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The Finale (Will & Grace)
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"The Finale"
Will & Grace episode
Promotional poster for "The Finale", showing the main cast bowing.
Episode no.
Season 8
Episode 23
Directed by
James Burrows
Written by
David Kohan
Max Mutchnick
Original air date
May 18, 2006
Guest appearance(s)
Kevin Bacon as himself
Harry Connick, Jr. as Leo
Leslie Jordan as Beverley Leslie
Bobby Cannavale as Vince
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Whatever Happened to Baby Gin?" Next →
"11 Years Later"
Will & Grace (season 8)
List of Will & Grace episodes
"The Finale" is the twenty-third episode of American television series Will & Grace's eighth season, which originally served as the series finale prior to the announcement of a 16-episode ninth season revival slated for the 2017–18 TV season. It originally aired on the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) in the United States on May 18, 2006, when it was watched by an average of eighteen million viewers, making it the most watched episode of the final two seasons of Will & Grace. In the finale, Will and Grace have a falling-out that lasts for years. They each have a child with their respective partners, and eventually reconcile when their children (Laila and Ben) meet at college. Meanwhile, Karen's arch-enemy Beverley Leslie makes an offer to Jack which ultimately leads to Jack inheriting Beverley's fortune.
The episode was written by series creators and executive producers David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, and directed by James Burrows. Filming took place at CBS Studio Center in Studio City, California in April 2006. The cast members took the news about the show ending well, but they became emotional as the final scene was being filmed. NBC heavily promoted the finale, and the main cast members appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Today Show to bid farewell. An hour-long series retrospective, "Say Goodnight Gracie", featuring interviews with the cast, crew, and guest stars, preceded the hour-long series finale. Since airing, the finale has received mixed reviews from television critics.
Contents
[hide]
1 Plot
2 Production
3 Broadcast and reception
4 References
5 External links
Plot[edit]
Grace Adler (Debra Messing), heavily pregnant, is having bizarre dreams of the future in which she and her gay friend and roommate Will Truman (Eric McCormack) are an old couple raising their child. In her dream, Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes) is married to actor Kevin Bacon, and Karen Walker (Megan Mullally)—who has not aged (her explanation: "Money")—is now in a relationship with her maid Rosario Salazar (Shelley Morrison). In Grace's real life, however, her relationship with Will is complicated. Grace is not sure if she wants to spend the rest of her life living with Will. When her ex-husband Marvin "Leo" Markus (Harry Connick, Jr.) shows up and proposes to her—unaware she is pregnant with his child—she immediately accepts. Will feels betrayed, and stops speaking to her.
Two years later, Grace moves with Leo to Rome and lives there for a year. They then move back to New York City, where they raise their daughter, Laila. Will and Vince D'Angelo (Bobby Cannavale) have since reconciled, and are raising a son, Ben. Karen and Jack grow tired of the fact that Will and Grace are not speaking with each other, so they lure them to the same place and force them to make up. The four meet at Will and Vince's apartment, and even though Will and Grace have a pleasant evening together, they find that too much has changed between them, and drift apart.
Meanwhile, Karen finalizes her divorce from Stan, but soon finds out that all his money was borrowed and that she will be left with nothing. When learning that Beverley Leslie (Leslie Jordan) and his "business associate" Benji (Brian A. Setzer) have broken up, Karen plots to have Jack take Benji's place, after Jack confesses that Beverly offered to share his entire fortune with him. When Beverly dies after being blown off a balcony from high winds, Jack inherits all of his money.
Around twenty years later, Laila meets Ben as they both move into college. Will and Grace are reunited while helping their children move into their dorm rooms, and rekindle their friendship. Laila and Ben eventually marry. Jack and Karen, meanwhile, are now living comfortably with each other and Rosario. While everyone else is older, Karen—just like in Grace's dream—has not aged due to extensive plastic surgery, and she and Jack perform a duet of the song "Unforgettable". The show ends with Will and Grace watching ER together, reminiscing and discussing the marriage of their respective children. Feeling uplifted, the four friends gather at a bar to toast to their friendship, which then flashes back to the four as their younger selves.
Production[edit]
Will & Grace creators and executive producers David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, who had not served as writers since the season four season finale, wrote the script for the series finale. Regarding the finale, Mutchnick stated: "We wrote about what you want to have happen with people you love. I think Will and Grace end up very fleshed out. They end up as full adults. All the things that matter in life, they end up having."[1] Three years before the series finale was created, Mutchnick was asked on his opinion regarding how he would like to see the character's story come to a conclusion, "The truth is that [Will and Grace] serve each other's dysfunction. And the best way for their story to end is to find love."[2]
Debra Messing, who plays Grace, thought Will & Grace fans would be satisfied with the finale.
The episode was shot in Studio City, California on Stage 17 at CBS Studio Center.[3] It was filmed on April 10, 11, and 13, 2006.[3] The make-up effects used in Grace's dream and the scenes fifteen years into the future were done by Academy Award-winning make-up artists.[3] Kohan and Mutchnick joined long-time director James Burrows on the set as filming began. The cast and crew tried to remain cheerful in front of the live audience between takes while the writers gathered in a room to rework lines for potentially larger laughs.[1] However, "there were a lot of snotty, tearful faces all around the set. When we got to the very, very last scene, everybody was just a mess. We started sobbing and hugging each other," said Megan Mullally, who plays Karen.[4] Eric McCormack, who portrays Will, commented that his saddest moment was "the last time I stood in Will's kitchen. That was the most colorful position for me, standing there and stirring something. It was my pulpit, the place where I delivered my best jokes."[4]
The set was already being broken down the day after filming finished. Debra Messing, who plays Grace, said it was "cordoned off like an accident scene. It was a shock to see parts of it gone already."[4] Each cast member was allowed to keep their favorite souvenir from the set. Messing took the door to Grace's office; she wanted to lean it up against the wall at her house as a piece of modern art. Sean Hayes was given a couple of pieces from Will's apartment: "There's a leather box that was on Will’s desk that I want to find a place for."[4] Mullally chose a simple portrait from one of the walls, and McCormack took a small ceramic dog, though he said he would have taken everything if he could.[4]
The cast members of the show took the news about the show ending well. Hayes said: "I'm proud of being a part of something in history and I'm proud to have been given a platform to make people laugh."[5] McCormack added, "We have never taken ourselves or this show too seriously but now that it's over I take our collective achievement very, very seriously."[5] The actors were satisfied with the episode and thought the viewers would find it satisfying as well. "It's daring and ambitious and more far-reaching than most finales go. I think people will be quite surprised," McCormack said.[6] Messing added: "I think Will & Grace fans will be satisfied. Ultimately, [the episode] was done beautifully and it ties up loose ends for all of the characters in a way that's wonderful."[6]
Broadcast and reception[edit]
Eric McCormack and the rest of the main cast members appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Today Show to bid farewell.
