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The deeper, darker meanings behind Black Mirror’s “Rachel, Jack & Ashley Too”
THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS WHICH FANS OF BLACK MIRROR MAY WISH TO AVOID
While Miley Cyrus’ guest slot in season 5 of Black Mirror proved polarizing to fans and critics, the episode was perhaps one of the most cohesive of the season. “Striking Vipers” and “Smithereens” were suspenseful and terrifying, however, both stories lacked a clear message, unlike previous episodes. Although “Rachel, Jack & Ashley Too” wasn’t among the most critically acclaimed episodes of Black Mirror’s five seasons, the hour-and-ten-minute long episode offers a lot for the viewer to unpack, in true Black Mirror fashion.
In “Rachel, Jack & Ashley Too,” Cyrus plays a pop star named Ashley O. Although Ashley O is world-renowned, Grammy Award-winning music sensation, topping the charts with hits like “On a Roll” (A reworked version of Nine Inch Nails’ “Head Like a Hole”), she deeply desires to break free from her contract and write songs with more emotional depth.
Meanwhile, Rachel (Angourie Rice), a 15-year-old girl, idolizes Ashley O, however, is only given a surface-level view of the pop star. “On a Roll” is a lyrically uplifting pop earworm and Ashley O, herself, often reiterates messages of positivity.
