Netflix kicked off the summer with a screening of its hit TV show Black Mirror.
Hosted by the Strong Black Lead team, which focuses on prominent black characters in its programming, the streaming service premiered a new Black Mirror episode called “Striking Vipers.” Starring Anthony Mackie (Avengers, The Hurt Locker), Nicole Beharie (Sleepy Hollow, Shame), and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (The Get Down, Us), the episode explores the dynamics of relationships when there’s an interesting, unique form of interference from (you guessed it) advanced technology.
The screenplay is riddled with plot twists, the episode is well done with its casting of talented actors and feature film-worthy effects and theatrics. Time flashes by viewers immerse themselves in the onscreen world which emulates a daytime soap opera and a high-speed action film simultaneously. But at this point in the Black Mirror universe, the story was a bit predictable. At 38 years old, Danny (Anthony Mackie) has his wife, Theo (Nicole Beharie), and son and maybe another child on the way but he’s stuck in a rut until his old friend Karl (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) gifts him with the latest version of their favorite video game, Striking Vipers. Now upgraded with a virtual reality chip, the game’s players fight each other all while the game emulates the full sensation of being punched, kicked, and knocked to the ground. It’s in the game that Danny and Karl discover that there are more sensual sensations between them, which they go on to explore in a clandestine affair as avatars (Pom Klementieff, Ludi Lin) in the Striking Viper game world. While Danny and Karl grapple with this new side of their sexuality, Danny’s lack of intimacy turns into suspicion and notions of inadequacy for Theo. What could ruin their marriage ends up saving it in a creative way, but find out by watching on Wednesday, June 5.
Black Mirror’s “Striking Vipers” episode premieres in season five with two other new stories on June 5. Check out the trailer below.