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Zee Palmer

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Aug 4, 2024, 5:18:58 AM8/4/24

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Review: Black Mirror S01E01 - The National Anthem

Black Mirror is an anthology series that explores a twisted, high-tech multiverse where humanity's greatest innovations and darkest instincts collide. Each episode is a standalone story that tackles themes such as social media, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and more.

The first episode of the series, titled "The National Anthem", aired on December 4, 2011. It follows Prime Minister Michael Callow (Rory Kinnear), who faces a shocking dilemma when Princess Susannah (Lydia Wilson), a much-loved member of the Royal Family, is kidnapped. The kidnapper demands that Callow have sexual intercourse with a pig on live television, or else the princess will be killed. The episode explores the role of the media, public opinion, and political pressure in a crisis situation.

The episode received mixed reviews from critics and viewers. Some praised its originality, satire, and acting, while others criticized its implausibility, vulgarity, and lack of subtlety. The episode also sparked controversy and debate among the public, especially in the UK. Some people found it offensive, disturbing, or hilarious, while others found it thought-provoking, relevant, or daring.

The episode was written by Charlie Brooker, the creator of Black Mirror. He said that he wanted to create a "what if" scenario that would challenge the viewers' expectations and assumptions. He also said that he was inspired by the 2009 film The Box, which presents a moral dilemma to its protagonists.

The episode was directed by Otto Bathurst, who also directed the third episode of the series, "The Entire History of You". He said that he wanted to make the episode realistic and believable, despite its absurd premise. He also said that he wanted to show the human side of the characters, especially Callow.

The episode was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for Best Single Drama in 2012. It lost to Random, a drama about a black family in London.

If you are interested in watching Black Mirror S01E01 - The National Anthem, you can find it on Netflix or on Archive.org[^3^]. You can also watch it in 1080p resolution and 50 frames per second for a more immersive experience.

The episode was one of the first projects of Black Mirror, a series created by Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones. They began work on the series in 2010, having previously worked together on other television programmes. The series was commissioned for three hour-long episodes by Channel 4, taking its budget from the comedy department[^3^].

Brooker said that he wanted to create a show that would reflect the way technology affects society and culture. He said that he was influenced by anthology series such as The Twilight Zone, Tales of the Unexpected, and Hammer House of Horror. He also said that he wanted to create stories that would be "unpredictable, surprising, and shocking".

Jones said that she wanted to produce a show that would be "bold, challenging, and entertaining". She said that she was interested in exploring the ethical and moral dilemmas that technology poses. She also said that she wanted to create stories that would be "emotionally engaging, not just intellectually stimulating".

The episode was filmed in London and Surrey in July 2011. The pig used in the episode was a combination of animatronics and computer-generated imagery. The episode featured several British actors, such as Rory Kinnear, Lydia Wilson, Lindsay Duncan, Tom Goodman-Hill, Donald Sumpter, and Anna Wilson-Jones.