White Bear

White bear is one of my favourite episodes from  all of black mirror and I enjoy it even more as the episode was created when channel 4 controlled the series before Netflix so it feels more original to the idea that black mirror was and the vision Charlie Brooker had for it. 

I also really enjoy this episode because of the twist ending it’s an ending that is so shocking that when I end up watching the episode I’m always waiting for the look on my friends face when the curtain is pulled. 

The story itself is very confusing for us the audience at the start as we are seeing our perspective through the protagonist Victoria who wakes up in a house with no recollection of where she is or what is happening so we receive information about the world and what is happening at the same time as Victoria which sets the pace of the film quite well as we interpret what is happening with Victoria and we can kind of link ourselves to her as we follow her just as confused as she is. 

We follow the story that has been set up for us and Victoria really well we don’t question the world at all or what is happening like Victoria we are told by others what is going on with people being controlled by a TV signal and people wanting to hunt them down that we don’t question what is being told to us or what is happening because on screen and for Victoria it seems real and makes sense. This connection we have to Victoria also makes us feel sorry for her because of the situation she is in and the fact she is also looking for her daughter amongst all the chaos around. 

The fact that we feel rather attached to Victoria and how well both us the audience and Victoria are fed the lies of what is happening by others that it makes the twist feel that more deep and hitting. 

In the final scenes just like Victoria we feel shocked and confused to see the confetti come out of the shotgun and the station to turn into a TV studio it all feels overwhelming for the viewers and Victoria as we both have been following the story and world we’ve been told for it to all just to be a curtain. We then learn the truth of what is happening and the empathy and connection we had for Victoria feels misplaced and horrible as she helped kill her child violently leaving us the audience feeling emotionally strange for feeling sorry for a character that had done such a horrible thing. 

As a viewer after the episode you kind of have to take the time to think about Victoria and the punishment she receives for the crime she committed and if it is justice or endless torture.

The crime she committed was one that is really impactful and must have taken a monster to commit but at the same time is the endless mental and psychological torment she receives for the crime she committed justice. Victoria would never have a chance to vindicate herself and her quality of life to me seems less than poor with her own memories of each day being wiped from her brain. In the end it comes down to whether you believe two wrongs create a right.