Long before Netflix took over the anthology series, Charlie Brooker, the creator of Black Mirror, defined his vision for the show as an exploration of “the way we live now — and the way we might be living in 10 minutes’ time if we’re clumsy.” The first episode to be written on this premise was “Fifteen Million Merits,” even though it was the second one to air in the first season of Black Mirror in 2011.
Set against the backdrop of a dystopian future, this episode explores the nature of the digital economy, labor, consumerism, and the entertainment industry. It can be argued that, with its bleak portrayal of the perils of technology, this episode was the first to set the dark and uneasy tone for the series.
What Is Black Mirror’s ‘Fifteen Million Merits’ About?
“Fifteen Million Merits” introduces an oppressive society, in which the inhabitants of an enormous, enclosed space seem trapped in a monotonous routine. Dressed in similar gray sweats, they pedal stationary bikes to generate energy that supposedly powers their surroundings, which earns them tokens called “merits.” These tokens can be spent on necessities, such as snacks from vending machines. The workers barely interact with one another. Their only distraction from the endless physical toil is the vapid entertainment — ranging from pornography to games with cartoonish graphics — and advertisements shown on the surrounding screens. They are constantly bombarded with colorful, mindless visuals, and even skipping a commercial or muting the sound comes at a cost.
The class structure in this world is strictly hierarchical. While these workers depict the middle class, the lower class comprises the overweight “lemons” (so-called due to their yellow uniforms). These individuals are custodial workers, who are openly and frequently belittled — even on the shows and games that others subscribe to. On the other hand, the upper class consists of the rich and famous, who star on popular shows.
Bing Madsen (played by Daniel Kaluuya, before his breakthrough role in Jordan Peele's Get Out) is the disillusioned protagonist, who belongs to the middle class in this society. Unlike the rest, he seems disinterested in spending his merits on accessories for his ‘dopple’ avatar or any other stuff, saying that “it’s confetti.”
Bing encounters Abi Khan (Jessica Brown Findlay), who appears innocent and “real” to him. After hearing her sing, he encourages her to enter Hot Shot, an X-Factor style virtual talent show. He gifts her fifteen million merits (most of which he had inherited from his deceased brother) to purchase the ticket, even though this empties almost his entire balance. Abi gives Bing an origami penguin as a token of gratitude.
Bing accompanies Abi to her audition, where she is asked to drink a carton of ‘Cuppliance’ before performing. However, even though the judges — Wraith (Ashley Thomas), Hope (Rupert Everett) and Charity (Julia Davis) — are impressed by her singing, they believe she is better suited to be a pornographic actress on a show called Wraith Babes. While a protesting Bing is dragged away from behind the stage, Abi reluctantly accepts the “opportunity” after being pressured by the judges and the audience.
How Does ‘Fifteen Million Merits’ End?
Horrified by the outcome of Abi’s audition, Bing eventually smashes the screen in his room one day when he is forced to watch her perform sexual acts. He saves a broken piece of glass, and works relentlessly to earn enough merits to gain entry to the show again. When he finally has fifteen million merits in his account, he returns to Hot Shot, and is called to the stage when an “ethnic” contestant is required. He lies to the stagehands that he has already consumed Cuppliance by showing them Abi’s empty container, which he had held on to.
Bing begins his performance with a dance number, only to stop in the middle and hold the shard of glass to his neck. He threatens to commit suicide if they refuse to listen to him, after which he launches into an anger-fueled rant. He pronounces their world as “fake fodder,” accusing the judges of being shallow and allowing this corrupt system to prevail. As soon as he finishes, the audience and the judges break into applause. Hope offers Bing a time slot on his own channel, on which he can give similar passionate speeches twice a week. The scene cuts to Bing holding the glass to his neck again and, in a surprising twist, finishing another rant during a live stream from a new and luxurious apartment. His new space displays personal possessions — including a statue of a penguin — and the camera zooms out as he stares outside his window at the forest views.
As a satire of class hierarchy and a capitalist society, the chillingly realistic ending of “Fifteen Million Merits” confirms that, despite his rebellion against the system, Bing is no different from the rest. He is still willing to trade his morals and values to move from one prison cell to another. His piece of glass, once a symbol of change and resistance, is now a gimmick for his personal brand, and is even sold as an accessory on the dopple marketplace. Even though he does not drink Cuppliance (which probably swayed Abi’s decision on the stage), he readily agrees to give social commentary, pretending he can still relate to the middle class while living in much better conditions. His replacement of Abi’s penguin with an ornamental piece demonstrates his comfort in the artificial world. Although it is unclear whether the view from his room is real or just another simulation, the latter seems more likely.
The theme of a fame-driven economy is revisited in another episode of Black Mirror, titled “Nosedive,” in which one’s class is determined by the number of “likes” they get. Both episodes depict communities that identify each other by numbers — which is similar to today’s digital world, where people strive to grow followers and impress invisible judges. “Fifteen Million Merits” explores how this can reinforce hierarchy in a society. Instead of overthrowing those in power, the lower and middle classes despise each other, as the media they are forced to consume incentivizes their prejudice.