Black Mirror used to stun fans with its futuristic stories, combined with dystopias and sci-fi technology, until the critics complained about its declining quality, claiming that Netflix ruined the show. So, to finally address this issue, the series’ creator, Charlie Brooker, breaks his silence to defend the streamer.
At the recent SXSW event in Sydney, Australia, the TV producer revealed (via The Guardian) that one of the criticisms he sometimes received was viewers preferred Black Mirror when it was still “British.” At the time, they said everyone in it was “miserable,” while the stories were “horrible.” But when it moved to Netflix, everything started to change.
“And then it’s gone to Netflix, and suddenly everything’s sunny and happy, and everyone has wonderful teeth, and it’s full of Hollywood stars, and it’s lost that edge,” he said.
Brooker just accepted these criticisms and even understood the fans’ sentiments. In fact, he himself was stunned when he started working in the US, but he cleared that Netflix only had a small role in the show’s evolution.
“Arguably the happiest [episode] I’ve ever written was San Junipero, and I just did that off my own back,” he added.
Being on a global platform, Brooker added he was well aware that they had to make the stories “a bit more international.” But he still wanted to mix things, not just “bleak-a-thons.” He even admitted that Black Mirror Season 6’s serial killer-themed episode, Loch Henry, was the nastiest thing they had ever done.
Loch Henry was heavily criticized for lacking futuristic and tech-centric themes—far different from the episodes Black Mirror is known for. Some even claimed it was predictable and uninteresting.
When did Black Mirror move to Netflix?
For starters, the series' first two seasons aired on the British network Channel 4 until the succeeding seasons were moved to Netflix after buying exclusive streaming rights in 2014. Sure, it was introduced to a greater audience, but it was said to be marketed commercially. From there, the criticisms began.
Black Mirror Season 6 aired in June 2023. So far, Netflix has yet to announce if there will be a seventh season. But despite the criticisms, it cannot be denied that Black Mirror remains one of the most famous anthology series of today. So, a season renewal may not be far from happening.
