[tptacek]

There was a trailer a few years back with a bunch of 20-something white gamer dudes in some kind of dystopian future gamer den playing a CoD style shooter, which was in reality --- well, the same plot twist as "Men Against Fire". I thought (a) the trailer was much more evocative than the Man Against Fire episode, and (b) that it was possible that "Man Against Fire" borrowed its idea from that trailer.

Later

Found it! Uncanny Valley:

https://vimeo.com/147365861

I think this is both more plausible and more disturbing than "Men Against Fire". Also: the twist is less apparent --- for most of "Uncanny Valley" (if I'm remembering it clearly), you're not entirely sure whether it's a comment about how games generate dissipation the same way drugs do. "Men Against Fire" is predictable from about minute 10 (after the farm house scene).

Another "Black Mirror" problem I have: the episodes are way too long. "San Junipero" is the only one --- of all the seasons, I think! --- that earned its running length.

[pluma]

Both UV and the BM episode strongly reminded me of an Outer Limits (I think?) episode about a perpetual war between humans and aliens in some underground cave. The reveal is pretty similar to that in Men Against Fire, except the justification is different.

[tempestn]

Haven't seen either of these yet, but the way you're describing them it sounds very reminiscent of Ender's Game too.

[krabpaaltje]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearts_and_Minds_(The_Outer_Li...

[pluma]

Yes, that's the one. Thanks for looking that up.

[nickpsecurity]

Still haven't watched Black Mirror yet. The Uncanny Valley thing was really good. I think it's a plausible scenario at some point with it likely being UAV's first given they have less detail to begin with. Reminds me of a particular scene in Enders Game that ended up being my favorite since it was all around awesome. Wonder if that was the inspiration.

[ddorian43]

I thought he was gonna turn into them District-9 style.

[tedunangst]

Then again, if episodes were 10 minutes each, I'm not sure I could handle watching for an hour. One story per "time slot" feels about right.