Welcome to heaven on Earth
San Junipero is a beachside town with theaters, arcades, and bars.
San Junipero is not what it seems.
San Junipero is a no-frills, timeless paradise.
Credit: Laurie Sparham/Netflix
San Junipero is a twisty, endless puzzle.
San Junipero is heaven on Earth.
And San Junipero, theBlack Mirrorepisode, is the salve to every White Bear or Playtest-inflicted wound.
Its the antidote to the poison the technology ofBlack Mirrorappears to promise for our future.
It teaches us that sometimes, the virtual can be vital, can even be helpful.
It depends on your point of view.
But well get to that.
Wes buys it, and Yorkie cant get enough of Kelly.
She grabs a drink with her, and lets her take the lead on both choosing drinks and questioning.
(Its our first hint to whatelseSan Junipero is!
Lets see… its a place where anyone can aspire to be anything.)
Kelly and Yorkie are doing that, at first.
Naturally, Kelly follows her outside, into the rain.
Shes new to all of this.
Kelly reassures her that its okay and then says they only have two more hours until midnight.
Now we know San Junipero is a place with a time limit, aCinderella-like fairy tale.)
Yorkie refuses this weeks offer, but one week later, she looks much more eager.
Shes enthusiastically trying on not just new outfits, but new personas, complete with different soundtracks.
Its as if entering San Junipero is like stepping onto a stage production.
NEXT: Dont you forget about me…
One week later, Yorkie begins again.
There, she runs into Wes, who recognizes her and immediately understands whats going on.
(A third hint!
The town must be adrift in time, available to transform into the era you choose.)
Yorkie tries and tries again.
One week later (look, a new font!
She even tries the beach house, but no one answers.
Has Kelly just vanished from San Junipero without saying goodbye?
Yorkie cant wait to talk to Kelly, but Kelly refuses.
In fact, she gets defensive, saying their night together was just for fun.
Yorkie, distraught, leaves, and Kelly gets angry at herself.
She punches the bathroom mirror, but it repairs itself, and shes left without a scratch.
(A final hint!
In a week, shell be married to Greg, so they dont have much time left.
Back at the beach house, the two talk their pasts.
Yorkie explains that San Junipero gave her a chance not just to experience life but to meet Kelly.
Sothatsthe secret to San Junipero: Itisa virtual space for avatars of real people, alive and dead.
Shes Kelly real-life, living, breathing Kelly.
Hello, stupid, Kelly tenderly says to Yorkie.
Its good to see you.
(Cue the tears!)
Oh, and as for the impending marriage?
Yorkies spouse can override her familys wishes, and Greg is up to the task.
That sparks something in Kelly, who asks to enter San Junipero for five minutes with Yorkie.
After all, its pretty clear theyre soul mates or rather, San Junipero mates.
(Cue more tears!)
NEXT: The story of Yorkie and Kelly
And so, Yorkie passes over.
She looks joyful, even ditching her glasses by the water.
Yorkie believes its all real; Kelly says its just a whole city for the dead.
Yorkie loves living there; Kelly doesnt want to stay.
She crashes and gets flung through the windshield but gets up, unhurt.
Yorkie finds her on the road and helps her up, but midnight arrives and Kelly disappears.
Back in reality, Kelly continues living out the rest of her days, now attached to a respirator.
We see her get worse and worse, until shes wheezing while sitting.
Okay, then, she finally says.
All things considered, I guess Im ready… for the rest of it.
The flashing lights indicate the thousands, maybe millions of minds populating places that serve as heavens on Earth.
On one labeled San Junipero, we see an arm insert Kellys drive.
Its difficult to describe, because the emotional stakes are high but introspective.
Its intimate, all about loving looks and longing glances and little moments.
Better yet, the hour doesnt forget to take a wider look at the world it inhabits.
San Junipero is a beautifully crafted puzzle box that opens doors to bigger questions.
What are other San Junipero-like destinations available in this system?
How do people choose?
What else is there to do?
What times can you explore?
If its a storage of memories, are they your memories combined with everyone elses?
Can you reach an era you never lived in?
If you could change your appearance at will, what else can you change?
