Video: What Makes Black Mirror So Dark

"What Makes Black Mirror So Dark" by Nerdwriter1

In this excellent video essay on the incredible dystopian Netflix series Black Mirror, Youtuber Evan Puschak aka The Nerdwriter takes a deep look into how the series effects such a dark tone.  Puschak notes that Aristotle defined tragedy as a “safe place to feel pity and fear in a safe environment” resulting a cathartic response.  Due to the show's unique structure, the audience is never allowed to achieve catharsis and is left with only raw feelings towards each character, making them more relatable.

What Charlie Brooker the intensely smart creator of ‘Black Mirror’ has given us our tragedies that are often senseless in other words tragedies that withhold catharsis. The result I think, is that we end up feeling much closer to these stories. The cathartic appreciation that’s meant to transform our pity and our fear never comes and we’re just left with the pity and the fear. So why do we watch Black Mirror if it robs us of the pleasure often associated with tragedy. I think it’s because this feeling is a truly unique one in TV it’s unlike most other shows.