Black Mirror's Worst-Rated Episode Was Actually Better Than You Remember
There are a lot of interesting thoughts and references in this episode, although it seemed superficial to many.
The lowest rated Black Mirror episode was Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too with IMDb score of 6.1.
On the surface, this is the most frivolous Black Mirror plot ever. After all, what can you expect from the story of a pop singer and the artificial intelligence based on her?
In reality, things are a bit more complicated, and Miley Cyrus was clearly cast in the lead role for a reason.
According to plot, sisters Jack and Rachel are worried about the death of their mother. The former finds solace in dark alternative rock, the latter – in pop singer Ashley O. And a voice assistant with the artist's AI has just been launched.
The real Ashley, meanwhile, wants to radically change her image, but her aunt (and manager) Catherine is against it. Catherine decides to put her niece in an artificial coma in order to extract songs directly from her mind and to entrust the concerts to a holographic copy – Ashley Eternal.
The parallel here is obvious to those who followed the fate of the singer and actress – Miley Cyrus began her career as a Disney "doll" in the series Hannah Montana, which was also about the singer.
But then the girl abruptly changed her image into a provocative and defiant one, as if daring in the face of the whole world, which saw in her only a cute teenager from the Disney show.
It was a bold challenge, misunderstood by many, but as Cyrus has now become a fully independent artist, her idea was a success.
The Black Mirror episode explores a scenario where things didn't work out so well all at once.
This time, series creator Charlie Brooker sees music as a way to experience inner anguish, as well as the methods by which creativity is born. After all, global hits are not always the result of mystical inspiration.
They are almost always the result of prudent business strategies and the wise use of necessary resources. The personality and aspirations of the creator fade into the background, giving way to serenity and a thirst for money.
The series is also interesting for its Easter eggs. First of all, it’s Irma Thomas' song Anyone Who Knows What Love Is. It was first heard in Black Mirror in the 15 Million Merits episode and then became the recurring Easter egg.
It can be heard in White Christmas, Crocodile, Men Against Fire. In Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too Miley Cyrus performs it.
The episode is densely saturated with the Black Mirror universe, which has become a whole by the fifth season. There’re references to San Junipero, the rapper Tusk who was attacked by an autonomous insect drone on Hated in the Nation and Nosedive's Sea of Tranquility show.