
In “Black Mirror” by Charlie Brooker a variety of different historical topics can be brought to meaning and interpreted in several different fashions. Throughout the episode thought after thought is created because of the everchanging setting of the story. The context of history and the technology previously created directly influences our thought on the text by showing different time periods in the club and different technology then one in 2016 is accustomed too. It goes the other way around though as well, this new thought of a new era and new technology that can keep one’s conscience alive after they pass brings several questions into the picture. Would you choose to live an eternal live in a paradise or pass away into you own interpretation of after death? 

As a newcomer to the Netflix series “Black Mirror” and not knowing anything about the other episodes or basis of show, this episode can bring up several thoughts and constantly change your ideology of what you think is going on. For instance, the first scene would make one believe this is a film set in the 1980’s because the popular song Heaven is a Place on Earth by Belinda Carlisle being played in the old-fashioned car. The screen suddenly goes black and it’s the next week, the club is a new scene now though it’s the 90’s with new music and outfits. The next blackout skips another week and always happens at 12 and now the setting is in the early 2000’s. These three time periods seem to keep repeating each week as a pattern. When death is discussed, it is so lightly talked about like it means nothing to die. Kelly and Yorkie both discuss a timeline of when they’re going to pass over like its nothing. Weird phenomenon’s and subjects keep occurring throughout the story line, no physical pain can be felt as seen when Kelly punches the mirror without a scratch, in the first club scene Kelly talks about how the people in the club try so hard to look like they think they should, based off seeing it in a movie. The first discussion to throw a curveball at you is when yorkie ask how many people in San Junipero have passed over and Kelly replies 80 to 85 percent. After finishing the episode these occurrence’s and abnormal conversations are explained. 

 To start off breaking down this episode explaining the advancement of technology and its controversial uses let’s begin with the first scene. Of course, the significance of the song is more important than you think as the episode continues. ‘San Junipero’ the name of the city these people live in is a paradise that people have the option to join for eternity as soon as they pass over. Therefore, directly relating the song to the entirety of this movie and then purposely played at the closing of the episode. In this world of San Junipero you are immortal therefore no physical harm can be done to your body no matter how severe. Does this mean no turning back? Once you’re in the system is it possible to leave? Many questions can be raised, but are there solutions? Since like Kelly said 80 to 85 percent of the population in San Junipero have already passed over that leaves 15 to 20 percent. Those 15-20 percent are individuals in the real world running trial runs in this paradise when they are close to the end of life. So couldn’t a permanent resident of this ‘paradise’ ask a trial runner to get the people in charge to just take them away and let them pass over for real? What are the rules and regulations of this process, what happens if the chip containing their conscience is destroyed, or the server itself is shut down? Do they continue to live in this perfect world or are they reduced to the nothingness of before? 

 Notice the term ‘pass over’ used previously, in the text the people no longer coined the term death because do you ever even die with this option to have your conscience live on forever. With this new technology introduced of an alternate afterlife, how does this conflict with the religious aspect of the afterlife predicted in different religions. One can only imagine the uproar this type of technology would cause in the religious world. Technology itself could even be considered a religion with this future. Some could choose to believe in it while others might completely shut out the idea and stick to their own ideologies and religious beliefs because this idea of an afterlife given by technology, created by humans not gods and spirits. For example, in the episode yorkie is forced to marry someone so they can sign off on her, allowing her to pass over into San Junipero because her parents are to religious to allow her to participate in a different after life then what they believe in and allowing her to use euthanasia to pass. 

Referencing a news article talking purely about the negative effects of technology it states “The more advanced technology becomes, the more it seems to have control over our lives” (Nables). This statement brings up a good point on how to view upcoming technology  Is this idea of a perfect after life happiness? This idea of living forever in this perfect world. Of course, at first this would be amazing what individual wouldn’t want to be young again and can party every night free of responsibilities.  It sounds like a great idea at first but the only visible change in this city was the same time era over and over again. This idea of an almost perfect virtual world in this episode is not the first case on television where a virtual reality has been brought up. In The Matrix “Morpheus asks Neo to choose between a red pill and a blue pill” (Sparknotes). The man is given the option to take one pill and wake up like nothing happened or enter the matrix and explore this world of virtual reality. To get back to San Junipero Eternity is a long time to be in one place doing the same thing repeatedly. So, it raises the question, do the developers of this technology ever update the city or add new features or activities to participate in? It seems like that is not the case due to a place called the Quagmire in San Junipero. Inside this freaky building the individuals are some of the oddest-looking people you’ve ever seen, doing the weirdest things. You see fighting, a lady holding a snake, several barely clothed individuals dancing or kissing or anything and all for one reason, to feel ‘something’ as Kelly said in the episode. This answers the question of is this happiness and the answer is no, like stated it sounds great at first but an eternity is well an eternity and eventually you’ll do anything to feel alive again. 
