The sci-fi anthology series Black Mirror, created by Charlie Brooker, featured Jodie Foster’s directorial contribution in season 4, episode 2, “Arkangel” accompanied by backlash for its controversial contents. It goes beyond the concept of overbearing parenting to crossing a line into absolute control over a child’s personal and physiological decision making. The episode follows a single mother named Marie (Rosemarie DeWitt) who implants her daughter, Sara, with the Arkangel monitoring system. Beyond helicopter parenting, Brooker and Foster’s collaborative handling of the subject matter resulted in “Arkangel” becoming one of the series’ most controversial to date.
The technology allows for her to see through Sara’s eyes and dictate what she can and cannot see. Marie is also able to see her daughter’s health stats as well as set blocking restrictions similar to season 2, episode 4, “White Christmas”. Eventually, doctors and physicians collectively ban the device, but it remains implanted in Sara. Despite choosing not to use the Arkangel, as Sara becomes distrustful as a teenager, Marie uses it to monitor her once more. She discovers that her daughter is doing drugs and having sex with a young man named Trick, played by Owen Teague (IT: Chapter One).
As it progresses, the Arkangel system alerts Marie that Sara has become pregnant. She decides to sneak an emergency contraceptive pill into her drink when her daughter wakes up in the morning for breakfast. At school that day, Sara gets sick and goes to the nurse’s office where she is informed that it is the result of the contraceptive that is used for “terminating your pregnancy”. Audience members immediately took to social media to discuss the issues with the series’ statement that this is the purpose of using emergency contraceptives.
The Controversy Of Misinformation In “Arkangel”
Emergency contraceptives such as Plan-B are used to stop a pregnancy from happening. When taken less than 72-hours after sex, it prevents the fertilization of an egg. It is in no way capable of causing a miscarriage or terminating a pregnancy. For over 50 years, reproductive health pertaining to abortion, emergency contraceptives, and birth control have been attacked with proposed legislature aimed at restricting access or removing the options all together. By stating that an emergency contraceptive was used to terminate Sara’s pregnancy, “Arkangel” spread misinformation about its true purpose and further stigmatized its use.When it premiered, reproductive rights organizations critiqued its gross conflation with abortion and emergency contraception. One of the biggest issues brought up by audience members was the fact that Jodie Foster, a woman, played a hand in this particular episode and must take responsibility for allowing the misinformation to be present. While fans were initially overjoyed by the news that the iconic Jodie Foster was involved in a Black Mirror episode, they were let down by the lack of research and thought put into the use of emergency contraception which created the controversy that now surrounds “Arkangel”.
Ultimately, no statement was ever made by Netflix, Chris Carter, or Jodie Foster on the controversial episode. While Black Mirror is known to revisit technology featured in previous episodes, it is safe to say that they may stay away from “Arkangel” for quite some time.
News
Could Rose Have Saved Jack in Titanic? Resurfaced TikTok of Kate Winslet Reignites the Debate
Kate Winslet in September 2024 and in ‘Titanic’ in 1997. Photo: Kayla Oaddams/FilmMagic;Shutterstock Kate Winslet fully agrees with the many Titanic fans who have noted that Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) definitely could have fit on that floating piece of debris at the end of the Academy…
Hailey Bieber smiles on date night with husband Justin Bieber a month after giving birth… as they’re seen together for the first time since Diddy’s arrest
Hailey Bieber showed off her new mom glow while stepping out on a date night with husband Justin Bieber at Nobu Malibu on Tuesday night. The model, 27 — who gave birth to their first child, son Jack Blues, at the end of August —…
Justin Bieber’s tearful interview about wanting to ‘protect’ Billie Eilish from music industry resurfaces after Diddy’s arrest
Justin Bieber‘s tearful interview in which he discussed shielding Billie Eilish from the music industry has resurfaced amid Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs’ arrest. The hitmaker, 30, has been in the industry since he was just 15 and over the years has battled mental health problems…
How stars called out P Diddy’s ‘vile crimes’ – from Eminem’s ‘raper’ lyric to Usher’s claims of ‘wild orgies’ at 13
HE’S facing charges over two decades of alleged sexual abuse and rape but it seems P Diddy’s crimes were known by fellow musicians long before he was arrested. Using coded song lyrics, Eminem and other artists have spoken out about the sinister…
Justin Bieber sparks concern for his health as he breaks cover looking ‘thin’ amid Diddy scandal in first sighting since shock indictment
Justin Bieber sparked concern for his health on Monday as he broke cover for the first time since Diddy was indicted on sex trafficking charges last week. Baby hitmaker Bieber’s formerly close bond with disgraced Diddy has fallen under intense speculation…
Odell Beckham Jr Partying With Justin Bieber Made Skip Bayless Absolutely Furious
Over the years, Odell Beckham Jr. seems to have made tremendous progress – both with his latest injury as well as his on-field performance as the wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins of the NFL. If anything, he has come…
End of content
No more pages to load