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S3E6: Hated in the Nation

This might end up being the second best ep of the third season. Two Brit investigators are checking out a locked room murder. After coming up empty on leads, a second body is produced a day later along with some key evidence. I'll skip over that macguffin, but the villain is a tech genius who's figured a way to use social media hashtags to commit murder. Post a certain hashtag coupled with a name and photo. If they get the most votes, they die around 5pm the next day. This seems to be sort of ripped off from the days of ancient Greece. Back then, whenever your ass went to council to vote, you could scratch someone's name on a shard of pottery. Whoever got the most votes at the end of the current year got exiled for the next one. The kicker is that the social media users don't know their posts are leading to actual deaths, so they continue being their normal dickish selves. The biggest problem I have here was the scope of the hashtag usage. Way too low. The phenomenon has a week to build up momentum in a densely populated first-world western country. No chance the numbers should have fewer than 7-8 digits. Moderately popular YouTube vids take off faster. Ending was a bit unsatisfying, though.

Watched S3E1: Nosedive.

It's an interesting concept that's actually scary because you could see it becoming reality.

S3E2: Playtest This ep felt like a condensed, low budget version of Inception. Whenever he goes down a level, so to speak, it's telegraphed with a big neon sign. Those tells coupled with the protagonist's inherent unlikability mean you probably won't give a fuck what happens to him by the end.

I liked it despite the predictability, but yeah, the main character is really, really unlikable.

S3E3: Shut Up and Dance

I agree with your review even though I think you essentially spoil it, which is why I didn't copy the rest of it.

I really enjoyed this episode. I did some research and found out that the original story didn't have every twist this one did, but I think they found the perfect balance in this version. Everything made sense.

My favorite of the new season so far.

Malcolm wrote:S3E4: San Junipero

The story starts out with two chicks in the '80s. It's extremely difficult to go into much more detail because it goes somewhere way the fuck else after that. I'll say the writer most likely played or read up on a certain MMOG to prep for this, which I'm not even going to link to because it'd kill things. This is the first ep of the season that I'd call "good."

I liked it as well. Beautifully shot.

The ending though...there was more than one way to interpret that right?

S3E5: Men Against Fire

The weakest episode of any season so far. It was immediately obvious what was happening.

Some really strange script and directorial decisions too. I'm not one to complain about gratuitous nudity, but the sex scene was completely pointless.

I will give it credit for not being an anti-military movie, but an anti-government movie.

S3E6: Hated in the Nation

Excellent episode that felt like a full length feature movie. It'd be in my top 5 episodes.

I do agree with Malcolm on the ending. There's only one logical conclusion to be drawn from why they ended it the way they did, and it doesn't fit the series. There are no "to be concluded" episodes. Still, it's different than what I had been expecting, which involved the same person...

This series is simply excellent. You should be watching it.

Season 4.

All episodes occur in the same universe?

Doesn't really work out, imho.

Season 4 Episode 1 - USS Callister

Great episode.

It does raise an interesting philosophical debate that I can't get into without major spoilers.

S4 E2 - ArkAngel

Directed by Jodie Foster.

This will strongly appeal to mothers and give parents something to discuss.

Everyone else might think it to be boring. To be fair, it is at times.

S4 E3 - Crocodile

Worst episode of the season so far. No twists. Very predictable.

S4 E4 - Hang the DJ

The highest rated episode on IMDB. It's a good one, but E1 is still my favorite.

S4 E5 - Metalhead

Apparently, this is the most polarizing episode. If you need backstory and explanation, you're going to hate this episode.

I have no idea what was meant to be accomplished, but it was a cool ride. Of course, I dig "end of the world" scenarios as a backdrop to entertainment.

I do get the criticism though as a traditional story is not told. You're basically only watching a second act.

S4 E6 - Black Museum

Black as in crime, so no worries about a "crackers" are bad message.

This is a really good episode made up of three stories. One is by Penn Jilette.

A very good season, imho. Only Crocodile was shit.

Did you do it?

I'm traveling, so my wife doesnt want to do it until I'm home.

I haven't yet.

I don't want to spoil the episode, but I know how to "win"...

Leisher wrote: I haven't yet.

I don't want to spoil the episode, but I know how to "win"...

Ah. Don't know the episode or anything.

Good episode. "Hang the DJ"