Community hub
Recent from talks
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Joan Is Awful
"Joan Is Awful" is the first episode of the sixth series of the anthology series Black Mirror. It was written by the series creator Charlie Brooker and directed by Ally Pankiw. Alongside the rest of the sixth series, it premiered on Netflix on 15 June 2023. It follows Joan (Annie Murphy) as her life is adapted in real-time into a television series starring Salma Hayek. It is released on a fictional streaming service, Streamberry, that parodies Netflix; Brooker said the company had no objections to their portrayal. Marketing for the sixth series featured Streamberry and personalised Is Awful thumbnails.
Brooker described "Joan Is Awful" as the only episode of the series to fit the show's traditional style. It was inspired by the recency of the events depicted in The Dropout (2022); Joan was written with Murphy in mind after Brooker watched Schitt's Creek (2015–2020). Hayek encouraged more profane dialogue than was in the script for her character, and the addition of facts about herself.
Pankiw saw the episode as exploring questions about who can make art and tell stories; the women-led stories and a diversity of crew were important to her. Reviewers identified themes including streaming services, personalised content and privacy. It was considered timely as its writing preceded the release of ChatGPT and 2023 Hollywood strikes by the Writers Guild of America and actors' union SAG-AFTRA, which drew attention to the role of artificial intelligence and computer-generated imagery of actors in entertainment industries.
The episode is more comedic than most Black Mirror episodes and has a happy ending. Reviewers praised its tone and the acting of Murphy and Hayek. However, the episode's pacing and plot received an ambivalent response. Some critics disliked the execution of its themes. The episode makes numerous Easter egg references to other Black Mirror installments through Streamberry's platform and use of the song "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)".
Joan Tait (Annie Murphy) wakes up, eats breakfast made by her fiancé Krish (Avi Nash) and drives to work while lip syncing to Saweetie's rap "Tap In". Under instruction from the board of directors, she fires Sandy (Ayo Edebiri), who worked to reduce the company's carbon emissions. In therapy, Joan contrasts Krish's blandness with her ex-boyfriend Mac (Rob Delaney) who is messaging her. She meets Mac for dinner and they kiss.
Joan and Krish discover a Streamberry show titled Joan Is Awful. Depicted by Salma Hayek, the unlikeable, fictionalised version of Joan plays out events from Joan's day. Krish leaves after seeing the fictional Mac (Ben Barnes) and Joan kiss. The programme shows Hayek's Joan discovering Joan Is Awful, with its own version of Joan (Cate Blanchett), before Hayek's Joan is left by Krish (Himesh Patel).
Joan is fired due to the show and told by a lawyer (Lolly Adefope) that Streamberry's actions are legal due to their terms and conditions. The show is made by a cutting-edge quantum computer using CGI-based virtual actors and real-time data gathered from Joan's devices.
To get a reaction from Hayek, Joan—with a penis drawn on her forehead—dresses as a cheerleader and defecates in a church, interrupting a wedding. After this is depicted in Joan Is Awful, Hayek speaks to a lawyer who says that Streamberry can use her likeness and personalities like this as she has licensed it to them. Hayek meets with Joan and they plot to destroy the quantum computer.
Hub AI
Joan Is Awful AI simulator
(@Joan Is Awful_simulator)
Joan Is Awful
"Joan Is Awful" is the first episode of the sixth series of the anthology series Black Mirror. It was written by the series creator Charlie Brooker and directed by Ally Pankiw. Alongside the rest of the sixth series, it premiered on Netflix on 15 June 2023. It follows Joan (Annie Murphy) as her life is adapted in real-time into a television series starring Salma Hayek. It is released on a fictional streaming service, Streamberry, that parodies Netflix; Brooker said the company had no objections to their portrayal. Marketing for the sixth series featured Streamberry and personalised Is Awful thumbnails.
Brooker described "Joan Is Awful" as the only episode of the series to fit the show's traditional style. It was inspired by the recency of the events depicted in The Dropout (2022); Joan was written with Murphy in mind after Brooker watched Schitt's Creek (2015–2020). Hayek encouraged more profane dialogue than was in the script for her character, and the addition of facts about herself.
Pankiw saw the episode as exploring questions about who can make art and tell stories; the women-led stories and a diversity of crew were important to her. Reviewers identified themes including streaming services, personalised content and privacy. It was considered timely as its writing preceded the release of ChatGPT and 2023 Hollywood strikes by the Writers Guild of America and actors' union SAG-AFTRA, which drew attention to the role of artificial intelligence and computer-generated imagery of actors in entertainment industries.
The episode is more comedic than most Black Mirror episodes and has a happy ending. Reviewers praised its tone and the acting of Murphy and Hayek. However, the episode's pacing and plot received an ambivalent response. Some critics disliked the execution of its themes. The episode makes numerous Easter egg references to other Black Mirror installments through Streamberry's platform and use of the song "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)".
Joan Tait (Annie Murphy) wakes up, eats breakfast made by her fiancé Krish (Avi Nash) and drives to work while lip syncing to Saweetie's rap "Tap In". Under instruction from the board of directors, she fires Sandy (Ayo Edebiri), who worked to reduce the company's carbon emissions. In therapy, Joan contrasts Krish's blandness with her ex-boyfriend Mac (Rob Delaney) who is messaging her. She meets Mac for dinner and they kiss.
Joan and Krish discover a Streamberry show titled Joan Is Awful. Depicted by Salma Hayek, the unlikeable, fictionalised version of Joan plays out events from Joan's day. Krish leaves after seeing the fictional Mac (Ben Barnes) and Joan kiss. The programme shows Hayek's Joan discovering Joan Is Awful, with its own version of Joan (Cate Blanchett), before Hayek's Joan is left by Krish (Himesh Patel).
Joan is fired due to the show and told by a lawyer (Lolly Adefope) that Streamberry's actions are legal due to their terms and conditions. The show is made by a cutting-edge quantum computer using CGI-based virtual actors and real-time data gathered from Joan's devices.
To get a reaction from Hayek, Joan—with a penis drawn on her forehead—dresses as a cheerleader and defecates in a church, interrupting a wedding. After this is depicted in Joan Is Awful, Hayek speaks to a lawyer who says that Streamberry can use her likeness and personalities like this as she has licensed it to them. Hayek meets with Joan and they plot to destroy the quantum computer.