The following contains spoilers for Black Mirror Season 6, now streaming on Netflix.
With Black Mirror Season 6 now streaming on Netflix, fans are soaking in yet another chapter of the satirical sci-fi anthology. True to form, the series continues to show that humanity and technology don't always mix, while also deviating from its own formula a bit. One notable example of the former is the Season 6 premiere, "Joan is Awful," which criticizes using AI technology to create streaming content.
One episode that deviates from the formula a bit is "Beyond the Sea," which focuses on astronauts using robotic doppelgängers on Earth to be with their families. Interestingly, these two episodes bring up an issue that started sometime after Season 2: casting A-list actors in the show. While these actors never disappoint in their performances, their globally recognized faces also detract from the sense of relatability the series prides itself on, with quite a few episodes losing that connective edge over the years.
Black Mirror's Season 6 Satire Is Hurt By Casting Mainstream Actors
In "Joan is Awful," Salma Hayek unwittingly authorizes Streamberry to use her likeness, which is then used to create the AI-generated titular show. However, when she tries to sue the company, her lawyers are unable to help her and she physically attacks the Streamberry headquarters. It's later revealed that the source Joan Hayek's fictionalized version was supposedly based on wasn't the real Joan at all, but fellow actor Annie Murphy. Like Hayek, Murphy's Joan was also a fictionalized version of the real Joan (played by Kayla Lorette), with Murphy herself having also unknowingly authorized her likeness to Streamberry.
While "Joan is Awful" makes for an entertaining episode, it also doesn't resonate much. The idea of celebrities fighting against exploitation shifts the focus away from the character who is actually being victimized, in this case, Joan. In a story that alludes to the entertainment industry's devaluation and exploitation of creatives -- who are often ordinary people -- making Hayek and Murphy the episode's major selling points causes the satire to fall flat. Thus, an unknown actor -- like Kayla Lorette -- would have drawn more sympathy for Joan's plight.
The same goes for Josh Hartnett's David and Aaron Paul as Cliff in "Beyond the Sea." The former loses his family on Earth, so he uses Cliff's robot doppelgänger as a form of self-soothing. Unfortunately, Paul himself has already done an android-type role as the Hybrid Caleb Nichols in Westworld, who also lost his family. Fans have also seen Paul as the distressed Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad for years. As for Hartnett, he's also been in many mainstream movies and TV shows, he's easily a household name. By recognizing Hartnett from other roles, it's easy to get pulled out of the story. At its strongest, Black Mirror thrives on satirizing mainstream pop culture. By casting mainstream actors, the show goes against the grain of its own raison d'être.
Black Mirror's Strength Has Always Been Its Indie Edge
Of course, Black Mirror Season 6 is not the first time the show has cast established stars. Still, despite great performances, the stories still don't feel as thought-provoking compared to episodes where fans identify with average-looking individuals. "Nosedive" used Bryce Dallas-Howard, while "Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too" had Miley Cyrus. Similarly, 2013's "Be Right Back" had Hayley Atwell after she became an MCU star in the Captain America films.
The episodes that stand out tend to feature more obscure faces or actors who are just starting their careers. 2011's first season had Get Out's Daniel Kaluuya in "Fifteen Million Merits" and Doctor Who's Jodie Whittaker in "The Entire History of You." Similarly, "The Waldo Moment" had Daniel Rigby as the trolling animated bear, "Shut Up and Dance" cast Alex Lawther as a pedophile in 2016, and "San Junipero" featured Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Mackenzie Davis in a sapphic romance that same year. The common denominator in these past castings is that most of these actors had not yet been cast in their more iconic roles at the time they appeared on the show. Thus, a balance was struck between superstardom and the potential mileage of these actors, with many using Black Mirror as a launchpad.
These past castings fit the counterculture vibe of the property and what creator Charlie Brooker first encapsulated. With Black Mirror being such a popular brand, it doesn't need A-list names for ratings -- people will tune in regardless. Ultimately, going back to the show's roots will help in the future, because this energy is what creates stories that feel more like art than product. Sure, both are high-quality, but at the end of the day, the former is where the genuine emotional connection of the audience lies. This is what creates a more immersive journey.
Black Mirror Season 6 is now streaming on Netflix.