Black Mirror is a show that has a slew of great episodes that showcase how technology has messed up humans in the worst way possible. Some of the most popular episodes of this dark science fiction show are- White Christmas, Nosedive, The Entire History of You, National Anthem, and Black Museum. Whenever the debate regarding the best episode of the season arises, it is likely that one of the aforementioned episodes is mentioned. However, there is one very underappreciated and should I say misunderstood episode of the show that hardly gets any attention.
Remember, The Waldo Moment? Yes, you guessed it right, the forgotten episode of season 2 that almost everyone hated. If you are also a hater of this episode, I totally get you. The other episodes of Black Mirror are so superior that this episode pales in comparison. But what if I told you that you completely misunderstood the point of “The Waldo Moment”? Yes you might say, it is me who is insane who is overthinking and making up things. But before you proceed to cancel me for this appalling statement, let me elucidate my stance. Like cmon Black Mirror fans, give me a chance at least!
The Geopolitical Difference of World in 2013
The world was geopolitically different in 2013 when “The Waldo Moment” aired; our concerns were more insular and controversies weren’t every single tweet (remember when Obama made headlines for wearing a tan suit?). Watching this in contrast to other Black Mirror episodes felt like the show had jumped the shark. Black Mirror at its best can entrap, traumatize and drain its audience of all optimism with dystopian realities – so you can see how this clumsily paced contemporary satire felt out of place with the quality we had come to expect.
The Waldo Moment Has Stood the Test of Time
Now, I would say that the time has been good to this episode. Go back to the reviews and you’ll see words like “frustratingly vague”, “unfunny”, “meaningless“, “unfocused”, “on-the-nose”, “ludicrous”…..these are words of a people yet to be inundated with populism, fascism and reality TV politics. Everything post-2016 has been frustratingly vague, unfunny, meaningless, unfocused, on-the-nose and ludicrous! How can you NOT see Waldo in 2020 politics everywhere! The notion that people will follow a cartoonish buffoon who knows how to be outlandish enough to overwhelm logic, no longer seems absurd. One does not need to be smart or dumb to run for office, one only needs to be able to manipulate people’s emotions to get them to trust you. Because most people don’t have things figured out but have a vague sense that something isn’t quite right with the world – all they need is someone to affirm their baser, unacknowledged sentiments. Once you can get people to fantasize about what they stand to gain, you have successfully turned off the logical side of their brains
Final Word
Nobody knows what the hell they’re doing and we only know how we feel in the moment; but feelings fluctuate and are only formed by information we have (or don’t have). Great art never ends the conversation its creating, and sometimes it lands at a zeitgeist where most people have no interest in said conversation. This episode is only lower in people’s rankings of Black Mirror because of other exemplary episodes, but I would argue that The Waldo Moment has held up the most.
Mike’s love for films began when his dad introduced him to The Usual Suspects. From that moment on, he never looked back. Now, having explored thousands of films, he has mastered the art of unpeeling each facet gracefully. Mike especially loves writing movie reviews that are narratives in themselves, offering a unique perspective and depth you won’t find anywhere else. His insightful and captivating reviews bring each film to life, making him a standout voice in the world of cinema.