The series finale was heavily promoted by NBC, and the main cast members appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, and Live with Regis and Kelly to bid farewell.[7] NBC devoted a two-hour block in its primetime schedule on May 18, 2006, for the Will & Grace send-off. An hour-long series retrospective, "Say Goodnight Gracie", featuring interviews with the cast, crew, and guest stars, preceded the hour-long series finale.[8][9][10][11] The retrospective was viewed by an estimated 12.7 million viewers,[12] while the finale drew 18.43 million viewers[13] and a Nielsen rating of 11.5/18,[14] making it the most watched episode of the final two seasons of Will & Grace.[13]
Since airing, the episode has received mixed reviews from television critics. Richard Keller of TV Squad thought the finale's theme of Will and Grace's connection to each other was well-presented by director James Burrows. Keller added, "While not as satisfying as, say, the Friends finale or as crushing as the Seinfeld finale, the series finale to Will & Grace did have its moments and came back to the original concept of friendship among a close group of people. There were some moments where I did laugh out loud, but they were few."[15] CHUD.com's David Oliver praised the finale for not having characters "go on wild tangents that betray who they were during the entirety of the show's run."[16] He also commented that Messing and McCormack are "affecting in their performances" and the episode "nicely summarizes [Will and Grace's] friendship over the course of the entire show."[16]
Setting the finale in several different time periods was criticized by some critics. Jennifer Armstrong of Entertainment Weekly said "we endure a swirl of confusing, unnecessary sequences, from Grace's dream to current reality to two years later to their kids' first day of college to their kids' impending wedding. By the end, instead of being sad to bid adieu, we're just relieved not to have yet another disbelief-suspending flash-forward thrust upon us."[17] Jim Schembri of The Sydney Morning Herald wrote: "The time-jumping device is overused and a tad awkward but, by and large, it’s a noble finale to one of the better standard three-wall sitcoms from America."[18] Amy Amatangelo of Zap2it commented that Will & Grace "is a show that spent eight seasons predicated on the lasting friendship of Will and Grace, and we're supposed to believe that they spent over 20 years not talking to each other just because their lives went in different directions? That there is no way their friendship could have been sustained once they both found the love of their life?"[19] Amatangelo enjoyed Jack and Karen's performance of "Unforgettable", but the rest of the finale she "could have done without."[19]
References[edit]
^ Jump up to: a b Keveney, Bill (May 17, 2006). "NBC's 'Will' bows out gracefully". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
Jump up ^ Will & Grace: Season One – Interviews with the Creators (DVD). Lions Gate Entertainment. 2003.
^ Jump up to: a b c Will & Grace: Series Finale – The Final Bow: Curtain Call (DVD). Lions Gate Entertainment. 2006.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Will & Grace's Last Laugh". People. May 12, 2006. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
^ Jump up to: a b Bowes, Peter (May 19, 2006). "Will and Grace bid farewell". BBC News. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
^ Jump up to: a b Elber, Lynn (May 15, 2006). "TV odd couple Will & Grace take their final bow". The Standard. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
Jump up ^ Furman, Phyllis (May 1, 2006). "'Will & Grace' Opts For Quick DVD Finish". Daily News. Archived from the original on September 5, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
Jump up ^ Duffy, Mike (May 8, 2006). "Several old TV friends saying goodbye in coming weeks". The Seattle Times. p. E5. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
Jump up ^ Bark, Ed (May 14, 2006). "Four popular shows with staying power now bid adieu". The Dallas Morning News. p. 3. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
Jump up ^ Ostrow, Joanne (May 16, 2006). ""Will & Grace" shocked and charmed us. And it's amazing what the writers got away with". The Denver Post. p. F-01. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
Jump up ^ Huff, Richard (May 14, 2006). "'Will' Ends On A Grace Note". Daily News. Archived from the original on September 7, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
Jump up ^ Aurthur, Kate (May 20, 2006). "Arts, Briefly; The Twilight of 'Will & Grace'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
^ Jump up to: a b Kissell, Rick (May 21, 2006). "'Will' has its way in finale". Variety. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
Jump up ^ "'Will & Grace' Helps NBC Stay Tough on Thursday". Zap2it. May 19, 2006. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
Jump up ^ Keller, Richard (May 18, 2006). "Will & Grace: The Finale (series finale)". TV Squad. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
^ Jump up to: a b Oliver, David (June 24, 2006). "DVD Review: Will & Grace — Series Finale". CHUD.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
Jump up ^ Armstrong, Jennifer (May 26, 2006). "Will & Grace: Series Finale". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
Jump up ^ Schembri, Jim (February 1, 2007). "Will & Grace (finale)". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
^ Jump up to: a b Amatangelo, Amy (July 12, 2008). "TV Gal Is Conflicted by The CW". Zap2it. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
External links[edit]
"The Finale" at the Internet Movie Database
"The Finale" at TV.com
[hide]
v
t
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Will & Grace
Seasons
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Characters
Will Truman
Grace Adler
Jack McFarland
Karen Walker
Rosario Salazar
Supporting characters
Episodes
"Pilot"
"Grace, Replaced"
"Gypsies, Tramps and Weed"
"A Chorus Lie"
"Fagel Attraction"
"Marry Me a Little, Marry Me a Little More"
"Dolls and Dolls"
"Back Up, Dancer"
"Alive and Schticking"
"Buy, Buy Baby"
"The Finale"
"11 Years Later"
Related
Awards
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The Client List (TV series)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
The Client List
Created by
Suzanne Martin
Developed by
Jordan Budde
Starring
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Loretta Devine
Colin Egglesfield
Rebecca Field
Naturi Naughton
Alicia Lagano
Kathleen York
Brian Hallisay
Laura-Leigh
Cybill Shepherd
Composer(s)
Pieter A. Schlosser
David Baerwald
Evan Frankfort
Marc Dauer
Liz Phair
Country of origin
United States
Original language(s)
English
No. of seasons
2
No. of episodes
25 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Dannielle Thomas
Howard Braunstein
Michael Jaffe
AJ Rinella
Jordan Budde
John Tinker
John Strauss
Ed Decter
Efrem Seeger
Michael Reisz
Dannielle Thomas
Producer(s)
Barbara Nance
Cinematography
James Chressanthis
Nancy Schreiber
Editor(s)
David Crabtree
Geoffrey Rowland
Kaja Fehr
Regis Kimble
Pattye Rogers
Running time
41–43 minutes[1]
Production company(s)
Fedora Films
Jaffe-Braunstein Entertainment
Sony Pictures Television
ITV Studios America
Distributor
Sony Pictures Television
Release
Original network
Lifetime
Original release
April 8, 2012 (2012-04-08) – June 16, 2013 (2013-06-16)
External links
Website
The Client List is an American television drama series based on the 2010 television film of the same name, which aired on the Lifetime network.[2] The series stars Jennifer Love Hewitt, who starred in the film,[3] though she plays a different character in a premise that is slightly different from the film. The series premiered on Sunday, April 8, 2012.[4]
