Crocodile is an odd one. I came out the other side not knowing why I didn't like it. After having a think I managed to come up with a couple of reasons but first I will say what I did like about it.
I enjoyed the scenery, the sweeping vistas and snow capped mountains made me feel like I was watching a nordic noir, it looked stunning, it also puts across how isolated we all are in this modern world and how the inside of your mind can be a brutal and lonely landscape. The technology of accessing someone's memories for witness corroboration was an intriguing idea, it is one I imagine many organisations would see value in, it creeped me out and amazed me at the same time. This is the best type of black mirror tech. I loved how the bugsy malone moment at the end tied in with the character's journey and was a great touch, it seemed like the first time she felt something apart from her survival instinct. Also it made me remember that bugsy malone existed and this can only be a good thing.
Now on to the bad. I had a massive problem connecting to the main character. Even if characters are unlikeable you want to know what happens to them and to be honest Mia left me cold. I like Andrea Riseborough and have enjoyed her in other stuff but really not a fan of how she played it here. I just didn't get the desperation needed to make it believeable that she would esculate her violent actions so quickly and I think the performance was a miss. The whole episode was quite alienating and played out far too quickly. I suppose on top of the previous episode Arkangel the point is that we are all capable of commiting horrific violent acts if the circumstances or emotions arise, an implusive decision can lead you down terrifying path and looking back this is a point Black mirror often tries to make. The technology is just the device which sets these impluses in motion sometimes. Maybe I would have enjoyed Crocodile more if I was more engaged by Mia but just don't think it fit together quite right and lingered on the wrong moments for too long.
Review of Crocodile
