San Junipero

I find this episode to be among my all time top five TV favorites. The others, in chronological order, are: first and last episodes of Twin Peaks, Jose Chung's From Outer Space of X-Files, and Blink of Doctor Who. Yes, all sci-fi/fantasy (I was spoiled by 2001: A Space Odyssey when I was ten years old).

The backbone on which this episode is built is a flawless script that depicts a love story in an uncanny background. This being Black Mirror one pays attention to details, and the initial eighties setting raises questions (that are later answered). The cinematography, lightning, and other technical details are first rate, up to the point that San Junipero feels "real". The music, mostly from the eighties, is great and all the tracks relate to the plot so well that it shows the art put into making this episode.

But what makes San Junipero stand out (and make it to my personal top five) is the acting. In particular Mackenzie Davis transmits the emotions of her character with such authenticity that it increases the suspense of the story to a point that even having seen it several times in two months, I do not get tired of watching it. Or her.

Other reviewers complain that San Junipero is not your typical Black Mirror episode of technological darkness. While that is true, believe me it is worth watching even if you have only a dark side. Also I understand that the LGBT community might feel particularly for this episode. But it is really a timeless and placeless love story, which can take place between a man and a woman, two persons of the same sex, or even between bytes.

Finally other reviewers suggest this should be made into a movie. This was done before (I remember at least one of Kieslowski's Decalog). But instead I suggest making a San Junipero 2 centered on Billy Griffin Jr.'s character. He is the only other person in SJ wearing glasses. And at the beginning he tells Mackenzie Davis' character that the video game she is playing was the first one made with two different endings depending if there are one or two players. Cross my fingers.