Joan Is Awful – The episode opens with Joan Tait (Annie Murphy) waking to her phone alarm clock. After a quick tooth brushing and off to the kitchen where Krish (Avi Nash) serves her meal. All phone messages and calls are put on hold for now. As she backs out of the driveway, Mike (Steen Raskopoulos) greets her with a wave.
At Work – Eric (Jared Goldstein) informs Joan that Sandy (Ayo Edebiri) is waiting for their meeting. None too pleased, she requests a few minutes to prep when an incoming call notification gets her attention. Mac (Rob Delaney) admits to missing her terribly before requesting a get-together while he is in town. A short time later, Joan tells Sandy that she is terminated. Sandy’s pleas to keep her job fall on deaf ears as Eric arrives with Security Guard Brutus (Luke Beattie). On the balcony, Joan struggles to reply to Mac. Below, Brutus escorts a belligerent Sandy out of the building.
Therapist Office – Joan claims to dream about owning a coffee shop. Dr. Atkinson (Laurel Lefkow) asks how her job is going. Joan describes her position as an intermediary between the employees and “the board.” She tells her that she oftentimes finds herself going through the motions. She admits her private life isn’t any better before calling her fiancé, Krish “bland.” She wanted so much more about her and Mac’s failed relationship. She says their relationship with tumultuous but the sex was passionate and exciting.
Bar – Mac comments on her new hairstyle. She admits to fearing it was too much. He says they enhance her sex appeal. When he reaches over to touch her hair, she pulls back. Feeling rejected, he reminds her that she agreed to meet him. He suggests rekindling their relationship before inviting her to relocate to San Jose. He points out that her employer has a branch there. She tells him that she and Krish are getting married. She doesn’t trust him after he broke her heart. His pleas lead to a brief kiss before realizing it was a mistake. As she heads out the door, he tells her that he is staying at his usual place.
Joan And Krish’s House – After a quick kiss, Krish tells her that he prepared a delectable feast. Seconds later, a spread of “bland” dishes set in front of her. They pull up a streaming service called “Streamberry” on their laptop. Selecting “Joan Is Awful,” an indistinguishable TV Joan (Salma Hayek) pops up on the screen. He points out TV Joan’s blonde streaks are the same as hers. She secretively sends a text message. Along with Krish and Joan, Eric and his boyfriend, and Sandy and her friend (Ellen Robertson) are alerted of the “Joan Is Awful” series. Mac even gets an alert about the new series. They all pick up on the startling resemblance to Joan they know and can’t help but tune in.
Joan watches TV Joan arrive at her workplace. Anxious, she accuses Krish of pranking her. Eric and Joan simultaneously watch TV Joan and TV Eric (Jaboukie Young-White) interact in her office. Unlike her who is on the verge of hyperventilating, he is more concerned about his TV clone. Sandy watches TV Joan fire TV Sandy (Camirin Farmer). Joan voices concern about how the series will impact her reputation. The next scene reveals Joan’s text message to Mac. Krish demands to know if Mac has been texting her. When TV Joan admits to still having feelings for Mac, he rushes out of the room. Mac watches TV Joan and TV Mac’s meeting at the bar. Joan’s pleas for Krish to not leave fall on deaf ears. Seconds later, she watches TV Krish (Himesh Pete) demand to see TV Joan’s phone. An incoming call from Mac urges her to smash the phone into a wall. The series morning plays out like real life, minus Krish and breakfast. When TV Joan backs out of the driveway, Mike says, “Shame on you!”
At Work – Joan gets stern looks from her co-workers. Eric warns her that their colleagues watched the series. When she tells him that Krish left, she notices Brutus stationed outside her office door. He says she is terminated for violating the “NDA” when she terminated Sandy. Moments later Brutus is escorting her out just as he did Sandy the prior day.
Lawyer’s Office – The attorney (Lolly Adefope) tells Joan that “Streamberry” didn’t violate her rights by airing the series. She points out that the company is utilizing her name and professional and private life. He says the details were in the User Agreement that she voluntarily signed. She asks if it is possible to sue TV Joan. He says TV Joan is a Streamberry CGI image of her. The attorney consultation resolves nothing.
