Black Mirror : 15 million merits

Black Mirror Analysis #3

The Black Mirror series deals with a theme common to all episodes: technology, seen as a drug.

Fifteen million merits illustrates the life of Bing Madsen, living in a world where screens are omnipresent. He has a virtual avatar like everyone else, which allows him to interpret his life between the physical and virtual world.

He spends his days cycling on an exercise bike to power society with electric power and then accumulates money in the form of virtual credits. All the walls are advertising screens.

Later, he meets another worker who has a talent as a singer : Abi Carner.

However, they face the relentless rules of this confined universe when they want to participate in Hot Shot.

Bing, decides to redouble efforts, to replenish the capital needed for a participation in the game (15 million «merits»).

He ends up doing it, and once on stage, he interrupts his live performance to vehemently denounce the injustice of the system.

Fifteen million merits translates technology as a source of capitalism.

The consumer society is called into question, this episode denounces the cluster of commercials we are facing, mixed the consumer society is with porn and burlesque comedies.

Through this episode, we realize that in our world, work and wealth no longer make sense.

Rafaëla