Black Mirror kicks off its fifth season with ‘Striking Vipers’, an episode which follows two straight men exploring their sexualities through a video game.
The Netflix tech-horror anthology returned on Wednesday (June 5) with three new episodes, the most-talked-about of which is ‘Striking Vipers.’ Warning – mild spoilers ahead.
Avengers: Endgame star Anthony Mackie plays Danny, a man who is trying for a second baby with his wife when he reconnects with an old friend, Karl (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II).
On his birthday, Karl gives Danny a copy of a virtual reality game called ‘Striking Vipers X,’ which promises to “replicate all physical sensation.”
While immersed in their characters Lance and Roxette, the pair begin to have virtual sex, causing them to question the nature of their relationship.
‘Striking Vipers’ is directed by Owen Harris, who also helmed the season three stand-out ‘San Junipero.’
The episode won acclaim for its tender depiction of two women who meet in fall in love in a simulated reality for the elderly, winning two Emmy Awards in the process.
Fans have already drawn parallels between the two LGBT-themed episodes, also noting the timing of ‘Striking Vipers” release.
Anthony Mackie and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Black Mirror: Striking Vipers. (Netflix)
“‘Striking Vipers’ is fantastic. I’m getting the best kind of ‘San Junipero’ vibes,” one fan tweeted.
“Black Mirror really knew what they were doing with ‘Striking Vipers’ during Pride month,” added another.
Not all praise was universal however.
“By all means, ‘Striking Vipers’ was a captivating story, but because of ‘San Junipero,’ the plot was somewhat predictable,” wrote journalist Joel Hulsey.
A 2018 survey found that as significant number of straight-identifying men have gay sex.
The study of 24,000 undergraduate students discovered that of the men whose last sexual encounter was with a male partner, one in eight defined as heterosexual.
Among straight-identifying women, one in four said that their last encounter was with another woman.
In December, it was revealed that one in 10 members of BateWorld, a virtual sex website aimed at men, are straight.
One user told the website Slate that they “usually find more common ground with straight and bi guys since there’s usually firm ground rules and we can usually share more about what we enjoy together.”
