"The National Anthem" is the first episode of Black Mirror, a critically acclaimed speculative-fiction anthology television series that explores the dark side of technology and its impact on society.
Created by Charlie Brooker, Black Mirror is known for its thought-provoking and often dystopian narratives. Inspired in part by the science fiction anthology series The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror features episodes that stand alone as self-contained stories that depict a unique technological concept or scenario. To complement the discrete realities depicted, each episode features a different cast, setting, and style. The narratives also take place in the near future or an alternative present, presenting a distorted reflection of reality. Themes explored include artificial intelligence, virtual reality, social media, privacy, identity, and the blurred boundaries between real and virtual worlds.
Brooker has said that the title Black Mirror refers to the digital screens—which are black when not illuminated—that dominate our lives, reflecting back our own image and the often unsettling realities of our society. Following this sentiment, Black Mirror often presents scenarios in which human behavior or trends relatable to the viewer are pushed to absurd extremes. In "Nosedive," for example, every human being rates one another following every social interaction; a person's five-point scale rating is tied to their socioeconomic position, with lower ratings limiting a person's ability to take part in society.
Among many nominations and awards, Black Mirror has thrice won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie. First broadcast on Channel 4 in December 2011, Black Mirror moved to Netflix in 2016 after a falling out over production costs between the show's creators and Channel 4. Still in production, the sixth series of Black Mirror will air in June 2023.
