Warning: This article contains spoilers for the Black Mirror episode Striking Vipers.
Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker has shared his take on the last episode of the most talked-about episode of the new series, Striking Vipers.
The Netflix anthology series returned for its fifth run earlier this month, consisting of three new episodes.
Of the new instalments, it’s Striking Vipers that’s sparked the most conversation among fans online for its depiction of two male friends who form a sexual connection in a video game, despite them both previously identifying as heterosexual, leading to discussions around sexuality, fidelity and online vs. real-life connections.
Speaking to Metro, Charlie revealed he also believes “there’s a bit of a porn analogy going on” in Striking Vipers.
“One of the things I found fascinating about writing it, is that I don’t quite know where I stand on a lot of the issues,” Charlie explained. “‘Yes and No’ is the answer to a lot of those things.
“Is he being unfaithful? Yes he definitely is, but also no he isn’t because it’s not really happening. Then again, it sort of is really happening…
“Is this a homosexual relationship they’re having? Yes it is, but also no, it isn’t. So there’s all sorts of stuff going on.”
At the end of the episode, we discover that one of the friend’s wives, who previously forbade him from returning to the game to pursue the online sexual relationship, has changed her mind and allowed him to use it with his friend, but only once a year on his birthday.
Charlie said: “There’s definitely a commentary on male awkwardness or trying to negotiate what this friendship is in this big curve.
“The big spanner goes in the works and they’re not quite sure who they are in a way and what they mean to each other and how they express that, and there is a way where you can communicate.”
Also in the fifth series of Black Mirror are Smithereens – which centres around an app similar to Uber – and Rachel, Jack And Ashley Too, a story about fame and stars Miley Cyrus as pop singer Ashley O.
All five series of Black Mirror are now available to stream on Netflix.