Metalhead Episode: A Critical Analysis of Black Mirror Series

This essay provides a critical analysis of the Black Mirror episode 'Metalhead', exploring its themes and implications. The episode, directed by David Slade and written by Charlie Brooker, depicts a dystopian future where robotic dogs relentlessly pursue humans after an unexplained societal collapse. The essay examines the episode's minimalist style, black and white cinematography, and the portrayal of technological tyranny and human helplessness. It delves into the themes of artificial intelligence, the dangers of autonomous weapons, and the potential for a bleak future. The essay also discusses the episode's reception, comparing it to works like 'The Terminator', and analyzes the protagonist Bella's struggle for survival against the relentless robot dogs. The essay concludes by highlighting the episode's exploration of human resilience in the face of technological advancements and the potential consequences of prioritizing technology-driven solutions.

Running head: METALHEAD: CRITICAL ANALYSIS
METALHEAD: CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Name of the Student
Name of the Organization
Author Note

1METALHEAD: CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Recently, while watching the fifth episode of Black Mirror name Metal Head, it reminds
me that the specific technology which is surrounding ourselves with each and every day may
lead us towards a hellscape which is dystopian where the very humanity of us may get lost
(Martin, 2018). The show have not provided all the solutions for the problems which are
suggested, but sometimes normally it serves up through several experiments as well as tales
which are cautionary.
It was known to be written by the creator of series named Charlie Brooker it was directed
by David Slade. The Metalhead is totally filmed in black and white background and basically
consists of Bella’s plight trying to run away from the dogs which are robotic after the collapse of
the society of human which is totally unexplained. MetalHead is considered as the shortest
episode of Black Mirror comprising of a time period of 41minutes. This Black Mirror episode
has a very simple plot and has been capable of receiving a number of positive reviews (Schinagl,
2018). It has been noticed that this episode has been compared with “The Terminator” as both of
them are capable of working all the feature machines which are chasing the humans. The main
message of the episode has been debated to a great extent with a number of reviewers discussing
about several questions related to the technology of Artificial Intelligence. Artificial intelligence
has the opportunity of turning the world upside down. There are a number of benefits to this
technology but this advanced technology comes with several consequences which are
unintended.
The fifth episode of Black Mirror named Metalhead, was written by Charlie Brooker, can
be interpreted as another cinematic ode which is dystopic to The Machine, embodied in the
technology which is faceless of the robot drone seen to have been chasing Bella. The main
character Bella is played by Maxine Peake across a landscape which is nondescript and black

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and white. This episode mainly portrays a type of robot nightmare in which a robot playing a
killer’s role is seen to have been persistently pursuing the protagonist (Ward, 2017). The threat’s
nature which is mainly the doglike robot is basically conveying the possibility of the likely future
where the humanity is shown to be under a threat which is existential. All that is noticed is Bella
facing deadly situations at each and every step of her survival during her resistance against the
technological violence of the drone which is like a dog. We are kept unknown about the fact that
whether the killer robot is controlled by a remote or it is completely an autonomous one. The
unknown and the guessing actually terrifies and epitomize the very essence of the technological
error.
The matter which can be inferred from the episode is that the survival of humanity is at a
huge stake and this feeling of tension directly connects with the recent stances which are
technophobic that dystopia is seen to be already with us (Ersoy, 2018). The minimalism which is
black and white enhance the feeling of the technological tyranny which is pitiless and the
helplessness of the humanity in the face of the progress of technology. The episode has found a
resonance which is striking with the recent race of arm in both robotics which are autonomous
and Artificial Intelligence. A feeling of tension, panic and terror is associated with the machines
which are very much deadly.
The technologies of drone which is seen to be existing have a number of dangerous
consequences for both the liberties which are civil and the framework of relations in between the
states. Even though the technology of drone is employed very efficiently with small risks as well
as costs, it totally removes the oversight of humans in the military operations which are
automated. It also includes worrying the tendencies which are de-humanising which mostly lack
a proportion sense (Pandolfo & Linck, 2018).. Bella, who is seen to have faced the drone’s

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brutality, is not capable of negotiating the path which is out of her predicament because
technology do not take any prisoners. The main irony of Metalhead lies in the recreation of the
technological dread of such weapon like devices in the landscape of Western Europe, where
remote field of battle has come home finally (Alonso Calleja, 2018).
There arises a question that whether there is a survival of humanity due to the progress of
technology of our age. The strength of advancements are disruptive in robotics which are
autonomous and artificial intelligence which is weaponized may as well be terminal for humans.
The episode of Metalhead is capable of leaving small room for a good hope. Bella’s several
desperate activities in communicating via her walkie talkie to the fellow individuals are mainly
answered by a silence which is implacable of the static void (Rossi, 2018). The suicide of Bella
at the end of the episode is a path which is foreshadowed by the residents who are dead present
in the safe house as there is no such point of resisting the terror of technology. Or rather it is
shown that it is the final act for preserving the last vestiges of the agency of human and control
over the death moment (Villacañas Esteve, 2018).. We can draw a good thinking and from the
episode which is shown by several tactics of survival attempted by Bella. Several desperate
attempts of Bella shows that with the use of creative thinking as well as a resilience which is
very much resourceful, we can be able to fight against the deadliness of the tyranny related to
advanced technology.
However, it is to be known that the current advancements in the augmented creativity
which is computational seem to have disproven even this point by introducing questions
regarding the modelling and simulation of the essential component of the intelligence of human
by the use of a computer. We are mainly witnessing a high progress in technology which is
unprecedented in security as well as defence. Such a world which is capable of emphasizing the

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role of the solutions which are efficiently driven by technology in the policies of technology can
produce the universe of Metalhead which will be bleak.
References
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ilişkisi (Master's thesis, Başkent Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü).
Martin, A. (2018). Cautionary: Reflections: Looking into black mirror. Screen Education, (90),
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Pandolfo, A. C., & Linck, J. A. G. (2018). Exbicho, exbíos, exmundo:" Metalhead", Black
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Rossi, S. E. (2018). Black Mirror: il lato oscuro della tecnologia.
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