Black Mirror

Save

2011
Season 1
3 episodes

Horror

Episode 1: The National Anthem

Summary

First of three darkly comic horror stories about the power of technology in the 21st century. Prime minister Michael Callow faces a dilemma when Princess Susannah, a much-loved member of the royal family, is kidnapped, and he and his staff struggle to deal with shifting public opinion as information about the case spreads across the internet. Written by Charlie Brooker, and starring Rory Kinnear, Lydia Wilson, Lindsay Duncan and Tom Goodman-Hill

Review

David Butcher

So how does Charlie Brooker’s new comic drama – the first of two, with a third written by Jesse Armstrong – open? A touching tale of a WI picnic in 1940s Lancashire? Not quite.

No, we get angst, nightmare and warped comedy dipped in the blackest of paint. A royal princess is kidnapped and the ransom demand – and please stop reading now if you’re of a delicate disposition – is that the Prime Minister must have sex with a pig, live on national TV, or the princess gets it.

Rory Kinnear is brilliantly grim as the PM, horrified to discover his beastly dilemma is all over the internet before he can get a lid on the story. He and the whole cast play it very straight, deadpanning lines like “This is virgin territory, Prime Minister, there’s no playbook” – which only makes them funnier.

What unfolds as the crisis plays out is filthy and hilarious, but with a dark, satirical edge. Think The Thick of It – and then some.

How to watch

Next showing

There are no live broadcasts scheduled for this show. But it is available via the streaming provider below.

Streaming

Netflix

Details

Released on

2011-12-04

Languages

English

Formats

Colour

Credits

Cast

rolenameMichael CallowRory KinnearTom BliceTom Goodman-HillJane CallowAnna Wilson-JonesAlex CairnsLindsay DuncanJulian HerefordDonald SumpterPrincess SusannahLydia Wilson

Crew

rolenameWriterCharlie BrookerExecutive producerCharlie BrookerDirectorOtto BathurstExecutive producerAnnabel Jones

All episodes

Episode 3

The Entire History of You

Loading
Episode 2

Fifteen Million Merits

Loading
Episode 2

15 Million Merits

Loading
Episode 1

The National Anthem

Summary

First of three darkly comic horror stories about the power of technology in the 21st century. Prime minister Michael Callow faces a dilemma when Princess Susannah, a much-loved member of the royal family, is kidnapped, and he and his staff struggle to deal with shifting public opinion as information about the case spreads across the internet. Written by Charlie Brooker, and starring Rory Kinnear, Lydia Wilson, Lindsay Duncan and Tom Goodman-Hill

Review

David Butcher

So how does Charlie Brooker’s new comic drama – the first of two, with a third written by Jesse Armstrong – open? A touching tale of a WI picnic in 1940s Lancashire? Not quite.

No, we get angst, nightmare and warped comedy dipped in the blackest of paint. A royal princess is kidnapped and the ransom demand – and please stop reading now if you’re of a delicate disposition – is that the Prime Minister must have sex with a pig, live on national TV, or the princess gets it.

Rory Kinnear is brilliantly grim as the PM, horrified to discover his beastly dilemma is all over the internet before he can get a lid on the story. He and the whole cast play it very straight, deadpanning lines like “This is virgin territory, Prime Minister, there’s no playbook” – which only makes them funnier.

What unfolds as the crisis plays out is filthy and hilarious, but with a dark, satirical edge. Think The Thick of It – and then some.

How to watch

Next showing

There are no live broadcasts scheduled for this show. But it is available via the streaming provider below.

Streaming
- Netflix
Details

Released on

2011-12-04

Languages

English

Formats

Colour

Credits

Cast

rolenameMichael CallowRory KinnearTom BliceTom Goodman-HillJane CallowAnna Wilson-JonesAlex CairnsLindsay DuncanJulian HerefordDonald SumpterPrincess SusannahLydia Wilson

Show more

Crew

rolenameWriterCharlie BrookerExecutive producerCharlie BrookerDirectorOtto BathurstExecutive producerAnnabel Jones