Scottish comedian Fern Brady throws accents in Black Mirror’s Loch Henry episode
An episode of the new series Black Mirror set in the Scottish Highlands has attracted ridicule for its ‘cringe’ accents.
Loch Henry, the second episode of Charlie Brooker’s sixth season of Black Mirror, released this week on Netflix, follows a couple – half Scottish, half American – as they film a wildlife documentary in the Highlands.
However, viewers admitted that they were more disturbed by the dodgy non-native accents than by the dystopian storylines.
In a tweet that has been viewed more than 500,000 times, Scottish comedian Fern Brady led the criticism, writing on Twitter: “I’m 1 minute into the Scottish Black Mirror and already had to pause to cringe at the accents, why can’t we normal on tv? Why can’t we be played by real Scots?’
The episode’s protagonist, English actor Samuel Blenkin, plays filmmaker Davis McCardle, while his mother Janet Mcardle is played by Monica Dolan, also English.
In Loch Henry, episode two of the new Black Mirror series, English actor Samuel Blenkin tries to use a Highlands accent – for which he made short work of some viewers (Pictured: Samuel Blenkin plays filmmaker Davis McCardle. Right: Myha’ la Herrold as Pia)
Other viewers criticized the show for casting English actors, including Monica Dolan as Janet McCardle
Other Scots chimed in to say they felt the same way and scoffed at the casting – one wrote “The “Highland” accents in the Scottish episode of Black Mirror” and added a face-slap emoji.
Another added: ‘What are the accents in Black Mirror’s Loch Henry? Certainly not Scottish. Please let real Scots play Scottish characters.’
Others felt that the script also played on Scottish stereotypes.
One wrote: ‘Black Mirror Episode 2. They really worked with a Scottish stereotype lol..They continue with these stereotypes and that’s how people think we only have one accent or we can’t say a sentence without swearing.’
Another added: “It’s hard not to like the vibe of a pretty but distinctly troubled Scottish village in one of the new Black Mirror episodes, but (and funny as it was at times) the swearing Scottish stereotype needs a rest for a while. ‘
Viewers rushed to watch the episodes when they were released on Thursday and already started taking to Twitter to share their thoughts – with Brooker’s latest effort receiving critical acclaim from fans.
One person wrote, “The new season of #BlackMirror is a big step up from season five. Three of the five new episodes are the best of the best.’
Praise: Viewers rushed to watch the show when it released Thursday and have already started taking to Twitter to share their thoughts
“Many have abrupt changes of tone and sinuous endings that require you to pay the utmost attention. A little goofy, a little scary and very thought-provoking.”
Another agreed, writing, “#BlackMirror is back! Demon 79 is one of my all-time favorites, Loch Henry is a brilliant twisty take on true crime, and Joan Is Awful is wild in the best way.”
Loch Henry was chosen because it has the ‘biggest twist’, which has become one of Black Mirror’s most defining features.
One viewer said: ‘Haven’t stopped thinking about Loch Henry. The episode has the biggest twist of the season and there’s no way to describe it without waving your arms and screaming “this is so f****d up!”
While another echoed: ‘loch henry was disturbing as F***…it goes in my top five episodes like???’
However, they added, “Beyond the Sea doesn’t reach its full potential and Mazey Day may be the worst episode ever?”
The first episode of the sixth series, Joan Is Awful, garnered the most attention, with fans calling it both a ‘complete mind f***’ and ‘hilarious’, while praising the performances of the cast.
It stars Annie Murphy as an average woman who discovers her life has turned into a Netflix-style TV show with Salma Hayek playing her.
It’s back! Black Mirror is back for a sixth season on Netflix and fans are already praising the anthology series as ‘a big step up from season five’
Popular: The dystopian but often dark comedy series takes a scathing look at modern society and alternate realities often linked to the overuse of technology
Dark comedy: The first episode of the sixth series, Joan Is Awful, garnered the most attention, with fans calling it both a ‘complete mind f***’ and ‘hilarious’, while praising the performances of the cast
Shocking: Loch Henry was singled out with the ‘biggest twist’, which has become one of Black Mirror’s most defining features
Sad: Beyond The Sea stars Aaron Paul and Josh Hartnett as astronauts on a mission into space and was hailed as ‘tragic’
Beyond The Sea stars Aaron Paul and Josh Hartnett as astronauts on a mission into space and was labeled “tragic.”
One fan commented, “Beyond the Sea is an 80-minute movie about a long space mission in an alternate 1969. An extremely useful tool for a crew isolated millions of miles away goes to cause tragedy. It’s creepy. It’s tragic. It is pathetic. It’s Black Mirror.’
Zazie Beetz stars in Mazey Day, which tells the story of a troubled starlet who is pursued by pushy paparazzi and divides viewers.
Polarizing: Zazie Beetz stars in Mazey Day, which tells the story of a troubled starlet who is pursued by pushy paparazzi and divides viewers
Scary: Although Demon 79 has been billed as the scariest episode, one person called it a “full-fledged horror”
One viewer voiced his opinion, writing, “I’m not really sure what to think of “Mazey Day” as a Black Mirror entry, it has something interesting to say about our obsession with looking into the broken private lives of struggling stars, but has one of the most unexpected twists yet, will be very polarizing!’
Although Demon 79 has been billed as the scariest installment, one person called it a “full-fledged horror.”
They wrote: ‘Aone interesting full-fledged horror story that will eventually drive you crazy.
“Despite being a strong episode, it feels so out of place given the theme. It could rather be a perfect episode in American Horror Story.”