But, is there a point where escapism through these gadgets goes too far?
Brooker loves video games and used to review them for a living.
Theyre engrossing and exciting, playful and challenging, constantly evolving, constantly surprising.
Credit: Laurie Sparham/Netflix
That love of video games does feed a lot of the UK-set episode.
Its frightening to think that a game could use your own memories and experiences against you.
NEXT: Is it scary?
The scares he sees are small: a large spider, his high school bully.
But then, they start to get twisted.
He imagines Sonja showing up and trying to murder him.
Once he overcomes that obstacle, he starts freaking out and begs for the game to end.
Katie instructs him to head to a room upstairs to begin the deactivation process.
This fear probably stems from Sonjas offhanded comment about the singularity earlier in the episode.
By the time Saito and Katie burst into the room, Cooper has completely forgotten who he is.
Thats when the episode reveals that Cooper is still sitting in the room to which he was first taken.
If this layered structure reminds you ofInception, thats probably intentional.
The Christopher Nolan movie isone of 105 things that has inspired Brooker.
you might also see that movies influence in the episodes subject matter.
But, he never gets it because he dies.
In the end, Coopers attempts at escapism led to his death.
