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Critic Reviews for Striking Vipers
...this concept is a veritable cornucopia of madness if you drill down into it.
"Striking Vipers" is one of the most ambitious and intriguingly enigmatic stories Black Mirror has ever told.
The very, very slow-burning plot intentionally withholds answers for most of the questions it poses about how sexuality on the internet is continuing to evolve. Still, I came to appreciate the episode's weird, uncomfortable intimacy.
"Striking Viper" is oddly narrow-minded in its scope, settling for a shrug and a head shake instead of trying to progress the narrative around bromance.
"Striking Vipers" is Black Mirror at full potential.
'Striking Vipers' still presents Black Mirror's usual mix of speculative technology and social science fiction, but the missed opportunities are too numerous to ignore.
A little strange - but still very interesting. What we have come to expect from Black Mirror. The lesser of the season 5 episodes, but still worth a watch.
Still, while the idea feels shortchanged the performances and tenderness remain powerful enough to make for an affecting watch.
"Striking Vipers" is unsatisfying, and doesn't manage to clear the high bar it sets for itself.
This could have been a much more thoughtful exploration if it showed us more about why Karl and Danny are drawn to each other, besides the two actors' amazing chemistry.
Though Black Mirror has centered queer characters in previous storylines, "Striking Vipers" stands out for focusing on two middle-aged black men grappling with their sexuality and rethinking how they understand themselves.
Nicole Beharie steals the whole thing as Danny's strong-willed, but ultimately open-minded wife.