I'm going to
keep writing blogs about the sci-fi anthology thriller series Black
Mirror but only when the themes and messages are strong and
interesting enough to talk about. I'm not going to look at episodes such as
'San Junipero' because that's more of a straightforward love story set in a
fascinating world with a simple message of 'love transcends everything.' 'Hang
the DJ' on the other hand provides a more complex and detailed look on love. In
particular, 'Hang the DJ' focuses on the search for 'the one' and how difficult
that can be despite a system seemingly primed to solve that very problem.
In the episode, we are introduced to a world dominated by a
matchmaking device known as COACH that puts people in relationships and decides
how long it will last. No matter how much or how little chemistry you have, you
have to stay with them for as long as COACH deems necessary. Through analysing different
relationships and one-night stands, COACH eventually finds the 'perfect match.'
As the motto for COACH says: 'Everything happens for a reason.'
The episode focuses on Frank (Joe Cole) and Amy (Georgina
Campbell) as they are matched for 12 hours despite clearly falling in love with
each other. They go their separate ways and get put into longer relationships
with people they're clearly not meant for. Eventually COACH reunites them and
they agree to not look at their expiry dates but Frank does so anyway without
Amy and his relationship suffers as a result. Despite this, they still love
each other even as they get paired with their perfect matches, they decide to
defy the system and escape only to learn that they were a part of a simulation
all along.
The simulation itself presents 1000 scenarios where the
potential matches are put in a scenario where they would either rebel or accept
an illogical system. The more times they rebel, the higher the compatibility
rating of their real-life counterpart. The episode ends with the real Frank and
Amy meeting for the first time after the dating app the simulation was a part
of matches them with a 99.8% compatibility rating.
So, wouldn't it be nice to have a system like COACH? I'm
serious! A system that guarantees perfect love sounds like a dream come true to
those like me who are struggling to even find a date, let alone 'the one.'
Ideally the search for 'the one' should be a piece of cake (see every Disney
princess film ever except for Moana and Brave but
even then, that's because they're strong independent women). But real life
isn't like that. We are not made to have dates that give us a fair chance to
get to know each other. Those we consider 'the one' may not even be for us
because of either work commitments, long distances and/or third parties who
beat us to it. Dating apps aren't even reliable because those considered
compatible make the choice not to do anything (or act like complete smegheads).
In 'Hang the DJ,' there are less obstacles since the
characters aren't shown to have any jobs and they all live in a single space
meaning that they only have to worry about who COACH pairs them up with and
they are free to spend time with their significant others.
Though to 'Hang the DJ's' credit, the 'system' isn't
presented as perfect either. Frank and Amy go through several terrible
relationships and one-night stands before they are given their perfect match
(or in this case, before they find each other). Frank in particular has to
endure a year long relationship with a bitter and rude woman whilst Amy goes
through several one-night stands to the point where it burns her out. Even the
dating app itself which the entire episode takes place in has to create
simulations where the simulacra go through several difficult scenarios before
it is ready to match their real-life counterparts. Heck, because it's real
life, I doubt the road for Frank and Amy will be smooth sailing either. Love is
complicated no matter what.
I also think that this episode has some interesting
commentary on what constitutes 'true love.' There's a memorable scene in the
middle of the episode where Frank and Amy witness what COACH deemed a 'perfect
couple' and they are rather put off by what they see because the relationship
itself feels unnatural. I've never been in a relationship myself but I know
enough about them to know that they're not perfect. Every couple fights, it's
inevitable when two people stay together for so long. Even Frank and Amy have
their fights but their love is still true because their love overpowers any
differences. That, to me, is true love. True love isn't perfect but true lovers
love each other despite their differences. In other words, they don't always get
on but they love each other unconditionally.
I think that's the ultimate message of 'Hang the DJ.' Love
isn't perfect and it takes a while to find your true love but you'll find them
eventually. There's even merit to the difficult experiences because they enable
you to learn from the pros and cons of previous relationships to prepare you
for 'the one.' As COACH says in the episode, 'everything happens for a reason.'
That concludes this thought from an autistic mind. What
are your thoughts on true love and 'Hang the DJ?' Do you agree/disagree?
Discuss in the comments below and be sure to like my Facebook page 'Joel Mole.'
Thank you for taking your time to read this and thank you for your patience.
Until the next time, fair thee well good people of the internet!
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