Talk:Smithereens (Black Mirror)

GA Review

This review is transcluded from Talk:Smithereens (Black Mirror)/GA1. The edit link for this section can be used to add comments to the review.

Reviewer: The Rambling Man (talk · contribs) 08:03, 10 February 2021 (UTC)

Comments - I'd ask why the social media company was called Smithereen rather than why the episode was plural, after all Chris was mentally "smashed to smithereens...

• "in order to contact " maybe "making a demand to contact"? Something that's more along the lines of hostage taker demands.
• "had in a car hired via Uber when" why not just "had in an Uber"? or was it subtly different? I think Uber is ubiquitous enough these days...
  • I hummed and hawed over this when I originally wrote it—I didn't want to call it an Uber when the car isn't owned by Uber and (bit of a tangent) the company argue that the drivers are independent contractors to avoid giving them workers' rights, though in the UK there is some legal dispute over this. I also just think "in an Uber" is a bit informal. An option for the lead is changing "in a car hired via Uber" to "in a vehicle for hire" or similar. But I can go with "in an Uber" if it's the case that anything else will confuse a substantial number of readers. — Bilorv (talk) 00:43, 14 February 2021 (UTC)
• "He also began a story around how a person grieves the loss of a loved one differently when their life is permanently inscribed in social media" presumably Be Right Back? so could say "which formed the basis of another episode of the series"? Or am I projecting...??
  • Exactly what I thought, but Brooker doesn't mention that in the interview. I was also astonished that no critic made the connection between the two episodes. I think Brooker is describing that he separately looked at the topic from another angle, a few years after "Be Right Back" was released. — Bilorv (talk) 00:43, 14 February 2021 (UTC)
• "and how their products can be designed to be addictive and affect users negatively" and ... and, bit clunky.
  • Now "and their products' negative attributes, including addictivity" — Bilorv (talk) 00:43, 14 February 2021 (UTC)
• "his group therapy. Hayley has been " I would merge as the start of this section is a bit jarring with short sentences, maybe "his group therapy, who has been "
• You didn't link CEO in the lead.
• "He sends a picture of Jaden at gunpoint to his superior" confused here, clarify who "he" is and who is "his superior"?
  • "Chris sends a picture of Jaden at gunpoint to Jaden's superior" — Bilorv (talk) 00:43, 14 February 2021 (UTC)
• "while he is on hold" I think you might need to say that Smithereen put him on hold earlier on (I think it's not a coincidence and it added to the frustration...)
• "during the car crash" I know what you mean but this seems odd, he was checking the notification when the cars collided or something?
• Image captions which are complete sentences need a full stop.
• " realised he didn't know " avoid contractions.
• " [...] " check use of ellipsis per MOS:ELLIPSIS.
• "so that Scott could" so that he could.
• "a car atop a" I don't think I've ever read "atop" in BritEng, could we just make it "car on top of"?
• "he didn't know" avoid contractions.
• "the third series's" reword to avoid s's, maybe "Hated in the Nation" in the third series?
• "the U.K. " I normally just use UK.
• Introduce and link Zuckerberg first time.
• "by [...] how" and "range [...] elevated" ELLIPSIS
• "11th - James Hibberd" etc, all those should be en-dashes.
• "Scott was nominated ..." I would say who won so this isn't left hanging.

Otherwise as good as I've come to expect. I have to admit it's one of my least favourite episodes, I guess the fact it could have just been a documentary about real events five years ago kind of let me down, but I understand (more now!) why it was made. Cheers. The Rambling Man (Stay alert! Control the virus! Save lives!!!!) 22:37, 13 February 2021 (UTC)

All addressed except maybt the Uber one. This is actually the most I've ever disagreed with the reviewers—I love the episode. Sure, its message is clichéd, but that doesn't mean people don't need to hear it, and the acting is what carries it (Scott is just phenomenal). I think it would be better as a play than a television episode though. — Bilorv (talk) 00:43, 14 February 2021 (UTC)

You're right, as a piece of acting, it's top class, and although it didn't match my "wants" of a Black Mirror episode per se, the message is still relevant. I'm not going to argue over the Uber issue, I take your points and I'm content to promote as it stands. Thanks for letting me take a look. Cheers. The Rambling Man (Stay alert! Control the virus! Save lives!!!!) 09:46, 14 February 2021 (UTC)

Minor: Sisyphus

Normally, I don't suggest references to teach vocabulary, but should "Sisyphean" in the Critical Response section be linked to the WP page start article for "Sisyphus" ? <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisyphus> Gprobins (talk) 17:44, 30 November 2021 (UTC)

Good suggestion, Gprobins, as it is probably a word at least slightly unfamiliar to most readers. I've implemented it. For reference, you can link a page within Wikipedia by placing its title between double brackets (so [[Sisyphus]] produces Sisyphus; see Help:Link for more). — Bilorv (talk) 19:28, 30 November 2021 (UTC)