Black Mirror Season 6 Episode 1 Ending Explained: In the highly anticipated Season 6 of Netflix’s critically acclaimed anthology series, ‘Black Mirror,’ viewers are once again taken on a mind-bending journey through the dark side of technology.
The season’s opening episode, titled ‘Joan is Awful,’ challenges the boundaries of storytelling with its thought-provoking narrative.
Featuring the exceptional pair Annie Murphy and Salma Hayek, the episode anticipates a near-future situation that resonates deeply with the audience
Through its gripping plot, ‘Joan is Awful’ forces us to confront the unsettling reality of privacy invasion and data collection, shedding light on the dangers hidden behind the terms and conditions we often overlook.
As the layers of Joan’s story unfold, the episode captivates and intrigues, offering a tempting exploration of the characters’ lives.
In the end, the episode reveals a chilling glimpse into the future, leaving us with lingering questions about the fate of its characters and the ominous trajectory of society as technology continues to evolve.
Continue reading this article to know everything about the ending of Black Mirror Season 6 Episode 1.
Black Mirror Season 6 Episode 1 Recap
This episode starts with Joan, an everyday woman with a typical job, waking up beside her fiancé, Krish.
Throughout her day as a mediator, Joan grapples with the difficult responsibility of terminating an employee while also reflecting on her relationship with Krish, sensing a lack of thrill compared to her previous connection with ex-partner Mac.
Joan seeking advice from her therapist coincidentally meets Mac during his three-day visit. Their encounter leads to a passionate kiss, after which Joan leaves.
Upon returning home, Joan and Krish prepare to enjoy some entertainment on Streamberry, a popular streaming service. However, their plans take an unexpected turn when they stumble upon a series called “Joan is Awful,” featuring Salma Hayek sporting an identical hairstyle to Joan’s.
Initially dismissing it as mere coincidence, Joan’s suspicions grow when the episode eerily mirrors the events of her own day. The situation escalates as everyone she knows tunes into the show, indicating a widespread viewership.
During the episode, Krish learns about Mac’s contact with Joan and her characterization of their relationship as “vanilla,” leading him to storm out in anger.
The following day at work, Joan faces another shocking revelation: she has been fired due to the show exposing confidential information.
This triggers universal hatred towards Joan, prompting her to seek a way to stop the show and regain control of her life and reputation.
Also Read: Is Bloodhounds Season 2 Renewed By Netflix?
Black Mirror Season 6 Episode 1 Ending Explained: What Has Happened To Annie Murphy and Real Joan In The End?
The thought-provoking narrative of “Joan is Awful” raises profound questions about the true nature of Joan’s existence within the mind-bending reality of the TV show.
With the quamputer responsible for its creation, the potential destruction of the device poses a threat to all versions of Joan.
However, in the end, we witness Joan and Annie Murphy successfully destroying the quamputer, accepting their sentence of house arrest, and moving forward with their lives.
This act serves as proof that their reality extends beyond the confines of the TV show. The Joan we encounter in the conclusion is the genuine Joan.
Despite facing consequences for breaking into Streamberry’s facility and dismantling their prized possession, Joan and Annie’s lives continue. Also, placed under house arrest with ankle monitors, they remain impatient in pursuing their aspirations.
Joan shares her progress with her therapist, including the fulfillment of her lifelong dream of opening a coffee shop and finding stability in her relationships. She now exudes greater control over her life and has formed a meaningful friendship with Annie Murphy.
Also Read: Reacher Season 2: Alan Ritchson Shares Production Details.
Who Is The Real Joan?
Joan discovers that Streamberry, the streaming service, created a show about her life without her consent.
Hoping to sue and stop the show, she consults a lawyer but learns that she had signed away the rights to her life story when she joined Streamberry. Even the fabricated elements and potential defamation were included in the agreement.
Joan considers suing Salma Hayek, who portrays her in the show, but realizes that Hayek had also signed away her likeness to Streamberry.
Understanding that she can’t legally stop the show, Joan resorts to extreme measures to get Hayek’s attention, eventually succeeding. Salma Hayek reveals that she, too, has no legal control over her likeness being used.
Determined to take action, Joan and Hayek decide to destroy the quamputer, the quantum computer used to create the show, at Streamberry’s headquarters.
While at Streamberry, Joan discovers that her reality is more complex than she thought. She sees herself on the screen in the first episode of “Joan is Awful,” realizing she is a character played by actress Annie Murphy, and the real Joan exists in the real world.
Similarly, Salma Hayek’s portrayal of Joan is happening in another layer of the show, played by Cate Blanchett. This pattern continues infinitely, perpetuating an unending retelling of Joan’s story.
Joan decides to destroy the quamputer to end it all, despite objections that it would affect the lives of all the Joans in various layers.
However, she realizes that as part of the show, her actions have already been done in the real world, meaning the quamputer has already been destroyed.
When Annie Murphy’s Joan destroys the quamputer, all the layers of the show collapse, bringing everyone back to reality. In the real world, the real Joan destroys the quamputer with the help of Annie Murphy.
