2x02 White Bear

Ontology is the philosophical study of being, existance, becoming and reality. In simple terms it seeks to classify and explain entities.

In movies and tv show ontology usually comes in the flavor of an ontological mystery at the center of the plot with several of the following elements: the characters do not know who they are, where they are, how they got to the place there are in, and the central conflict is to get out of there and find answers to the above questions.

In the most common version of the trope, the characters are locked into a strange room or find themselves at a strange place with no contact to the outside. They have no idea how they got there, why they are there or how to get out, nor do they know who is behind their predicament, if anyone at all.

The main idea behind such stories is the investigation of a restricted environment in which the characters find themselves with the goal of mastering the environment, revealing secrets, and ultimately escape.

This list focuses on such stories. I added a few edge cases for good measure, like pure escape room, death game or timeloop movies that have a strong ontological undertone, even though they are not ontological mysteries per se.

If you think something shouldn't be on this list, or if I missed something that should be on here please leave a comment.

Last Updated: 2023/02/03

My pick of the best episodes from thought provoking shows. These are all individual stories, so they can be watched in any order.

Every Black Mirror episode in chronological order.

when i love it i add it, or when i remember it

(still working on it, but top 5 pretty solid)

According to the Toronto Star: https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2023/04/28/black-mirror-is-back-in-june-but-you-dont-need-to-wait-that-long-to-watch-the-series-best-episodes.html

Total Shows watched: 32

Agatha Raisin (2 Episodes): 4x06 - 4x07
Black Mirror (3 Episodes): 2x01 - 2x03
The Blacklist (1 Episode): 4x07
Blindspot (6 Episodes): 3x11 - 3x16
Bones (4 Episodes): 7x13, 8x12, 9x04, 10x22
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (3 Episodes): 1x08, 2x13, 9x07
CSI: Cyber (16 Episodes): 2x01 - 2x16
CSI: Miami (80 Episodes): 2x08 - 2x24, 3x01 - 3x24, 4x01, 4x03 - 4x25, 5x01 - 5x15
CSI: NY (25 Episodes): 1x01 - 1x23, 2x07, 6x14
CSI: Vegas (10 Episodes): 1x01 - 1x10
Columbo (15 Episodes): 4x05 - 4x06, 5x01 - 5x06, 6x01 - 6x02, 7x01 - 7x05
Criminal Minds (21 Episodes): 5x03 - 5x23
Deadbeat (3 Episodes): 1x08 - 1x10
Death in Paradise (1 Episode): 7x02
Dexter (1 Episode): 2x03
The Flight Attendant (3 Episodes): 1x06 - 1x08
Hawaii Five-0 (2 Episodes): 2x06, 2x21
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (1 Episode): 4x21
Luther (5 Episodes): 1x01 - 1x05
Mayday (3 Episodes): 11x13, 12x01 - 12x02
Monk (1 Episode): 3x04
Moon Knight (5 Episodes): 1x02 - 1x06
NCIS (29 Episodes): 7x01 - 7x24, 8x01 - 8x04, 19x17
NCIS: Hawai'i (1 Episode): 1x18
NCIS: Los Angeles (24 Episodes): 3x01 - 3x24
Schitt's Creek (1 Episode): 2x13
Shameless (11 Episodes): 6x03 - 6x12, 7x01
Star Trek (7 Episodes): 1x05 - 1x11
Star Trek: Picard (4 Episodes): 3x03 - 3x06
The Swarm (6 Episodes): 1x01 - 1x06
Tijuana Toads (2 Episodes): 1x06 - 1x07
Vikings (2 Episodes): 4x06 - 4x07

Total Movies watched: 5

A Stasi Comedy
Don't Breathe
The Innocents
The Magnificent Seven
Sing 2

Todos os episódios de séries que vi em 2023.
Missing "Justice League (2001) - Secret Origins pt.2 and pt.3"

Started in January:

The Boulet Brothers Dragula Titans Season 1
Gogglebox Season 20
Waterloo Road Season 11
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan Season 1
The Apprentice Season 16
Rupaul's Drag Race Season 15
Rupaul's Drag Race Untucked Season 15
Game of Thrones Season 1, 2 + 3
Keeping up with the Kardashians Season 5
Bad Education Season 4
Strike: Career of Evil
That '90's Show Season 1
The Last Of Us Season 1
Kourtney and Kim take New York Season 1
You Season 1 + 2

Started in February:

South Park Season 3
The Simpsons Season 3
South Park Season 26 (NEW)
You Season 3
Gogglebox Season 21
Khloe & Lamar Season 1
Keeping up with the Kardashians Season 6

Started in March:

The White Lotus Season 1 + 2
Married At First Sight (Australia) Season 10
The Simpsons Season 4, 5 + 6
Strike: Lethal White (Season 4)
Taskmaster Season 15
Late Night Lycett Season 1

Started in April:

You Season 4
The Simpson Season 6, 7
Gossip Girl (2021) Season 2
'Til Death Do Us Part Kourtney & Travis (Kardashians special)
The Big Interiors Battle Season 1

Started In May:

The Simpsons Season 8
Eurovision 2023
Rupaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 8
Rupaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 8: Untucked
I Kissed A Boy Season 1
Waterloo Road Series 12
The Kardashians Season 3

Started In June:

Black Mirror Season 1, 2, 3 (Old seasons)
Secret Invasion Season 1
Grey's Anatomy Season 1, 2, 3
Celebrity Gogglebox Season 5
Not Going Out Season 13

Started In July:

Queen of Oz Season 1
Private Practise Season 1
The Traitors Australia Season 1
Grey's Anatomy Season 4
Special Ops: Lioness Season 1
Yellowjackets Season 1
The Simpsons Season 9
Drag Race Down Under Season 3
Arrow Season 1
The Traitors UK Season 1

Started In August:

Drag Me To Dinner Season 1
Heartstopper Season 1
Alone UK Season 1
The Bear Season 1
The Simpsons Season 10
Depp V Heard
Star Wars: Ahsoka

Started In September

The Bear Season 2
One Piece (live action) Season 1
Outnumbered Season 1, 2, 3
Married At First Sight UK Season 8
Taskmaster Season 16
Arrow Season 2
The Great British Bake Off Season 7
The Kardashians Season 4
Rupaul's Drag Race UK Season 5
Sex Education Season 1
Big Brother (2023) Season 1
Big Brother: Late and Live Season 1
Juice Season 1

Started In October:

Loki Season 2
American Horror Story Season 12
Survivor (UK) Season 1
Love & Death Season 1

Started In November:
Culprits Season 1

watched in 2018

A list of episodes I've watched in 2021

watched & ranked baby you know the drill

Shows, Episodes, Movies, etc. that I watched in the year 2020

Halloween themed episodes and specials

watched in my film class, ranked

My personal ranking of all Black Mirror episodes so far.