Hated in the Nation

"Hated in the Nation" is the sixth and final episode in the third series of the British science fiction anthology series Black Mirror. Written by series creator and showrunner Charlie Brooker and directed by James Hawes, it premiered on Netflix on 21 October 2016, along with the rest of series three. It is the longest episode of Black Mirror, at 89 minutes. A Nordic noir-inspired episode, "Hated in the Nation" follows Detectives Karin Parke (Kelly Macdonald) and Blue Coulson (Faye Marsay) as they investigate a spate of deaths targeting the subjects of social media hatred, at the hands of Autonomous Drone Insects (ADIs) that have been deployed to combat environmental catastrophe as bees near extinction. It was filmed largely in London. Informed by Brooker's experience of receiving hate mail after writing a 2004 Guardian column that disparaged George W. Bush, the episode drew comparison to The X-Files and explored themes including government surveillance and environmentalism. Across mostly positive reviews, critics praised the acting but gave mixed comments on the story and episode's length. It received middling rankings on Black Mirror instalments by quality. Plot Before a public inquiry, London Detective Chief Inspector Karin Parke (Kelly Macdonald) explains her role investigating the death of Jo Powers (Elizabeth Berrington), a controversial far-right journalist found dead after writing a widely condemned column that derided a self-immolating disability rights activist. Parke works with Trainee Detective Constable Blue Coulson (Faye Marsay) and Nick Shelton (Joe Armstrong). Powers' hospitalised husband claims that she cut her own throat with a wine bottle. Parke and Coulson talk to a primary school teacher who sent Powers a cake with "fucking bitch" iced on it. She tweeted "#DeathTo @JoPowersWriter", but denies violent intent.