Black Mirror is a critically acclaimed TV show that primarily explores the unintended effects technology has on society. In the episode “The Waldo Moment,” it explores the question, “What happens when spectacle takes over politics?”

Released in 2013, the story of “The Waldo Moment” seems to eerily predict the spectacular rise of Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. In the episode, we are introduced to Waldo, a blue anthropomorphic cartoon bear known primarily for his crude humor and political incorrectness. He is controlled like a puppet by Jamie, a failed comedian. When his constant mockery of politicians becomes popular, the producers behind Waldo decide to have him run in the town’s by-election as a publicity stunt, with unexpected results.

Waldo’s Popularity

In the episode, Waldo gains popularity through his constant mockery of Liam Monroe, the  Conservative Party candidate for MP (the show takes place in the United Kingdom), and of politics in general. The mockery consists of jabs against the status quo of politics, which Monroe represents. It is revealed that the reason this election is being held is because the previous MP was forced to resign following a child poronography scandal. The seat is mainly considered to be a safe-conservative seat, with most people predicting that Monroe will win.

When Waldo enters the election, media coverage of him skyrockets, with Waldo appearing on news shows and given actual interviews, as if he were a real politician. Waldo becomes the culmination of celebrity culture and political disillusionment, and gains a large following. Waldo has no policies and has no platform, but to the people, he is seen as more “real” than actual politicians because he “speaks his mind” and criticizes the status quo. When people make actual points against him, he lashes back at them, calling them names and insulting them. In the end, Monroe wins the election anyway, but Waldo follows in a close second.

Trump’s rise seemed to mirror Waldo’s in many ways. People saw Trump as a “breath of fresh air” in the “boring” landscape of politics. His controversial statements only gave him more popularity as they dominated news cycles. Some people voted for him under the pretense that he was the “lesser of two evils.” He challenged a candidate that was supposed to have had an easy win. Except, Trump actually won.

Charlie Brooker, the creator of Black Mirror, stated in an interview regarding the episode: “At the time I thought that was one I didn’t nail, I didn’t get the stakes right… I thought it should have been a separate thing, like it should have been a two-part miniseries. And then you look at it now and go, ‘F*ck me—that’s Trump.’”

Have a Netflix account? Watch “The Waldo Moment” for yourself—it goes far deeper than what I discussed here.

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By Ian Chang

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