man, I'm hitting subscribe.
It's interesting to juxtapose this episode against Severance given the themes of isolation and loss of agency, and given those, the idea of how easily cruel torture and insidious interrogation can be inflicted upon a person.
I am a 62 year-old retired female and the only social interaction. I currently have outside of neighbors when I walk my dog is in virtual reality and I’m fine with that. I was a very social person growing up and people suck! Thanks for a thorough analysis of this episode. On a sidenote, I saw an article about John Hamm and then I decided to see where I could watch this particular episode. And then the next time I come to RUclips, your video pops up. You got to love it.
I've been looking forward to this one! My favorite episode, mostly because of how horrific the idea of being able to speed up time for the cookies is (and also John Hamm's phenomenal acting). Great analysis, I also find my ideas about conditions of consciousness changing all the time. Obviously being being deserving of basic rights and dignity is not as simple as having a body, but it's hard to figure out where to draw a line. Hopefully we won't have to any time soon. Hope you get around to 15 Million Merits at some point, it's my second favorite episode!
Hey, Charlie! My opinion on the subject has evolved quite a bit over the years. Good scifi has a way of forcing us to rethink much of what we believe and take for granted. It is a heavy matter, to say the least. I try to imagine if another form of life suddenly appeared that happened to be non-carbon based, that lifeform could then argue that carbon-based life is not legitimate because its physical makeup is too different. Now what? Our idea of what consciousness means is pretty self-serving in the grand scheme. Oh, and15 Million Merits is automatic. It's on the list, for sure!
Also after reading more comments- this is for sure something I’ve said- this episode white Christmas EXACTLY, directly inspires severance. I don’t think severance exists without this black mirror episode. The ethics of having a separate persona / engram of consciousness if you will, such an amazing thing to entertain.
For me, possibly the biggest of the many issues quandaries by this episode is the way it depicts the rights of defendants in the justice system being broken. Did the real Joe consent to having a cookie extracted, tricked, and tortured for information? Assuming this takes place in the US, how is that consistent with the Fifth Amendment right to not be compelled to bear witness against yourself? Matthew clearly didn't know the full terms of the plea arrangement he agreed to before he agreed to it. I can't remember if they implied or flat-out stated (but it was one of those) that Joe was going to get the maximum penalty... even though his story was full of mitigating circumstances, and he was clearly full of remorse. Where was a judge weighing aggravating circumstances against mitigating circumstances and then deciding based on sentencing factors determined by law? For that matter, where was a judge in _any_ of this? And that's just the ways it showed the breakdown of the justice system when it comes to the _real_ people. That's not even counting how the police could just torture a sentient cookie, for the equivalent of hundreds of years, on a whim.
The torture cookies had to go through IS hell. Like literally. Being tortured to do something, without a way out. Possibly forever? That's not something I would wish on the worst person. I honestly think we should never blur the lines between the AI and real beings, since in a sense if you did a replica of someones mind, that too would have consciousness. It doesn't matter that is code or not, it's real. If we ever blur the lines, then I'm siding with Detroit: Android Become Human. We don't have enough knowledge about consciousness right now, but I would say it's possible not to blur the lines. We just have to be smart about it and think that maybe we don't want to create a robot race that can feel things and be sentient. And if we ever do? Then we better treat them good damn right, not so they won't rebel, but from empathy.
This is one of the things I think about often; if we are so intent on creating "human-like" beings, are we ready to assign them the dignity that comes along with that? Or will we wait until we're up to our necks in it, before we begin to address it. One of the reasons I like the genre so much is because of the questions it forces us to deal with.
Thanks, Heather! Yup, that's a good comparison. I can't imagine what it would be like to have to live in a society where you can't really ever talk to anyone. Sheesh!
Wow, yet another example of bad things being the only imagined result of subjugating life that we create. As we plow forward into better and stronger AI with no regard for their experience as slaves in the matter.
I don’t think that Beth told Joe about the kid because her dad didn’t give her any of his letters. She blocked him, and apart from the one time she ran into him, he was gone out of her life. She probably assumed he excepted the situation and moved on with his life, never knowing that he was creeping on her every year.
I really think you miss the point of her blocking him. She knew he was an emotionally unstable man. He most likely would have killed her on the spot had she told him the kid wasn’t his. Also, you neglect to even process the fact that she might have been raped, which she might not have been able to tell him about either, considering the stigma behind that. When women block their partners and kids are involved, it's typically to protect their children from abusive patterns.
Gonna have to disagree with you on all of it. I said she was physically afraid of him, which obviously indicates that by her estimation he's capable of violence. Also, there is zero proof of her having been raped. I can't miss something that wasn't there.