Lifetime ordered an initial 10 episodes for the first season[5] and on May 7, 2012, renewed the series for a second season of 15 episodes to air March 10, 2013.[6] On November 1, 2013, Lifetime cancelled the series after two seasons.[7][8]
Contents
1 Premise
2 Cast and characters
2.1 Main cast
2.2 Recurring cast
3 Production
3.1 Development
3.2 Filming and premiere
4 Episodes
4.1 Series overview
4.2 Season 1 (2012)
4.3 Season 2 (2013)
5 Controversy
6 Renewal delay and show cancellation
7 Ratings
8 Awards and nominations
9 References
10 External links
Premise[edit]
The series follows Riley Parks (Jennifer Love Hewitt), who, after her husband abandons her and their children, leaving her in financial debt, accepts work at a day spa in her small Texas town, but refuses when she learns that for some clients the masseuses provide more than massages. But pressed to support her children, she relents and earns extra money through unspecified erotic services. As she deals with her children, her mother, her friends, the girls at the spa, and various men who want to romance her, Riley tries to keep her work in an erotic limbo a secret.[9]
Cast and characters[edit]
Main cast[edit]
Jennifer Love Hewitt as Riley Parks (née Campbell), the main character whose husband leaves her during a financial crisis when they risk losing their house to foreclosure. Riley is hired at The Rub as a massage therapist and soon realizes the only way to make enough money to catch up financially is to give "extras" to some of the clients. Although hesitant at first, she soon accepts this as a way to save their house and provide for her family. She has a supportive brother-in-law, Evan, who is always looking after her children when she is out and is a close friend to her. Riley and Evan soon develop a relationship, which upsets Riley's husband, Kyle, when he returns later in the series. Riley's best friend Lacey tells her that Kyle planned on leaving her after Lacey finds out the truth about the job's extra services.
Cybill Shepherd as Lynette Montgomery,[10] Riley's mother who works at a hair salon and has been married many times. She tries to look out for Riley's and her grandchildren's best interests.
Loretta Devine as Georgia Cummings-Clemens,[11] the former owner of the massage parlor, The Rub, in Sugar Land.
Colin Egglesfield as Evan Parks,[12] Riley's brother-in-law, her husband's brother, who also harbors secret feelings for her.
Rebecca Field as Lacey Jean Locklin,[13] Riley's best friend since childhood who has discovered the truth about what Riley and most of the other massage therapists do and wants her to quit.
Alicia Lagano as Selena Ramos,[14] a masseuse at the parlor, who often offers "extra services" to her clients. Selena also recommended the masseuse job to Riley. She is shown to be jealous of Riley's relationship with Georgia, who gives her extra responsibilities at the shop, and later becomes her boss. She and Evan had a brief romance, but it did not last.
Brian Hallisay as Kyle Parks (recurring role, season 1; main role, season 2), Riley's husband and Evan's brother, who ran away from his family. He is arrested for stealing copper wire and wants Riley back. She hires a defense attorney for him solely because he is the father of her children.
Naturi Naughton as Kendra (season 1),[15] a hard-working masseuse at the parlor. Kendra quit The Rub along with Jolene in the beginning of the second season.
Kathleen York as Jolene (season 1),[16] another masseuse working at the parlor, who does not give "extras". She only gives "straight" massages. Jolene quit The Rub along with Kendra in the beginning of the second season.
Laura-Leigh as Nikki Shannon (season 2), the newly hired masseuse at The Rub.
Recurring cast[edit]
Tyler Champagne as Travis Parks, Kyle and Riley's son
Cassidy Guetersloh as Katie Parks, Kyle and Riley's daughter
Greg Grunberg as Dale Locklin, Lacey's husband
Elisabeth Röhm as Taylor Berkhalter,[17] a woman who continually competes with Riley and ends up buying the hair salon where Lynette and Lacey both work.
Bart Johnson as Beau Berkhalter, Taylor's husband, who later cheated on her.
Rob Mayes as Derek Malloy (season 2), a masseur working at the parlor, who has sexual relations with Selena.
T.V. Carpio as Shelby Prince (season 2), a fellow police officer who met Evan at the police academy, later becoming his girlfriend.
Michael Beach as Harold Clemens (season 2), Georgia's boyfriend and later husband.
Brian Howe as Judge Overton (season 2), one of the names on the client list, working on the inside with Riley.
Marco Sanchez as Graham Sandoval (season 2), Kyle's attorney.
Johnathon Schaech as Greg Carlyle (season 2), a strip club owner that Nikki used to work for, before becoming a masseuse.
Tammy Townsend as Karina Lake (season 2)
Sunny Mabrey as Lisa Munsey (season 2)
Michelle Faraone as Michelle (season 2)
Desi Lydic as Dee Ann (season 1), a masseuse working at the parlor.
Brian Kerwin as Garrett (season 1), Lynette's ex-boyfriend, whom Lynette almost considered marrying.
Jon Prescott as Dr. Mark Flemming (season 1), a single-father widower who asked Riley on a date.
Production[edit]
Development[edit]
The show is based around Lifetime's 2010 television film of the same name, with Jennifer Love Hewitt reprising the lead role. The series, however, is a re-imagining of the film and is not a direct continuation of the film's storyline.[2] The most notable change is that the husband of Hewitt's character abandons his family in the television series before she becomes involved in prostitution, whereas in the film he leaves with their children after the scandal is exposed.
The pilot was written by Jordan Budde, and the film's producers all executive-produced the series alongside Hewitt.[5] Budde got the job because Suzanne Martin was busy working on Hot in Cleveland at the time. Upon being given the assignment Budde watched the original movie and felt that the story had ended and also that it was "super depressing" instead he decided to reimagine the show and pitched it that way to Lifetime who accepted.[18] At one point the network toyed with the idea of calling the show "The Rub" and have no connection to the original movie although they eventually decided against this.[18]
Early on Hewitt was involved in the casting of her masseuse clients, although as the show went on she dialed back her involvement in this. This, in part, led to a complaints that "the guys were all so good looking". Later the team tried to cast "more real guys" although by this point the network refused, insisting on "hot guys".[18]
Three promotional materials were filmed in October 2011[19] and released before the series premiered.[20] The first of these materials, released on January 26, 2012, featured Hewitt performing Shirley Bassey's "Big Spender" in a music video-style advert, in reference to the true nature of the work at the massage parlor.[21] The video received much interest from the media due to Hewitt's risqué role, who noted that "based on this new promo, the show is going to be seriously hot."[22][23]
Filming and premiere[edit]
Season 1 consists of 10 episodes. The series began filming on January 17, 2012.[24] Filming of Season 1 ended on May 2, 2012.[25] Season 1 premiered on April 8, 2012 and ended on June 17, 2012.[26]
Filming for the second season began on November 1, 2012.[27] Filming of Season 2 ended on April 18, 2013.[28] The season 2 premiered on March 10, 2013 and ended on June 16, 2013.
