Earlier than “Black Mirror” grew to become overblown and finally became a gimmick-heavy franchise after the present went to Netflix, Charlie Brooker was simply an excellent satirist that poked enjoyable at a number of subjects, not simply our relationship with expertise. Certainly, some folks could overlook that the very first episode of “Black Mirror” did not have a sci-fi premise, however was pure political satire concerning the British Prime Minister having intercourse with a pig on dwell TV.
That is to say, when Brooker is allowed to focus much less on excessive ideas and wild premises and extra on satire, as in one thing like “Cunk on Earth,” there’s trigger to be very excited. Now, we’re getting one other Charlie Brooker joint, as Netflix simply introduced a four-part restricted TV collection from Brooker that appears like it’ll poke enjoyable at detective mysteries.
The present’s working title is “Untitled Charlie Brooker Mission,” which Netflix describes as a “profoundly critical, stunningly unique crime thriller by which a tormented detective from the Northern metropolis of Bleakford ventures right down to London on a mission to catch a ritualistic serial killer earlier than they run out of individuals to kill. Accommodates blood and frowning.”
That is thrilling for a lot of causes. Detective reveals are an important a part of British TV tradition (if you have not gone down that rabbit gap but, here are the best ones to watch), however they’re additionally ripe for parody and satire, particularly in 2025 when the U.S. has additionally gone deep into the detective thriller style over the previous decade with reveals like “True Detective” and “Mare of Easttown.” The easiest way to satirize one thing is when everyone seems to be conscious of that factor’s tropes and formulation, and the time of the overly dour detective thriller is now.
The Untitled Charlie Brooker Mission has a terrific forged
The “Untitled Charlie Brooker Mission” is ready to star Paddy Considine (“Home of the Dragon”), Georgina Campbell (“Barbarian”), and Lena Headey (“Sport of Thrones”). We do not have extra particulars concerning the plot, however Netflix introduced that Brooker a part of the writers’ room, alongside Ben Caudell, Jason Hazeley, Emer Kenny, Daniel Maier and Joel Morris, whereas Al Campbell directs.
That is thrilling as a result of most of these names both labored with Brooker’s on “Cunk on Life” or earlier reveals of his like “How TV Ruined Your Life,” or in any other case have expertise with BBC dramas. There is no such thing as a connection to “Black Mirror,” however relatively the very sort of very British TV that this upcoming untitled present is supposed to satirize.
The popularization of worldwide detective dramas within the U.S., with British shows like the fantastic “Broadchurch” or Nordic noir reveals which have been tailored time and again (like “The Bridge,” and “The Killing”), has made it so audiences worldwide are fairly aware of the nice and the dangerous inside this style. Having Brooker satirize the grim seriousness of this type of story, in addition to character tropes just like the tormented detective, guarantees to be one hell of a intelligent and humorous present.
We do not know when “Untitled Charlie Brooker Mission” might be launched, however it already has one of the best premise of 2025.
