Black Mirror S6 E1 – Joan Is Awful

Available on Netflix now

The return of Charlie Brooker’s dark anthology series is ushered in by Joan Is Awful, which is directed by Ally Pankiw (Feel Good) and written by Brooker. The episode is focused on its titular main character (played by Annie Murphy of Schitt's Creek fame), a disillusioned tech CEO who is shocked to discover that the events of her life are being retold almost in real-time by a streaming app that bares an uncanny resemblance to Netflix.

This revelation bizarrely puts Joan in the crosshairs of Salma Hayek, who appears to be playing her in the lead role of the hugely popular show. However, thanks to a wild encounter involving a considerable amount of Burger Kings, an ensuing dicky tummy, and a church wedding, we soon discover that Hayek, like Annie, has been duped by the aforementioned streaming giant’s term and conditions, and is actually only in the show via a CGI rendering of her likeness.

Sure enough, Joan and Hayek are soon on a collision course with their high-tech nemesis, in a standoff which sees Black Mirror indulge its trademark propensity for playing with multiple genres (in this case action, comedy, and science fiction). Though the final act of Joan Is Awful didn’t entirely work for me, the episode does pose timely questions about companies’ use of personal data and image rights, and the burgeoning reality of deep-fake technology within the entertainment industry.

The latter topic is perhaps the most compelling (check out Adam Buxton’s recent interview with Tom Hanks for a more refined perspective on its implications) and does cause one to ponder what the future of mainstream entertainment might look like in years to come. Joan Is Awful isn’t perhaps the most plausible analysis of this, but nonetheless ought to be credited for raising the issue.