Black Mirror Season Review. Joan is Awful.

Black Mirror is back baby!

Firstly, I would like to say that I am a huge black mirror fan. I have rewatched the show any chance I could get, spend hours trying to unlock every possible outcome in Bandersnatch, and obnoxiously recommend it to every person I know. So seeing that a new season was coming out during my birth month felt like a gift from the creators themselves. Cheers to Gemini SZN but let’s go on with the reviews.

Joan is awful feels like a great episode to start the new season with. I was excited about this since the trailer dropped as it felt like something I was already creating discussions around and had the incredible Selma Heyak, at her very best.

Joan is Awful is about Joan just living her life, as well all do. Trying her best to make the best decisions but ultimately falls victim to just being human. All of these actions would typically fall under the radar until one day while sitting down having a meal with her partner, they see a new show streaming with her name and likeness titled, “Joan is Awful”, and while watching the show everyone discovers just that. That Joan is awful. As the show gains popularity everyone around her starts to turn a side eye to Joan as her life begins to crumble.

While the story unfolds to be so much more than that, I will not be the one to spoil it for you. Please go watch it, you will not regret it.

But, this topic touches on a bigger one: cancel culture. No matter which side of the table you sit on for this discussion, everyone has a specific opinion. While many argue that cancel culture is for the good of society as we will no longer turn a blind eye to the wrongdoings of individuals but instead will hold a candle to expose them. Others make an argument that cancel culture is instead leech culture and question, “Should we judge people and ruin their lives based on a moment in time?’. This topic is extremely nuanced, especially with the wide range of topics that can be swapped out to the verdict of cancelation.

That is the power of Black Mirror though. To create these discussions and even push our existing opinions on the ideology that we stand behind.

Joan is Awful feels like the perfect input to an ever-growing discussion. The cast delivered great performances and the story never felt predictable. Even till the very last moment not a single concept or move felt predictable and made me question, what the hell would I do in this situation.

What are your thoughts?