This Black Mirror episode was very intriguing thanks to the creative premise and fantastic performances by Paul and Hartnett.
First I want to address the folks who believe there is no reason to send the humans to space instead of the replicas. Well, if the link breaks down and no connection is possible the whole mission is finished. Indeed the writers failed to stress out the importance of the mission!
It is one thing for the astronauts to lose contact to their families and another failing to continue the mission at all if the link to the avatar doesn't work any more. So again, it was crucial to stress out the importance of the mission in order to fill this plot hole.
The very same reason applies to the ending. Both astronauts seam to be aware of the importance of the mission, but the viewer not so much. Hence the reason, Hartnett's character pushes the chair for Paul's character to sit down and continue.
That been said, I did not like the end because thats a much bigger plot hole than everything else. Why would he kill the family of his partner just to make a point. It's an absolute rubbish exit only written to create a shock. Hartnett's character was a loving father and it's incomprehensible why he would do that. Sure it's tough to find a good ending to this situation but slaughtering the family of your co-astronaut is simply way over.
However, the atmosphere and especially the performances by the actors kept me engaged which makes the episode above average compared to some other uninspired episodes of Black Mirror.
First I want to address the folks who believe there is no reason to send the humans to space instead of the replicas. Well, if the link breaks down and no connection is possible the whole mission is finished. Indeed the writers failed to stress out the importance of the mission!
It is one thing for the astronauts to lose contact to their families and another failing to continue the mission at all if the link to the avatar doesn't work any more. So again, it was crucial to stress out the importance of the mission in order to fill this plot hole.
The very same reason applies to the ending. Both astronauts seam to be aware of the importance of the mission, but the viewer not so much. Hence the reason, Hartnett's character pushes the chair for Paul's character to sit down and continue.
That been said, I did not like the end because thats a much bigger plot hole than everything else. Why would he kill the family of his partner just to make a point. It's an absolute rubbish exit only written to create a shock. Hartnett's character was a loving father and it's incomprehensible why he would do that. Sure it's tough to find a good ending to this situation but slaughtering the family of your co-astronaut is simply way over.
However, the atmosphere and especially the performances by the actors kept me engaged which makes the episode above average compared to some other uninspired episodes of Black Mirror.