Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror is back with its seventh season, and it’s arriving at just the right time. With tech evolving faster than most of us can track, and politics equally unpredictable, the show's unsettling scenarios feel less like fiction and more like tomorrow’s headlines.
Since it first aired in 2011when Siri was still a novelty and the iPhone 4S had just hit shelve, Black Mirror has explored everything from mind-reading gadgets to robot bees. Fast forward to today, and we’ve got AI assistants embedded in our chats and smartwatches tracking every heartbeat. Naturally, this rapid pace keeps giving Brooker fresh ground to explore.
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Speaking to the BBC, Brooker says he has no plans to stop. “New tech keeps showing up, and people are already familiar with the ideas. You don’t have to spell it all out, they’re living with it,” he says. And with every leap in tech, there's new material. “It’s a fun job. I could do it forever.”
This season includes an episode called Hotel Reverie, where Emma Corrin and Issa Rae play celebrities remaking a classic film with a sinister edge. Corrin, who plays a glamorous 1940s star, says slipping into the vintage role was both fun and bizarre. But the story touches on real concerns: the creeping presence of AI in creative fields. “It’s scary,” Corrin admits. “As an artist, you want to believe the human part of creativity won’t be replaced.”
The creator behind the hit dystopian series says he’s nowhere near running out of disturbing ideasGetty Images
Brooker agrees, noting AI can be helpful, but only if it supports rather than replaces the people behind the work. “The moment you take the human out, or start copying their work without paying them, that’s the line.”
Another highlight this season is Plaything, a return to the world of the interactive Bandersnatch. Will Poulter and Asim Chaudhry reprise their roles, joined by Lewis Gribben, who plays a loner obsessed with an old video game. Peter Capaldi also makes a haunting appearance as an older version of his character.
Despite the dark themes, Brooker is upbeat. As long as the world keeps spiralling into new tech territory, he’ll have more to write about. And judging by the buzz, audiences aren’t ready to look away just yet.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.