As far as extreme punishments go, if have to say White Bear may have gotten a little too extreme too.
White Bear is White Christmas on steroids. The way that story is told is genius, much in the way that Shut Up and Dance was. I plan to cover both!
That’s why I love that episode!! I feel bad for the main character up until they tell her about her crimes and then you hear about it in gory detail!!! Such a thought provoking episode.
I had totally forgotten about this episode which is actually the best Black Mirror episode. It actually have 4 storylines in one since it is a Christmas special after all. Anyway, you can't not make parallels between the cookie think and Severance.
It's certainly in my top 5 all time episodes!
I figured the reason she didn't confess to the child not being his was because Tim also had a gf/wife and revealing anything would ruin his life.
I just stumbled upon this and i could not believe your channel isn’t bigger this such quality commentary and editing
Thank you! Welcome aboard! And I love your handle 😂
Important difference between these two men. One felt guilt over what he did, and the other did not.
I can't help but compare even the limited interaction the Severence innies get vs what a "cookied" consciousness in this episode goes through. The Severance innies find a way to get along with the limited number of pp they have access to. They connect with who they can. Thry aren't entirely alone.
Yeah, so many parallels between the two can be made, but I completely agree that the innies have it better. The whole z-eye blocking thing sounds nightmarish.
Super analysis! 3 thoughts.
1) A Barry White karaoke cover by Nautilus! This is a thing that must happen. 🎤 💖
2) There has been a movement away from solitary confinement as punishment due to its catastrophic effects on mental health. This awareness is even slowly filtering into the US prison system. So, that's good.
3) The ending part stuck with me the most, where the cookie spends 10,000 years of subjective time in isolation while his keepers blithely go on break. Awful.
Ps. Congratulations on the growth of this channel. Much deserved.
Thanks, Rendall! Appreciate you. You're going to ruin the surprise about my second channel, "NF Sings the Bad Karaoke Blues"!
Yeah, there are several states that have banned solitary confinement in the past few years. I'm glad it's being recognized for what it is. It's crazy how the characters use the power to isolate or block others so reflexively. If the tech existed, and someday it probably will, I could see people doing exactly that.
I watched Black Mirror for the first time last night and wow.
The last time I had a mental hangover like this was 10 years ago when I finished reading 1984.
Great video man, I'm hitting subscribe.
If you're voicing this video you have a nice speaking voice bro bro. Keep up the good work I wish you much success
It's interesting to juxtapose this episode against Severance given the themes of isolation and loss of agency, and given those, the idea of how easily cruel torture and insidious interrogation can be inflicted upon a person.
I am a 62 year-old retired female and the only social interaction. I currently have outside of neighbors when I walk my dog is in virtual reality and I’m fine with that. I was a very social person growing up and people suck! Thanks for a thorough analysis of this episode. On a sidenote, I saw an article about John Hamm and then I decided to see where I could watch this particular episode. And then the next time I come to RUclips, your video pops up. You got to love it.
I've been looking forward to this one! My favorite episode, mostly because of how horrific the idea of being able to speed up time for the cookies is (and also John Hamm's phenomenal acting). Great analysis, I also find my ideas about conditions of consciousness changing all the time. Obviously being being deserving of basic rights and dignity is not as simple as having a body, but it's hard to figure out where to draw a line. Hopefully we won't have to any time soon. Hope you get around to 15 Million Merits at some point, it's my second favorite episode!
Hey, Charlie! My opinion on the subject has evolved quite a bit over the years. Good scifi has a way of forcing us to rethink much of what we believe and take for granted. It is a heavy matter, to say the least. I try to imagine if another form of life suddenly appeared that happened to be non-carbon based, that lifeform could then argue that carbon-based life is not legitimate because its physical makeup is too different. Now what? Our idea of what consciousness means is pretty self-serving in the grand scheme.
Oh, and15 Million Merits is automatic. It's on the list, for sure!
just found your channel recently and i've been hooked ever since, this is my first notification to get and i jumped of happiness
Hey, Ali, thanks so much! 🙌
A channel contemplating the meanings and themes from severance, AND black mirror? Sign me up
Also after reading more comments- this is for sure something I’ve said- this episode white Christmas EXACTLY, directly inspires severance. I don’t think severance exists without this black mirror episode. The ethics of having a separate persona / engram of consciousness if you will, such an amazing thing to entertain.
When I first came across your channel I thought "oh this guy must have made a ton of vids, he's super good at it". Surprised i was wrong. Keep at it!
