Charlie Brooker Reflects on Dystopia Ahead of Black Mirror’s New Season

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Charlie Brooker, creator of the acclaimed anthology series *Black Mirror*, is offering a fresh perspective as the seventh season prepares to launch on April 10. With each season diving into the unsettling depths of technology’s impact on society, Brooker acknowledges that this installment may lean more toward emotional depth than dystopian horror.

During a recent interview, Brooker expressed his fascination with contemporary technology. He cites a new rideshare service called Protector, offering armed security for passengers, as a perfect example of modern-day dystopia. ‘Jesus, OK, that’s dystopian,’ Brooker remarked. ‘But surely it’s a perfect service for anyone who, you know, wants to assassinate somebody? Just sign up to work as the guard and then you’re in a car with a gun and somebody important.’

Brooker’s career has historically walked the fine line between humor and horror, reflecting a world where technological advancements often lead to unsettling consequences. ‘There’s a thin line between what makes me laugh and what scares the hell out of me,’ he explained. ‘My background is in comedy, and I think that’s why a lot of comedians end up doing horror.’

This season promises a more reflective tone, with episodes that explore themes of nostalgia and the passage of time, unlike previous seasons that were deeply rooted in speculative technology. ‘There’s probably more social commentary and more emotive or vulnerable episodes,’ Brooker noted. ‘We don’t go to the same dark places, but I think we still deliver chills.’

In the upcoming episode ‘Plaything,’ Brooker revisits his past, reflecting on his early career as a gaming journalist intertwined with a narrative that incorporates elements of the surreal. He elaborates, ‘It wasn’t conscious, but then I have a lot more past than future.’

Addressing the challenges of creating a show that resonates with current societal anxieties, Brooker emphasized the balance he seeks to strike in presenting relatable yet cautionary tales about technology. He remarked, ‘I don’t see [*Black Mirror*] as a warning. It’s me worrying out loud.’

As he merges the past’s nostalgia with futuristic concerns, Brooker expressed a desire to keep evolving the *Black Mirror* narrative. He stated, ‘As long as it’s interesting, I’m allowed to make it and people continue to fucking watch, I’d like to keep making the show.’

Brooker also reflected on the complexities of working within the very industry he often critiques, describing his role at Netflix as one that gives him more creative freedom than he expected. He expressed, ‘I’ll probably walk away feeling conflicted now, but it frustrates me when people describe the show as a warning about the use of technology. The technology is neutral.’

Along with tackling social commentary, Brooker’s scripts often draw from real-world events, seen in an episode that parodies corporate culture in tech through an ‘evil streaming executive.’ As he navigates the intricacies of contemporary storytelling, Brooker continues to engage audiences by addressing pressing concerns about the future.

‘What would it mean to have a complete copy of you running around this universe?’ he posed, hinting at the thematic explorations in this season. ‘Are they experiencing real emotion? Do they deserve our empathy? We’ll be dealing with that more and more as AI gets more sophisticated.’

Season seven of *Black Mirror* will tackle these ideas head-on, promising to challenge viewers while provocation remains a cornerstone of Brooker’s narrative style. Audiences can witness this season’s emotional journey starting April 10 on Netflix.