Episodes[edit]
Series overview[edit]
Season
Episodes
Originally aired
First aired
Last aired
1 10 April 8, 2012 (2012-04-08) June 17, 2012 (2012-06-17)
2 15 March 10, 2013 (2013-03-10) June 16, 2013 (2013-06-16)
Season 1 (2012)[edit]
No. in
series
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
U.S. viewers
(million)
1
1 "The Rub of Sugarland" Wendey Stanzler Jordan Budde April 8, 2012 (2012-04-08) 2.79[29]
Riley Parks, a single mom from Texas, is left alone with her children after her husband Kyle abruptly leaves. In financial trouble and desperate for a job, Riley gets hired at a massage parlor called The Rub. It's not long before she discovers that The Rub has a client list concerning men who expect "extras". Faced with a tough decision, she decides that in order to protect her family, she must do what she has to do. Soon, Riley realizes that the job comes with many secrets and much danger; which is a risk she is going to have to take.
2
2 "Turn the Page" Allan Arkush Barbara Nance April 15, 2012 (2012-04-15) 2.85[30]
Riley finds the phone number of a woman from Kyle's past and begins to investigate her with the help of Lacey. At the massage parlor, Riley meets an interesting client nicknamed The Camel. Meanwhile, Georgia takes all the girls out for drinks, where Riley discovers the fun side of her new job. Also, Lynette begins a romance with someone from church. Riley finds out her husband didn't cheat on her with the woman from his past, but learns something new about his addiction to painkillers.
3
3 "Tough Love" John Behring Laurie Arent April 22, 2012 (2012-04-22) 2.75[31]
Riley's work and family lives become too much to handle. Riley bails on a client twice. Katie gets in trouble in school for swearing, after a boy teases about her father. Georgia promotes Riley to the manager position, which causes a rift between Riley and Selena. Riley learns from Evan that Kyle is somewhere in Mexico. Lynette introduces her new boyfriend Garrett to the family.
4
4 "Ring True" Patrick Norris Efrem Seeger April 29, 2012 (2012-04-29) 2.41[32]
Riley unintentionally gives "extra service" to a good friend of Kendra's fiance. Kendra, who has not told her fiance about what really goes on at her job, fears that it will ruin her relationship. Riley also aids Kendra in preventing the truth from coming out. Riley pleases her friends and family, by going to a party since Kyle left town.
5
5 "Try, Try Again" Timothy Busfield Dawn DeKeyser May 6, 2012 (2012-05-06) 2.51[33]
Riley goes on her first date since Kyle left town, with a client she met. Riley begins to worry about Lynette's blossoming relationship with Garrett, after Garrett asks for Riley's blessing for Lynette's hand in marriage. Jolene reunites with her teenage son, who she gave up for adoption when she was a young struggling mother.
6
6 "The Cold Hard Truth" Norman Buckley Marc Halsey May 13, 2012 (2012-05-13) 2.27[34]
Georgia is worried that the police will raid the parlor. Lacey finds out about what Riley really has been doing at the parlor and does not take the news well.
7
7 "Life of Riley" Bethany Rooney John Tinker May 20, 2012 (2012-05-20) 2.55[35]
Riley helps a client overcome his fear of speaking to women. Riley finds out that Lacey did not tell her that Kyle planned on leaving her. Riley and Selena's rivalry continues, when Riley learns that Evan has been dating Selena.
8
8 "Games People Play" Patrick Norris Laurie Arent June 3, 2012 (2012-06-03) 2.10[36]
Selena runs into Evan at a lunch spot, and also get unwanted attention from a former client, who call her a whore in front of Evan. Causing him to punch him in the face and defend Selena name.Riley gets involved with a rodeo cowboy's romantic life. Riley and Selena clash over Selena's relationship with Evan. Riley offers to help Lynette out-bid Taylor for ownership of the salon.
9
9 "Acting Up" Wendey Stanzler Hollie Overton June 10, 2012 (2012-06-10) 2.19[37]
Riley goes on her first date with Mark. Dee Ann's relationship with a councilman gets her in hot water with Georgia; she is then fired. Katie runs away while Riley is on her date. Once Riley and Evan find her, they share a kiss. Kyle returns home.
10
10 "Past Is Prologue" Jennifer Love Hewitt Story by: Jennifer Love Hewitt & Barbara Nance
Teleplay by: Barbara Nance June 17, 2012 (2012-06-17) 2.73[38]
Kyle returns home, but his homecoming is anything but warm. Georgia goes on vacation and leaves Riley in charge of the parlor, which doesn't sit well with Selena. Riley re-hires Dee Ann. An elderly client dies under the care of Riley. A corrupt police officer continues to put pressure on Riley.
Season 2 (2013)[edit]
On May 7, 2012, Lifetime renewed the series for a second season of 15 episodes. Filming for the season began on November 1, 2012,[39] and it premiered on March 10, 2013.[40]
No. in
series
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
U.S. viewers
(million)
11
1 "'Till I Make it On My Own" Allan Arkush Story by: Ed Decter
Teleplay by: Natalie Chaidez March 10, 2013 (2013-03-10) 2.21[41]
In the middle of their argument the police arrive, Riley apologizes thinking that she is the one that is going to get arrested, only for the police to arrest Kyle. Georgia comes back to the spa after she hears about Kyle and find that Kendra and Jolene quit, forcing Selena and Riley to work together so they don't lose clients; Riley finds it hard to find time for her and Evan. While she tries to get Kyle out of jail, she finds out that he stole a truck that was traveling with copper, and the only way for Kyle to get out of jail is to give up his partner in crime, but he won't do it. Riley goes to Georgia with the idea of having Riley own The Rub so that Georgia can keep her new man, and she can still help out if the girls need her; Georgia finds that there is a search warrant for The Rub and that the police are looking at Riley. Kyle promises his attorney that he has something worth more to the police than his partner; while Kyle and Evan fight over the fact that Evan and Riley are growing closer.
