the production here has really stepped up, shit looking like a film or something. great way to start the new season with a different pacing, an episode filled with tension and a surprsingly "happy" ending, the universe looked really fine and the whole plot was interesting while deviating from the whole "technology is EVIL" from past seasons. Black Mirror is truly one of a kind!
[6.8/10] Less enamored with this one. I appreciate the reveal that Jianyu is actually just a drug-dealing kid from Florida who is as lost about all of this as Eleanor is. But the whole “being yourself just gets you in trouble” thing was kind of a muddled message without much comic juice in it. By the same token, the whole “you can’t let anyone know who you really are or it’ll blow both of our covers!” felt like a cheap source of a dramatic tension.
Tahani party-planning with Michael was also a bit underwhelming. The grouchy but kind chef didn’t really work for me as a gag, (though Michael’s excitement over suspenders did). And it felt more like they just needed something for Tahani to do in the episode without much rhyme or reason to it.
Overall, a little weaker, though I’m glad they gave Jianyu a little more dimension (and his “ethics” vs. “ethnics” pronunciation bit was a good laugh).
The entire history of Pepper was so sad...that poor think...damn.
All those feels. Finding out the origins of Pepper was truly heartbreaking. Knowing how her story ended in Asylum makes this so much harder to watch.
I like to see that at least both Severide and Gabby are feeling the lost of Shay, heartbreaking, but great that they are not just forgetting about her just like that. I didn't want Erin and Severide to end their relationship, they were hot together.
I wonder what happened to Mills.. that passing out was not normal.
I love Herrmann!
Straight into getting to know more about Red, which I think is great so they don't exhaust Piper and make it all about her. This show is great for seeing every side to the story and why the inmates are who they've become.
Piper also gets some flashbacks which while usually used for dramatic effect actually flesh out what's happening in present time without having to be spoon fed ie making the lotion for Red, and how she would've known how to do that.
What are the chances of Piper and Alex being in the same prison? Actually knowing what I know about Litchfield, they don't seem to give a crap, so very high!
Love all the reactions especially Simons
