Okay, first let’s address the elephant in the room.
Apparently, Miley Cyrus is to pop culture what Julian Assange is to journalism. Divisive. I’m not sure that’s entirely fair but, in any event, the Black Mirror episode “Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too” isn’t nearly as bad as people are blathering on about.
No, Miley Cyrus isn’t Meryl Streep.
But she’s not Tara Reid either.
The concept of “Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too” is solid and the execution is good. While it begins a bit like a John Hughes movie the episode picks up once the AI doll Ashley Too (based off Cyrus’ character, pop superstar Ashley O) gets cracked and becomes a foul mouth free thinker. Then the story comes alive and gets funny. Yes, funny. Imagine that.
Madison Davenport as Jack, the sullen, goth, bass playing big sister with a heart of gold is engaging and great to watch. Is this Charlie Brooker’s best episode of the three in season five? No. But it’s not that bad and it is the most fun.
“Smithereens” is the darkest of the three episodes and falls most in line with what you’d expect from Black Mirror.
Andrew Scott (The Priest from season two of Fleabag) stars.