12
2 "Who's Cheatin' Who?" Andy Wolk Natalie Chaidez March 17, 2013 (2013-03-17) 2.08[42]
Riley is overwhelmed with the amount of massages she's giving per day, so she decides to hire another massuese. She ends up hiring an ex-stripper community college student in need of money for tuition. Georgia becomes manager at her boyfriend's bar and insists Riley make her first payment to her in a check. Riley learns that Kyle's bail hearing was moved up and was set at $7,500. At home, suddenly Georgia calls and tells Riley to make sure the client list is "good and hidden". Riley quickly reacts, but when the police show up they are looking for money. That night, one of Kyle's buddies from prison shows up at her house and hands her a bag full of $100 bills. Later, the police turn up at the spa and want to search. Riley demands a search warrant they don't have and they leave. Afterwards, Riley takes the bag of cash to the construction site to try and bargain Kyle's way out of jail. The man accepts the money but refuses to drop charges. Nervous because the feds are around, Riley drives to the middle of nowhere and buries the client list in the ground. The next morning while she and Evan are trying to spend quality time together, the police show up once more and inform her that her mother has been in an accident.
13
3 "Cowboy Up" Rick Wallace Hollie Overton March 24, 2013 (2013-03-24) 2.00[43]
With both Riley and Evan finding themselves burdened by Kyle's actions, Evan accepts a perilous job in order to help Riley financially. Meanwhile, Linette has a car accident and, at the spa, Riley tries to please a veteran client and hires a male masseur.
14
4 "My Main Trial Is Yet to Come" Timothy Busfield Michael Reisz March 31, 2013 (2013-03-31) 1.85[44]
At the spa, Riley is surprised at what a client asks for and Selena is suspicious of one of the new girls. Meanwhile, Riley learns that Derek is not all that he seems and struggles to make any alone-time for her and Evan.
15
5 "Hell on Heels" Jonathan Kaplan Tawnya Bhattacharya & Ali Laventhol April 7, 2013 (2013-04-07) 2.19[45]
At the spa, Riley discovers that her new client is an 18-year-old virgin and the locker room becomes the venue for uncomfortable situations between Derek and Selena. Meanwhile at home, Evan offers to take Travis to visit his dad and Linette encourages Katie to enter a pageant. Also, frustrated that she is still not pregnant, Lacey convinces Dale decide to see a fertility specialist.
16
6 "Unanswered Prayers" Allan Arkush Shaina Fewell April 14, 2013 (2013-04-14) 1.96[46]
While Riley works on Kyle's defense, Evan continues his police academy training and Lacey becomes suspicious of Dale, who's band is rocking out with a girl named Honey (Skyler Day). Meanwhile at the spa, Derek gets teased by Selena his frequent client.
17
7 "I Ain't Broke But I'm Badly Bent" Jennifer Love Hewitt Natalie Chaidez April 21, 2013 (2013-04-21) 2.11[47]
At the spa, Riley forms a close bond with a client and the girls have to get creative when there is a power outage. Meanwhile, Riley is shocked when, after fighting with an inmate, Kyle loses his visitation privileges and Lacey and Georgia organise a baby shower for Dale's sister. Riley is offered $50,000 to sleep with a client.
18
8 "Heaven's Just a Sin Away" Debbie Allen Nikki Schiefelbein April 28, 2013 (2013-04-28) 2.39[48]
While Kyle prepares to testify against his former employer, Riley and Lacey go to church with Georgia and Harold and Evan goes on his first date with Shelby. Meanwhile at the spa, Derek receives a warning from Selena about his client.
19
9 "Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy" Norman Buckley Wendy Straker Hauser May 5, 2013 (2013-05-05) 2.11[49]
Kyle tries best to work his way back into Riley and his kids' lives. Selena fights her ex-husband over custody of a horse.
20
10 "What Part of No" John Whitesell Michael Reisz May 12, 2013 (2013-05-12) 1.79[50]
Lacey is attacked at Riley's house by someone that Riley believes was looking for the client list. Selena and Nikki fight over Derek.
21
11 "I Miss Back When" Timothy Busfield Shaina Fewell May 19, 2013 (2013-05-19) 2.08[51]
Lacey copes with the aftermath of the break-in and her attack. Attempting to cheer her up, Riley convinces her to attend their high school reunion. When Taylor sees her soon to be ex-husband, Beau, moving on with another woman at the reunion, Taylor reacts causing Riley to intervene. Meanwhile at the Rub of Sugarland, Selena warns Derek that his client, Lisa wants to take their relationship to the next step, outside the spa. Evan tries to focus on his relationship with Shelby but his past with Riley keeps intruding. Linette struggles with rehab and leans on Kyle for support.
22
12 "When I Say I Do" Michael Fields Story by: Sarah Wise
Teleplay by: Tawnya Bhattacharya & Ali Laventhol June 2, 2013 (2013-06-02) 2.12[52]
Georgia is having doubts hours before she's due to marry Harold. At the wedding, Selena seems to have finally warmed up to the possibility of a serious relationship with Derek. Kyle continues to impress Riley and finally succeeds in persuading Riley to allow him back into the house. Dale proposes to Lacey again at the ball diamond to cheer her up after her miscarriage. Meanwhile, Evan is involved in police raids of massage parlors in the area. A Russian prostitute is arrested and admits to working for Carlyle. Riley is worried that "The Rub" might be next after she hears about the raids on the radio.
23
13 "Whatever It Takes" Andy Wolk Hollie Overton June 9, 2013 (2013-06-09) 1.95[53]
Kyle moves back in with Riley and the kids. Derek and Selena are officially together. Dale and Lacey are looking into adoption. Riley tries to drum up some more "legitimate" clients for The Rub as a back up plan now that Riley and Kyle are in a better place. She sets up a free massage promotion at a local golf tournament. Travis lies to Kyle to get him to agree to host Travis' team sleep-over at the house. Dale and Lacey walk in on Kyle and Riley arguing over the sleep-over arrangements, so Lacey volunteers herself and Dale to help with the sleep-over in order to defuse the situation. Riley finds out at the golf tournament that Judge Overton is the head of the prostitution busting task force Evan's on and she accosts the Judge over it in the massage chair. Later that evening Riley gets a call from her security company that The Rub has been breached. Riley and Derek check it out and find that Riley's office has been ransacked but nothing appears to be taken. Riley heads to the ranch to check on the client list and discovers it's missing from the box. Nikki confronts Carlyle about trashing Riley's office. He rebuffs her, telling her he had her followed and knows she didn't go to The Rub like she said she had. Carlyle hits Nikki and demands her to leave. Kyle finds out from his lawyer that Vandermeyer put in a plea so Kyle doesn't have to testify.
