Confusing Black Mirror Episodes Explained

Starring Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out) as Bingham "Bing" Madsen, Fifteen Million Merits takes place in a world that combines concepts like "the rat race," the corruption of modern entertainment values, and the future of advertising. From riding bikes all day for work to environments that are literally covered with screens, to the chump-change rewards and forced entertainment of both the mind-numbing and sexual variety, this episode feels like it was designed to feel like a grown-up version of WALL-E.

Of course, things are thrown for a loop when Abi Khan (Jessica Brown Findlay) shows up at work and an infatuated Madsen works to get Khan out of the "rat race" and onto the pre-defined route to "stardom." But when this only serves to inadvertently push Khan into a career as an adult film star, it leads Madsen to hatch his plan for justice.

The episode is haunting throughout, but really it's in those closing minutes that the point of all of the insanity comes crashing down like a ton of bricks. As Madsen threatens suicide on live television and the judges, seemingly unruffled by the scenario, offer him a huge buyout for "his act," the man breaks down and sells out. From success through sexuality, violence, and self-loathing to selling out and being inundated with perpetual advertising, this episode is dripping with deeper messages.