Hotel Suite – Joan breaks down in Mac’s arms. It doesn’t take long before they get intimate. He blames his inability to get an erection on their publicity. He admits to not being interested in being on TV. As she races out of the room, he reminds her of how he always told her to thoroughly read the “terms and conditions.” Streamberry reveals her attorney consultation.
Joan’s House – Utilizing red lipstick, Joan draws a penis on her forehead before attending a wedding. The priest (Anthony Wise) asks if anyone doesn’t want the couple to marry. She intrudes by defecating in the aisle. Mass hysteria leads to her arrest.
Police Station – Joan gets her mug shot dressed in a cheerleader uniform. She asks the cop (Alex Magliaro) if he is familiar with “Joan Is Awful.” He tells her that he has been wanting to watch it. Another cop (Mujde Ipek) informs her of her attorney’s arrival. Bail is posted and she is free to leave.
Gainsborough’s Office – Salma tells Gainsborough (Rich Fulcher) that she is a Roman Catholic. She voices concern about playing a character that defecates in a church. She asks if they can delete the scene. He says legally nothing can be done. She accuses him of betraying her. He tells her that there are no grounds for a lawsuit. She fires him before leaving.
Joan’s House – Salma confronts Joan about the defecation act. Shocked at the deplorable mess in the living room, she demands to know why she is so disgusting. She accuses her of degrading her reputation and the “House of the Lord.” Joan blames the series for the loss of her job and fiancé. She admits the defecation scene was an effort to get Salma to demand Streamberry shut down “Joan Is Awful.” After claims the company duped her into taking the role and her pay is only a smidgen of George Clooney’s. Pointing to Mona Javadi’s (Leila Farzad) photo in the newspaper, she says they should be angry at her. Joan discovers Mona is the CEO of Streamberry. She suggests they take down the server just outside Mona’s office. She assures her being an A-list actress puts her on the top floor of the office building without question.
Streamberry Headquarters – Salma tells the receptionist (Tessa Wong) that she has a meeting with Mona. Barely giving her time to verify the appointment, she asks to utilize the facilities. The receptionist asks the guard to permit Salma to pass to the restroom. Leaving her purse with the receptionist, Salma makes her way to the top floor. During an interview with Fatima Klass (Daniele Vitalis), Mona boasts about what a success the new series has been. Lucy (Mary Beth Barone) says Salma requests a meeting downstairs. Mona orders her to have security deal with it. Salma gives Joan access through a side door. They make their way through the building until they are within eavesdropping distance of the interview. Mona tells Fatima that Streamberry’s “quamputer” supports the new series.
Mona says Joan being so normal is what enticed the company to make a series about her. She suggests people could relate to her. Joan finds the revelation disturbing. Fatima is shocked when she discovers there is an “Awful” series for every Streamberry subscriber. Mona says “Fatima Is Awful” will premiere Friday. Hanging on to every word, Salma and Joan are more adamant than ever to destroy the quamputer. When they enter the room without warning, Beppe (Michael Cera) spills his food over his shirt. He threatens to contact security. Salma, in turn, threatens to break his arm. Watching a Joan Is Awful scene, Joan notices the actress isn’t Salma. Beppe tells her that it is a “Joan Variant.” As confusing as this is, Joan is not the “original Joan.” Joan merely plays the part of someone else’s life.
Beppe asks how she think it’s possible for her to afford her magnificent house on her salary. He says her home is just for TV. Brandishing an axe, Salma assures them that she isn’t playing herself. Beppe claims Streamberry programmed her brain to believe. Knocking him out cold, Joan grabs his keycard and Salma’s axe. Preparing to bust up the computer, she realizes that her existence depends on the quamputer. Salma informs her that destroying the quamputer will have no impact on her existence. Once the computer is annihilated, the variant actors return to their sources. Salma’s TV Joan becomes Annie Murphy whose Joan variant becomes Kayla Lorette. Kayla is led out in handcuffs as the episode ends.
Black Mirror Review
WOW! Very, very trippy episode, right on par with what you would expect from a Black Mirror episode. That being said, there were also a lot of startling new interlopers. For one the crude humor just didn’t do it for me. I understood the need for Variant Joan to do something as drastic as taking a dump in a church, but it was played a bit crudely. The anus jokes and the references that kept following the event only made it all that much worse. Black Mirror Always seemed more serious.
The episode would have been just as good, maybe even better, without all that. The plot is intriguing, for that, I would have to give the series a 6 out of 10.
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