24
14 "What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am" Jennifer Love Hewitt Nikki Schiefelbein June 16, 2013 (2013-06-16) 1.90[54]
With the Client List missing, Riley begins preparing for the worst by making a video for her kids and cleaning out her personal and business' bank accounts. Riley stresses over the missing Client List. As she tries to think of who may have taken the list, she is confronted by Judge Overton who is upset over a threat he received from The Rub. Riley then believes the threat came from Nikki since she was connected to Carlyle, who had been after the Client List. Before she can confront Nikki about the list, Evan and detective Monroe show up to bring Nikki in for questioning since the task force is moving in on Carlyle's establishments. Meanwhile, Dale and Lacey are candidates in adopting a child. Riley goes to the police station to find out that Nikki was connected to Carlyle. She later confronts Nikki and Nikki says she has it. She goes to retrieve the list but finds a note that says Carlyle has it. Riley goes into a panic and begins trying to come up with a plan. Riley ends up at the hospital where Dale and Lacey are because they were chosen as a child's adoptive parents. Carlyle corners here when she leaves and tells her that she better have an exit strategy. She goes home and is confronted by Kyle who Evan told Riley was connected to Nikki and Carlyle. Feeling overwhelmed she runs into the street as it's raining as Evan almost runs into her.
25
15 "Wild Nights are Calling" Allan Arkush Story by: Ed Decter
Teleplay by: Michael Reisz June 16, 2013 (2013-06-16) 2.09[54]
With the prostitution task force closing in, Riley struggles to shield her family from a vengeful competitor and protect her employees and customers from being arrested.
Controversy[edit]
The Client List was the subject of a nationwide campaign by licensed massage therapists to stop the show before it aired. The group, "Massage Therapists Against The Client List", asserts that:
The Client List is a series that perpetuates the misconception that Massage Therapy includes inappropriate sexual contact. Massage Therapists are trained healthcare professionals and in most states are licensed and regulated by state medical boards. They adhere to a code of ethics and in some cases are under higher ethical standards than other healthcare professionals – because of these very same misconceptions. Many therapists are now working in doctor's offices and hospitals and providing valuable therapeutic services. The Client List is a huge step backwards."[55]
A&E responded to the controversy with the following press release:
We appreciate your feedback concerning the new Lifetime Television series entitled, The Client List. For many years, Lifetime television has explored the complexity of women's lives and their stories through fiction and non-fiction movies, series and programs. The Client List is a fictionalized story about the experiences of a single mother as she unexpectedly faces dire economic circumstances. The series also features a broad range of characters with alternative points of view who make different choices. The Client List is not intended to depict any specific spa or massage entity, nor in any way demean or disparage the therapeutic massage profession and its benefits and contributions to the health and wellness industry.[56]
Renewal delay and show cancellation[edit]
An expected third season renewal for the series was put on hold after the announcement of Jennifer Love Hewitt's pregnancy in June 2013. Hewitt reportedly wanted/insisted the real father of her child, co-star and fiancé Brian Hallisay, to also be the father of a fictional baby to be born by her character in the third season, while the show's executives and writers wanted Colin Egglesfield's character to be the father. Lifetime was undecided, which led to a renewal delay that lasted into October 2013.[57] Due to creative differences between Hewitt, Lifetime, Sony Pictures Television, and ITV Studios America, the show was officially canceled on November 1, 2013 after two seasons.[7][8]
Ratings[edit]
The first season of The Client List, consisting of 10 episodes, was watched by an average of 2.51 million viewers per week.[58] The second season, consisting of 15 episodes, was watched by an average of 2.05 million viewers.[59]
Awards and nominations[edit]
Awards and nominations for The Client List
Year
Award
Category
Recipients and nominees
Outcome
2012 California on Location Awards[60] Assistant Location Manager of the Year – Television Eva M. Schroeder Won
2013 Young Artist Awards[61] Best Performance in a TV Series – Recurring Young Actor Ten and Under Tyler Champagne Nominated
References[edit]
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External links[edit]
Official website
The Client List on IMDb
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Shut Up and Dance (Black Mirror)
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"Shut Up and Dance"
Black Mirror episode
The mysterious hacker blackmailing Kenny tells him to wait until he is "activated".
Episode no.
Series 3
Episode 3
Directed by
James Watkins
Written by
Charlie Brooker
William Bridges
Featured music
Original Score by
Alex Heffes
Original air date
21 October 2016 (2016-10-21)
Running time
52 minutes
Guest appearance(s)
Alex Lawther as Kenny
Jerome Flynn as Hector
Susannah Doyle as Blackmailed Woman
Sarah Beck Mather as Restaurant Mother
Beatrice Robertson-Jones as Restaurant Daughter
Maya Gerber as Lindsay
Camilla Power as Sandra
Ivanno Jeremiah as Blackmailed Man
Natasha Little as Karen
Nicola Sloane as Bank Clerk
Paul Bazely as Man in the Woods
Leanne Best as Penny
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Playtest" Next →
"San Junipero"
List of Black Mirror episodes
"Shut Up and Dance" is the third episode of the third series of British science fiction anthology series Black Mirror. It was written by series creator and showrunner Charlie Brooker and William Bridges, and premiered on Netflix on 21 October 2016, together with the rest of series three.[1]
The episode tells the story of a teenage boy (Alex Lawther) who is blackmailed into committing bizarre and criminal acts by a mysterious hacker possessing a video of him masturbating. The boy is joined by a middle-aged man (Jerome Flynn), whom the same hacker is blackmailing over infidelity.
The episode received mixed reviews, with the twist ending polarising critical opinion, and some reviewers finding the episode too dark. "Shut Up and Dance" places poorly in critics' rankings of Black Mirror episodes by quality, though both Lawther and Flynn's performances were well received. The episode is thematically similar to "White Bear", a previous episode of the show.
Contents
[hide]
1 Plot
2 Production
3 Critical reception
4 See also
5 References
6 External links
Plot[edit]
Teenager Kenny (Alex Lawther) returns home from his restaurant job to find that his younger sister Lindsay has unintentionally infected his laptop with malware; Kenny downloads a purported anti-malware tool called Shrive which actually allows an unseen hacker to use the laptop's camera to record him masturbating. The hacker emails Kenny, threatening to send the video to everyone in his contact list unless he follows a series of instructions.
The next day at work, Kenny receives a text directing him to a location 15 miles away, with only 45 minutes to get there; he feigns illness to his boss and frantically cycles to the coordinates. There he is met by a man on a scooter, also acting on instructions from the hacker, who gives Kenny a box with a cake inside. Kenny is instructed to deliver the cake to a hotel room, where he finds Hector (Jerome Flynn). Hector then receives blackmail messages of his own: he was about to cheat on his wife with a prostitute, and follows the instructions out of fear he will lose custody of his children.
