Board 8 > Rate the Black Mirror Episode: S1E2 - Fifteen Million Merits

(+) Yeah! (+)

Screen buzzes, cracks

Welcome back! This second episode of the series really brought to the forefront 'taking technology to outrageous heights' that becomes associated with the series later on.

Set in a world where most of society must cycle on exercise bikes in order to earn currency called "merits", the episode tells the story of Bing (Daniel Kaluuya), who meets Abi (Jessica Brown Findlay) and convinces her to participate in a talent show so she can become famous.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifteen_Million_Merits

Guideline:

• Rate the episode from 1 to 10
• Feel free to share your reasoning
• You can rate previous days

Previous ratings:
6.15 - S1E1 - The National Anthem

8.5/10

I really enjoyed this one and the ending is pretty heartbreaking, but I love it.

Also man last episode was really a base breaker, earning both 1 and 10, though it settles somewhat in the middle anyway.

8.9/10

My greatest complaint for this episode is my desire to see more of the nuance of the every day lives of both the haves and have-nots in this particular society. And when that's the complaint, then you've done an extremely good job of drawing me in and engaging me with the basic premise. I think this episode shows how Black Mirror can keep itself from becoming modern Twilight Zone, which was a pitfall it ran aground of many times afterwards.

I'll rewatch it when I get home. Great topic series, Raka!

9/10

9.5/10

GenesisSaga posted...

I'll rewatch it when I get home. Great topic series, Raka!

Thanks! Glad people seem to be enjoying it.

Really looking forward to seeing the reception to my favorite episode though it'll be a while.

9.5/10

My favourite of the pre-Netflix era

This is the only episode I've seen

9/10

10/10

My favorite episode of the series. Explores so many interesting and engaging topics - gamification of life I think being one of the most damning. It's a sickening world, dominated by screens and Pavlov's dog style rewards and you don't have to be a genius to recognize just how much the real world is becoming just like it. Early Black Mirror was just something magical in capturing these "5 minutes in to the future" feels that episodes in later seasons just lack. Couple that with pointed critiques of braindead reality shows and becoming the very thing you rebel against and you really just have a well-rounded episode that frightens me just as much now as it did a decade ago.

9/10.

This is the episode that won me over to Black Mirror. Daniel Kaluuyas performance is terrific.

7/10

8.5/10

8/10

9 out of 10

10

Man that was so good

9.5

9.1

Basically what scarlet said, and I think it improves on multiple watches

Up for the morning crowd.

9/10

what snake said

again, a very "meta" episode that actually holds up a mirror in the sense that the in-universe characters are being delivered this message about how they need to wake up and take back control of their lives instead of just mindlessly watching TV all day - and the viewer basically watches the episode and says "wow that's so true, this could be our society, we should do something about that" and then just continues mindlessly watching TV and probably doesn't do anything at all

(and unlike the first episode, the characters are actually relatable hence the higher score)

9/10

9

9.5

9/10

9.5

Almost perfect television.

10/10
Literal star-making performance from Daniel Kaluuya.

1) Fifteen Million Merits
2) The National Anthem

8/10

Great, but dragged at times.

Only seen a few episodes but this was excellent.

9.5/10

9.5/10

The episode that hooked me

I watched the next episode in anticipation of the next topic. I hope it's posted soon while it's still fresh in my mind. I have thoughts!

9