- [[Perversion of Media]] [[dystopia]] [[Tech]] [[socialmedia]] [[rape]] [[Consent]] - Episode 1 of [[Show/Black Mirror (series)]] - Plot - Princess Susanah is kidnapped, and her kidnapper sends a "ransom note" by video to the Prime Minister, Michael Callow. Instead of a ransom, what the kidnapper wants is for Callow to have sex with a pig on live TV. Callow and his team of course make multiple attempts to locate and save Susanah without resorting to the deed, but as time runs out, he eventually gives in. He has sex with a pig as the entire country watches, not knowing that Susanah had already been released. The kidnapper kills himself. - Themes - Obsession with media - Efforts were made to dissuade the public from watching the sex act, even though it was streamed publicly. The broadcast began by emitting a series of high-pitched tones and a warning. During the broadcast itself, many people commented on how "disgusting" it was and they seemed to sympathize with the Prime Minister, but nobody stopped watching. This kind of thing happens all the time in real life, and it's why reality TV is so popular. We as a species cannot look away from a train wreck, even if it involves another person's suffering. - The media coverage of this event was thorough and complete. A reporter even risks her life and gets shot because she's trying to get the scoop. Every step was televised and commented on. - Rape - Ironically, despite the fact that Callow violated a pig, it was HIS rape that was so distrubing. Callow did not want to perform the act, yet he felt he had to, to save Susanah's life. The kidnapper had been very specific about how the act was to be performed, and one of the requirements was that Callow needed to orgasm. This took longer than an hour, and it was clearly torture for Callow, who struggled to remain erect when performing such a vile act. As we see him throw up later, we realize it was actually his body that had been used. - One of Callow's attempts to avoid the act involved hiring a porn star to take his stead. Interestingly, the porn star had absolutely no qualms about fucking a pig. It made me think of sex work and how it can be demeaning and soul-destroying for one person but empowering for another. - Forgiveness - Callow's wife was mortified by the entire debacle and asked him not to do it. She never forgave Callow for going through with it anyway, despite the fact that he really only did it to save a girl's life. Years later, Callow's ratings had recovered, but not with his wife - she could not get over what he'd done, even though she must have understood that it wasn't his fault.