Kenny and Hector are instructed to drive to a location outside the city. However, when they stop for petrol, Hector's wife's friend Karen (Natasha Little) asks Hector for a lift home, for which they must drive recklessly without explanation, before continuing to their destination. There they are told to use a gun concealed in the cake to rob a bank. Hector insists on being the driver, leaving Kenny to perform the robbery. Though Kenny urinates out of nervousness during the robbery, he manages to get a bag full of cash and flee the scene with Hector.
Hector is instructed to destroy the car, while Kenny carries the money to a drop-off point in a nearby wood. There he meets another blackmail victim (Paul Bazely), who explains they are to fight to the death while the blackmailer observes through a camera-equipped drone; the money goes to the winner. Kenny tearfully protests that he merely looked at some pictures. The man asks whether, like him, it was child pornography; Kenny, now an emotional wreck, says nothing. Kenny brandishes the gun, then attempts suicide, but finds the gun is not loaded. The two then approach each other to fight as the drone camera continues its transmission.
Meanwhile, Hector returns home to his family, but finds the hackers have already sent his wife the evidence of his infidelity. The other blackmail victims have also had their information released, despite having complied with instructions; they each receive a trollface image from the blackmailer.
Bloody from the fight, Kenny staggers from the woodland with the money. He receives a call from his mother hysterically crying that Kenny's sister saw the video, and that "they're saying it's kids! That you've been looking at kids!" He ends the call as the police arrive, offering feeble resistance as they apprehend him.
Production[edit]
Whilst series one and two of Black Mirror were shown on Channel 4 in the UK, in September 2015 Netflix commissioned the series for 12 episodes (split into two series of six episodes),[2] and in March 2016 it outbid Channel 4 for the rights to distributing the third series, with a bid of $40 million.[3] Due to its move to Netflix, the show had a larger budget than in previous series.[4] "Shut Up and Dance" is the third episode of the third series; all six episodes in this series were released on Netflix simultaneously on 21 October 2016. Two days prior to the release of series 3 on Netflix, Den of Geek! published an interview in which Brooker hinted that the episode is "a grimy, contemporary nightmare? [...] Set in absolutely present-day London. It’s not sci-fi at all."[5] Brooker states in one interview that the absence of science fiction elements from the episode is a "very conscious thing", noting that prior episodes "The National Anthem" and "The Waldo Moment" also "touch base with the real world".[6] In another interview, he says of that episode that "in the same way that one of the things that led to doing "San Junipero" was me thinking, Can I do a story set in the past? – that was where that idea kind of sprang from – we thought, Can we do a story just set today?"[7] Brooker noted that the story went through many different iterations and some did not include the suggestion that Kenny was (or may have been) looking at child pornography when the blackmailers filmed him. He revealed that in one version of the story, there was no reason why the events were happening, and in another the roles were reversed, with Jerome Flynn's character having the extremely dark secret.[6]
The episode was filmed over a three week period. Alex Lawther plays the main character Kenny; Lawther was a "huge fan" of the series prior to auditioning, and particularly liked the previous episode "White Bear". When first auditioning, Lawther had only seen the script for a couple of scenes and was unaware of the twist ending. Lawther first met co-star Jerome Flynn, who plays Hector, during the shooting. Whilst shooting, Lawther notes that "there was a news story in the real world about something very similar" to the episode, which he describes as "a very surreal thing."[8] Director James Watkins was previously known for The Woman in Black and Eden Lake, which Lawther says made Watkins "really [learn] the craft of sustaining incredible suspense over long periods of time."[8]
On the topic of reception to the episode, Brooker comments that "no one can agree on what is their favourite episode", claiming that "Oh my God, it's absolutely chilling" and "It's about nothing, it's boring" are both things people say about "Shut Up and Dance".[9]
Critical reception[edit]
This episode is considered the best of series 3 in a ranking by The Independent; Christopher Hooton writes that "the pacing is breakneck and it's impossible to take your eyes off the screen." Hooton says "it's what initially seems a gripe with the episode that ends up flooring you" when the twist ending "leaves you feeling as though all your entrails just dropped out".[10] Paul Tassi of Forbes believes the episode to be second best of the series, as it "does not carry an overt message like so many of these other episodes" but has "one of the best twists in the entire season", and "even if the rest of the episode is merely good, the ending elevates it to great."[11]
Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter praised Alex Lawther's performance in the episode, calling it "one of the best things of 2016"; Goodman says the episode "unapologetically — and frantically — punches you right in the face, proving how nimble Brooker is at storytelling."[12] Robbie Collin of The Daily Telegraph rated the episode 5 out of 5, describing it as "soul-scorching [and] relentlessly riveting". Collin says that director James Watkins "outdoes himself here, immediately establishing a mood of barely suppressed panic, then tightening every screw and ratchet at his disposal", and notes that the episode is "the most nihilistic episode of Black Mirror so far."[13] Matt Fowler of IGN similarly praised the episode, saying that it may leave the viewer "utterly shaken", and that it was a "remarkably heart-pounding episode".[14] In the Daily Mirror, Suchandrika Chakrabarti gave the episode 5 out of 5 stars, summarising that the episode is "very simple, but incredibly effective" and "the least-technical episode of Black Mirror on Netflix, but among the very scariest".[15]
Pat Stacey of Irish Independent gives the episode four stars out of five, commenting that the episode is the first in series 3 to be set in England and "feels most like the old Black Mirror". Stacey summarises that it is a "fantastically tense, blackly funny tale with a shock, rug-pulling ending that packs a terrific wallop."[16] An article in TheWrap ranks the episode sixth best of the first 13, with the authors saying "it's brilliantly plotted" and "no episode of "Black Mirror" will leave you feeling worse about humanity than this one."[17] Another review in which the episode is sixth of the 13 in the first three series is Corey Atad's, for Esquire; Atad opines that it is "the most purely disturbing episode" and that "as with many of the most disturbing stories, the fact that they touch such a nerve speaks their human insight."[18] Zack Handlen of The A.V. Club gave the episode a B+ rating, complimenting Black Mirror's "willingness to force moral questions that make everyone feel awful", and saying that the episode was "never boring, but [...] not all that engaging, either".[19]
