A-List Triple Threat: Cate Blanchett, Salma Hayek, and Annie Murphy Shine in Black Mirror’s Intriguing Episode 'Joan Unleashed'

The main character in the first episode of Black Mirror season 6 is not who she appears to be, leading to a series of bizarre occurrences and perplexing questions. "Joan Is Awful" features Annie Murphy from Schitt's Creek in the role of Joan, a woman who has a seemingly perfect life that no longer brings her joy. However, everything changes one night when she discovers that a streaming service has created a show called "Joan Is Awful," which unmistakably mirrors her life, but in a worse way. Overwhelmed by just one episode, Joan becomes determined to have the show taken down, regardless of the cost.

In typical Black Mirror style, "Joan Is Awful" presents an unlikely situation: a woman whose day-to-day life is being portrayed on television, with added technological twists and turns. For instance, in the TV series "Joan Is Awful" that Annie Murphy's character watches, Joan is portrayed by Salma Hayek, but in Hayek's reality, her Joan character is played by Cate Blanchett. It is later revealed that this never-ending scenario of multiple Joans with their lives on display offers little hope for escape. However, the original Joan may hold the key to changing their fate.

Who Plays The Real Source Joan In Black Mirror Season 6

In "Joan Is Awful," Kayla Lorette portrays Joan, a character initially believed to be the original source Joan throughout the episode. However, it is later revealed by Michael Cera's character Beppe that Murphy's Joan is actually Fictive Level One, the first iteration of Joan based on the source. This revelation sheds light on how the actions of source Joan impact Murphy's Joan, highlighting their shared trajectory.

Towards the end of "Joan Is Awful," Lorette's source Joan finally takes center stage. After Murphy's Joan destroys the quantum computer, the Joan continuum is dismantled, leaving only Lorette's source Joan and Annie Murphy as herself in the place of Salma Hayek. Lorette's Joan is then shown returning to therapy and fulfilling her dream of opening her own coffee shop, all while wearing a house arrest cuff on her ankle. The bond between Lorette's Joan and Murphy's Joan is also emphasized, as they are now connected through the Joan continuum.

How Joan Is Awful's AI TV Shows Work

Streamberry has the remarkable ability to capture every moment of Murphy's Joan's life, leaving her bewildered and eager to uncover the truth behind this eerie phenomenon. Joan's curiosity is piqued as she grapples with the mysterious knowledge possessed by the streaming service, particularly in regards to how they manage to swiftly enlist Salma Hayek to portray her experiences on-screen. It is during a conversation with her lawyer that Joan eventually discovers the astonishing reality - her life is being meticulously recorded and subsequently reconstructed in a fully digital format, all thanks to the utilization of cellphones, CGI, and various other technological advancements.

In essence, Streamberry gains access to Joan's life through the multitude of devices that surround her. Her lawyer elucidates this concept by drawing a parallel to the way individuals may discuss a particular product near their phone, only to later encounter targeted advertisements for that very same product on their mobile devices and computers. By observing and attentively listening to Joan through her own personal devices, as well as those of others, including phones, tablets, and computers, Streamberry effectively becomes an omnipresent witness to her existence. Consequently, rather than resorting to the employment of Salma Hayek herself, Streamberry artfully employs cutting-edge CGI to recreate each and every scene of Joan's life, seamlessly superimposing the esteemed actress into the digital reenactments.

Joan Is Awful's Fictive Levels & Celebrity Casts Explained (Is There An Infinite Number?)

In "Joan Is Awful," it is revealed that there is a lineage of Joans derived from the original source. While Kayla Lorette's portrayal of Joan was the first, Annie Murphy, Salma Hayek, and Cate Blanchett all played TV versions of Joan. Michael Cera's character, Beppe, refers to these subsequent Joans as "Fictive Levels." Therefore, Murphy represents Fictive Level One, Hayek represents Fictive Level Two, and so on. This implies that the existence of the Joan continuum could potentially be infinite, with each level introducing a new TV Joan, including Cate Blanchett's portrayal.

Furthermore, it is not just the Joans who have TV counterparts. Joan's boyfriend Krish, her ex-boyfriend Mac, her lawyer, and her therapist all have their own TV versions. In Annie Murphy's reality, Avi Nash plays Krish, while in Hayek's reality, Himesh Patel takes on the role. Murphy's Mac is portrayed by Rob Delaney, whereas Hayek's Mac is played by Ben Barnes. These distinct castings suggest that Krish, Mac, and the other recurring characters may also have Fictive Levels that extend beyond Cate Blanchett's Joan.

Black Mirror's "Quamputer" Explained

Although Javadi's argument may appear alarming, it lacks realism. While the destruction of the quamputer would indeed eliminate countless realities, it is important to note that these individuals and their lives are merely duplicates. The Joan continuum does not generate new life forms; rather, it overlays a fresh reality onto the existing one. Consequently, when Joan dismantles the quamputer, she effectively restores everyone to their original timeline. In essence, there is no loss of life, but rather an termination of the oppressive Joan continuum and a restoration of normalcy.

Cate Blanchett's Joan Creates Several More Mind-Bending Questions

"Joan Is Awful" presents viewers with multiple versions of Joan, with the Cate Blanchett version being particularly intriguing. Despite not making an actual appearance in the episode, Blanchett's portrayal of Joan on TV leaves audiences wondering about the nature of her show and the reality she inhabits. This raises the question of who Blanchett's TV Joan really is. If "Joan Is Awful" had started with Blanchett instead of Murphy, how would the episode have played out and what would audiences have seen?

Overall, "Joan Is Awful" stands out in the Black Mirror series due to its distinctive concept and the thought-provoking questions it poses. Although the Joan continuum is clearly detrimental, there is an undeniable curiosity about the extent of the Joans' impact and the actors who portrayed them. It is possible that future references to "Joan Is Awful" in subsequent seasons of Black Mirror may provide answers to these lingering questions. Regardless, the episode has been well-received within the Black Mirror fandom and effectively captures the unsettling and idiosyncratic essence of the series.