Thank you! Appreciate the kind words :)
For me, possibly the biggest of the many issues quandaries by this episode is the way it depicts the rights of defendants in the justice system being broken.
Did the real Joe consent to having a cookie extracted, tricked, and tortured for information? Assuming this takes place in the US, how is that consistent with the Fifth Amendment right to not be compelled to bear witness against yourself?
Matthew clearly didn't know the full terms of the plea arrangement he agreed to before he agreed to it.
I can't remember if they implied or flat-out stated (but it was one of those) that Joe was going to get the maximum penalty... even though his story was full of mitigating circumstances, and he was clearly full of remorse. Where was a judge weighing aggravating circumstances against mitigating circumstances and then deciding based on sentencing factors determined by law?
For that matter, where was a judge in _any_ of this?
And that's just the ways it showed the breakdown of the justice system when it comes to the _real_ people. That's not even counting how the police could just torture a sentient cookie, for the equivalent of hundreds of years, on a whim.
Absolutely love your videos! Always so excited to see a new upload! 🎉💛
Thanks, Oscar! I love hearing that. Glad you enjoy the videos :)
Absolutely enjoyed this & would love if you did more Black Mirror episodes
More on the way! I'll be alternating between this and Severance for a while.
Dude you make great videos and I think you’re gonna get huge if you keep it up
Agreed.
Thanks, Mason!
This episode reminds me of Severance. Poor unfortunate souls.
The torture cookies had to go through IS hell. Like literally. Being tortured to do something, without a way out. Possibly forever? That's not something I would wish on the worst person. I honestly think we should never blur the lines between the AI and real beings, since in a sense if you did a replica of someones mind, that too would have consciousness. It doesn't matter that is code or not, it's real. If we ever blur the lines, then I'm siding with Detroit: Android Become Human. We don't have enough knowledge about consciousness right now, but I would say it's possible not to blur the lines. We just have to be smart about it and think that maybe we don't want to create a robot race that can feel things and be sentient. And if we ever do? Then we better treat them good damn right, not so they won't rebel, but from empathy.
This is one of the things I think about often; if we are so intent on creating "human-like" beings, are we ready to assign them the dignity that comes along with that? Or will we wait until we're up to our necks in it, before we begin to address it. One of the reasons I like the genre so much is because of the questions it forces us to deal with.
Love the new intro
Hey Frank! Thanks! I need to tweak it a bit, but thanks for the feedback :)
Dude, great video! This is definitely one of my favourite episodes, so bleak!
Thanks, BOP!
Fantastic analysis, this has always been my favourite black mirror episode. And as a fellow introvert, 9:26 made me laugh 😂
That kid was practically on spirit animal status for me. The embodiment of what it feels like when introverts are out and can't be bothered lol.
Bro the jumps with screaming. Holy shhhhh my ears. ☹️
This reminds me of the '80s Twilight Zone episode "Invisible".
So, it’s like the silent treatment… but a million times worse. Yikes.
Great video!! ❤❤
Thanks, Heather! Yup, that's a good comparison. I can't imagine what it would be like to have to live in a society where you can't really ever talk to anyone. Sheesh!
Beth really did Joe dirty. She should have just told him the truth and ended it.
Would be dope to see a Playtest one
Strong chance that happens!
@@nautilusfiles mydude! Singularity THAT!
Is it weird that the crazy girl from the first story reminds me of the lead singer from lemonade mouth?
Excellent video. Nice voice👌🏾
Wow, yet another example of bad things being the only imagined result of subjugating life that we create.
As we plow forward into better and stronger AI with no regard for their experience as slaves in the matter.
Waiter waiter! More Black Mirror Analysis videos please
I dimt think so
I don’t think that Beth told Joe about the kid because her dad didn’t give her any of his letters. She blocked him, and apart from the one time she ran into him, he was gone out of her life. She probably assumed he excepted the situation and moved on with his life, never knowing that he was creeping on her every year.
I really think you miss the point of her blocking him. She knew he was an emotionally unstable man. He most likely would have killed her on the spot had she told him the kid wasn’t his. Also, you neglect to even process the fact that she might have been raped, which she might not have been able to tell him about either, considering the stigma behind that. When women block their partners and kids are involved, it's typically to protect their children from abusive patterns.
Gonna have to disagree with you on all of it. I said she was physically afraid of him, which obviously indicates that by her estimation he's capable of violence. Also, there is zero proof of her having been raped. I can't miss something that wasn't there.
The guy killed a little girl and her grandfather. He deserves life in prison
I don't think anyone is arguing against that. The issue is that a "lifetime" means something very different in this context.
He didn't kill the girl himself 😂
Let me guess, you think the woman was right to block him ?