Wednesday, January 23, 2013

The Sixteen Millimeter Shrine

This week we get an episode much different than the first three. It doesn't have to do with science fictional concepts or philosophical problems like death and fate. Rather, episode 4 is about the human mind and an unwillingness to move forward.

Barbara Dean Trenton is an aging actress who spends most of her time secluded away reliving her life through the films she made 15 or 20 years ago. Throughout this episode Barbara is confronted with the reality of present day in the form of the sunlight bursting through the windows and old enemies and friends. But she refuses to accept any of it. Consciously and loudly, Barbara decides to seclude herself and to live in the past. I think this is part of the problem with the episode. Barbara tells us that she refuses to recognize reality and it seems too melodramatic and unreasonable. Unconsciously slipping into the past is one thing. Making an effort to do so seems like another.

I think that this is our first truly depressing and unhappy ending. There is a little bit about how Barbara will be happier living in her fantasy world. But do we believe that? Is it really better to take the blue pill? Is she even in this fantasy world or is she just lost even more deeply in her mind?

So, while there were some interesting things going on in this episode, it isn't going to be a memorable one for me. It's a bit tedious and overdone.

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