Josh Dzieza of The Verge gave the episode a mixed review, criticising the twist ending as a "letdown". Dzieza comments that the episode is "a clammy hour of sustained anxiety" which "does a fine job driving home hacking's humiliating invasiveness", but says the twist reveals that "the episode is more interested in turning gadgets into weapons of maximum humiliation than in saying anything more interesting about how digital humiliation works". Dzieza writes of the aesthetics that "the episode takes place in a series of cramped spaces shot with a cool tint" and of the actors that Lawther has an aura of "adolescent desperation" while Flynn "switches between gruffness and utilitarian friendliness".[20] Alex Mullane of Digital Spy gives "Shut Up and Dance" a mixed review, writing that it is a "progressively and particularly nasty hour of television". Mullane praises that Lawther is "superb in the main role" and Flynn is "suitably sleazy, without ever being a caricature". However, Mullane critiques that the episode "feels a bit thin" as it does not have "much to say" and is simply "a story in which bad people do bad things and then get punished for it", though Mullane concedes that "the closing sequence as the trollfaces come through to the various sinners is fantastic."[21] Adam Chitwood of Collider stated that although it wasn't a "bad episode", it was a "frustratingly tense one [...] [and] a bit too long and has one of the darkest throughlines of the season".[22]
In a largely negative review, Sophie Gilbert of The Atlantic described the episode as "something of a redux" of "White Bear" due to structural similarities. Criticising the episode as "too much of an endurance test, with no clear message or moment of redemption to take away from it", Gilbert infers that "the question for viewers at the end is, can we still sympathize with him? Should we?" Gilbert also notes a similarity to "Paedogeddon", a Brass Eye episode co-written by Brooker, as both are "a condemnation of those who refuse to empathize with people who have terrible impulses, or who've done terrible things."[23] Charles Bramesco of Vulture ranks the episode tenth among the first 13 episodes, calling it a "spiritual sequel" to "White Bear" which is "all but identical". Bramesco lambasts the episode as "one sick, distasteful joke" filled with "sheer unpleasantness in want of a greater statement".[24] Mat Elfring of GameSpot writes that "it follows the same formula as another episode" in an article which puts the episode as 10th best in the first 13 of the series.[25]
Aubrey Page of Collider rates the episode 11th best of the first 13, commenting that "never before has Black Mirror delivered such a compelling, masterfully handled introduction only to toss it all away with a few final moments" and writing that the ending causes the episode to become "one of the series' least plausible yet."[26] Morgan Jeffery of Digital Spy also ranks the episode 11 of 13, with the justification that there are "issues with how far we're expected to sympathise along the way, adding up to a general whiff of nastiness as the dust settles."[27] The episode is at position 12 of 13 in Entertainment Weekly's ranking of the first three series by James Hibberd, with the comment that "this nihilistic hour is perhaps a victim of its own anguished mood."[28]
See also[edit]
Blue Whale (game)
References[edit]
Jump up ^ "Black Mirror Season 3 Will Premiere Sooner Than We'd Thought". The Verge. 27 July 2016.
Jump up ^ Birnbaum, Debra. "'Black Mirror' Lands at Netflix". Variety.
Jump up ^ Plunkett, John (29 March 2016). "Netflix deals Channel 4 knockout blow over Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror". The Guardian.
Jump up ^ "Black Mirror review – Charlie Brooker's splashy new series is still a sinister marvel". The Guardian. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
Jump up ^ Mellor, Louisa (19 October 2016). "Black Mirror series 3 interview: Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones". Den of Geek!. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b Hibberd, James (21 October 2016). "Black Mirror postmortem: Showrunner talks season 3 twists". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
Jump up ^ Fitz-Gerald, Sean (23 October 2016). "'Black Mirror' Creator Charlie Brooker Explains Season 3 and Reveals Easter Eggs". Retrieved 5 December 2017.
^ Jump up to: a b Meslow, Scott (22 October 2016). "Black Mirror Star Alex Lawther Takes Us Inside the Nightmare of 'Shut Up and Dance'". Retrieved 5 December 2017.
Jump up ^ Stolworthy, Jacob (21 October 2016). "Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker: 'I'm loath to say this is the worst year ever because the next is coming'". The Independent. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
Jump up ^ Stolworthy, Jacob; Hooton, Christopher (21 October 2016). "Black Mirror review: The season 3 episodes, ranked". The Independent. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
Jump up ^ Tassi, Paul (25 October 2016). "Ranking 'Black Mirror' Season 3's Episodes From Worst To Best". Forbes. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
Jump up ^ "'Black Mirror' Season 3: TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
Jump up ^ "Black Mirror, season 3, Shut Up and Dance, review: 'soul-scorching, dark and riveting'". The Daily Telegraph. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
Jump up ^ Fowler, Matt (19 October 2016). "Black Mirror: Season 3 Review". IGN. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
Jump up ^ Chakrabarti, Suchandrika (16 December 2016). "Shut Up and Dance review: Black Mirror's present-day tale of shame, blackmail and the corroding power of secrets". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
Jump up ^ Stacey, Pat (24 October 2016). "Black Mirror is back and it's as disturbing as ever... with a few minor cracks". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
Jump up ^ Donnelly, Matt; Molloy, Tim. "All 13 'Black Mirror' Episodes Ranked, From Good to Mind-Blowing (Photos)". TheWrap. Retrieved 12 August 2017. CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
Jump up ^ Atad, Corey (24 October 2016). "Every Episode of Black Mirror, Ranked". Esquire. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
Jump up ^ Handlen, Zack (October 23, 2016). "No one's watching the watchmen on a so-so Black Mirror". The A.V. Club. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
Jump up ^ Dzieza, Josh (26 October 2016). "Black Mirror's episode Shut Up and Dance is hacking torture-porn". The Verge. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
Jump up ^ Mullane, Alex (22 October 2016). "Black Mirror season 3 'Shut Up And Dance' review: a particularly nasty hour of television". Digital Spy. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
Jump up ^ "'Black Mirror' Season 3 Review: The Future Is Slightly Sunnier on Netflix". Collider. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
Jump up ^ Gilbert, Sophie (21 October 2016). "'Black Mirror' Is Back: 'Shut Up and Dance' Is a Horrifying Thriller". The Atlantic. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
Jump up ^ Bramesco, Charles (21 October 2016). "Every Episode of Black Mirror, Ranked From Worst to Best". Vulture. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
Jump up ^ Elfring, Mat (28 October 2016). "Black Mirror: Every Episode Ranked From Good to Best". GameSpot. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
Jump up ^ Page, Aubrey (28 October 2016). "Every 'Black Mirror' Episode Ranked From Worst to Best". Collider. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
Jump up ^ Jeffery, Morgan (9 April 2017). "Ranking all 13 episodes of Charlie Brooker's chilling Black Mirror". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
Jump up ^ Hibberd, James (23 October 2016). "Black Mirror: All 13 Episodes, Ranked". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
External links[edit]
"Shut Up and Dance" on IMDb
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