Black Mirror
TheBlack Mirrorseason 4 episode,“Crocodile”,continues to perplex audiences with its cryptic title of respect , so what does it really intend ? Online , fans have offered various rendering , with most believe that theNetflixnarrative underlines the main character ’s lack of empathy for others , or her"crocodile tears"that are plainly fake . While that may be part rightful , the deeper substance has been formally confirm by series Jehovah / author Charlie Brooker .
" Crocodile"begins with a straight - forward story , as two friends accidentally vote down a bicycler and attempt to deal up the crime . The gadget driver , Rob ( Andrew Gower ) , directly wants to dispose of the eubstance , in the main because he ’d been drink in intoxicant . The passenger , Mia ( Andrea Riseborough ) , acts spontaneously in the present moment and agrees to to help . Fifteen years later on , Rob shows up at Mia ’s flat and feels shamed ; he desire to squeal . After a brief argumentation , Mia makes a firm decision about her future by aggress Rob and clog up him to expiry . She later pour down three more people while attempting to protect her big secret . On the open , Mia appear to be a successful designer who just wants to expect after her menage and live a bourgeoise lifestyle .
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It ’s the little details in"Crocodile"that suggest Mia could be a psychopath , or at least someone who has n’t fully cope with her emotional trauma . Just as title itself is cryptical , so are Mia ’s motivation . The character ’s behavior becomes even more troubling when she remembers that technology can be used to access her memories . When"Crocodile"released , many viewer theorized that the title pinpoint Mia ’s cold deportment . She ’s rather harsh with Rob when he shows up 15 eld after the fact , and even says"What about ME?“while arguing the pros and cons of telling the Sojourner Truth . Visually , Black Mirrorshows that Mia has literally found a secure position with her luxurious rest home , where she ’s seemingly protected from all the dangers of the world . In a way , Rob infiltrates Mia ’s nursing home , and thus infiltrate her thoughts , making her question the past , present , and time to come .
If"Crocodile"is indeed focused on Mia ’s cold - hearted nature , then the"crocodile tears"theory nominate sensory faculty . Rob ’s death serve as the episode ’s true inciting incident , and circle in motion the applied science - themed subplot involve the"Recaller"gadget used by an insurance policy investigator name Shazia ( Kiran Sonia Sawar , The Nevers ) , who is later savagely mutilate by Mia , along with her married man and small youngster . In the bookInside Black Mirror , the"Crocodile"director ( John Hillcoat ) teases a deeper meaning by state that"the news report ’s cruel logic has a deadly vice - like grip , akin to a crocodile ’s jaw ” .
Brooker clarifies the real significance of the title"Crocodile"within the Page ofInside Black Mirror . The concept links to a"previous incarnation of the script”,in which Brooker theorize how a two - year - old would emotionally develop after attestor the slaying of a parent . TheBlack Mirrorcreator implies that the"Crocodile"is actually a life sentence event — in this font , the fortuity that caused Mia to go through life fearful and ineffectual to amply appreciate what she has . This concept is teased early on , during a flash forward succession , when Mia prepares to talk about her vision of the time to come . As a successful designer , she ’s brilliant at creating literal walls and environments that extend shelter and chance to someone . The irony is that Mia is hardly keeping herself together due to her unprocessed trauma .
With"Crocodile,“Brooker subverts the storytelling gimmick known as"Kill Your Darlings” . The traditional inciting incident seem to be the bicyclist ’s death , but it really arrives when s Mia kills Rob , her darling from the past . This particular character last allows Brooker to introduce his focal technical construct , the"Recaller"equipment . The episode culminates with the shameful murder of a minor child , which at once dress up another twist ( the minor was blind ) while thematically linking to Brooker ’s original story idea that begins with a two - year - old kid find the murder of a fellow human . In"Crocodile",there ’s a slight alteration , as the tarradiddle ends with a guinea pig witnessing the murder of a kidskin , and being prepare for a " Recaller"session . Black Mirrorunveils its final twist : an factual animal is used to facilitate explain the psychological science of emotionally - devastated human beings , aka crocodile .
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