Henry Lake
“Henry Lake” is the second episode of the sixth season of the hit TV series Black Mirror. The series is written by Charlie Brooker and will premiere on June 15, 2023. The series features the return of streaming service Streamberry, which played a prominent role in the previous episode, “Joan Is Awful.”
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In Henry’s Lake, Streamberry is described as a streaming service that produces and distributes documentaries about the Henry’s Lake phenomenon. This establishes the timeline of events, showing that the events of “Lake Henry” occurred before the events of “Joan Is Bad”.
In this episode, characters in a bar scene are discussing an old newspaper that references Prime Minister Michael Smart from the episode “Devil 79.” The article stated that Prime Minister Smart was expelled from the Conservative Party for making remarks that were considered racist by Tipley voters. References to “79” add depth to the Black Mirror universe by connecting different episodes and hinting at a shared timeline.
Near the end of “Henry Lake,” the newspaper headline read “London police reveal robot dog.” The accompanying article showcases images of the robot dog from the “Metalhead” episode and explores the technological advancements behind the invention. References to “Metalhead” connect the different plots through common elements, demonstrating the interconnectedness of the Black Mirror universe.
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Additionally, the episode mentions another documentary that is in the running for awards, called “Making Children Suffer: The Tipley Pedophile Ring.” The documentary is yet another reference to the episode, further emphasizing the interconnected themes and storylines in the Black Mirror series. Another contender for the award is “Euthanasia: Inside the Junipero Project,” a reference to the hit series “San Junipero.”
Overall, “Henry Lake” expands the universe of “Black Mirror” by referencing previous episodes, establishing timelines and showing the interconnectedness of technology, society and human experience in different narratives.
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Lake Henry Ending Explained
In the episode “Henry Lake” of the TV series Black Mirror, Pia and her partner Davis visit Henry Lake and briefly meet his mother, Janet. During their stay, Davis and Stuart, the son of the town’s former bar owner, reveal to Pia the horrific acts committed by Ian Adair, which led to the death of Davis’s father and the downfall of the town.
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Pia convinced Davies to make a documentary about Ian Adair, despite his initial hesitation. They sought help from Stewart, who believed a successful documentary would revive tourism in Lake Henry. Stewart provided them with a collection of archived newspapers and news recordings, as well as a drone to capture the beauty of Lake Henry. However, Stewart’s father strongly opposed the documentary.
Together, Pia, Davis and Stuart break into Ian Adair’s home and discover a dungeon where torture and murder took place. In pursuit of dramatic footage, they use Davis’ late father’s VCR and inadvertently record old recordings of his parents’ favorite detective series. In the dungeon, they use blacklight torches to reveal the horrors of the past. On the way back, Davis had a minor accident with his tractor, which resulted in him being hospitalized overnight.
Pia accompanied Janet home and began digitizing the day’s footage. When she finished recording, she made a shocking discovery – the footage showed Ian Adair was not acting alone. Davis’s parents, Kenneth and Janet, used Ian and his home as a base to participate in the torture and murder. Pia is shocked by the discovery and tries to return to town, but Janet realizes she knows the truth and tries to stop her.
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Despite Janet’s best efforts, Pia manages to escape and attempts to cross the river in the dark. Unfortunately, she slipped, hit her head on a rock, and lost consciousness. The river swept her away. Meanwhile, Mr. King, recovering from his previous injuries in hospital, gets out of bed to find Davis and uncovers the shocking truth. Janet, realizing her guilt had been exposed, returned home, collected evidence of her and Kenneth’s actions, and committed suicide.
Jumping to an unspecified time, a trailer for the documentary has been released, which includes interviews with Mr. Davis and Mr. King. It was revealed that Mr King suspected Janet and Kenneth of being involved with Ian Adair after witnessing them behaving inappropriately during a drunken encounter. Davis struggled during the interview and burst into tears. Additionally, it was revealed that Kenneth murdered Ian and his family before shooting himself, ultimately causing his own death.
At the Baftas, the documentary titled Rock Henry: The Truth Will Come Out won the Factual Series Award. Historik Productions producer Kate Cezar accepted the award on behalf of all participants and dedicated it to Pia and Davis, who drowned.
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After the party, an actress approached Davis and praised the documentary, but it was Kate who accepted the compliment. While Kate discusses the casting of a film based on the events of Lake Henry, Davis is traumatized by the truth he has learned and broods.
Back in his hotel room, Davis received a call from Stewart, who was excited about the documentary’s success and the resurgence of the town’s tourism industry. Meanwhile, haunted by the truth, Davies sits on a note written by his mother, stares at his BAFTA award, and ponders whether the revelations will ultimately be worth the emotional toll.
What happened to Pia during the Black Mirror season?
Pia becomes scared when Janet asks her to get in the car with her. Panicked and trying to run away, Pia slipped and hit her head on a rock. Recognizing the serious consequences of her past actions, Janet returned home and took her own life. Before that, she left a note to her son Davis and a tape as evidence.
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In the aftermath of these tragic events, the documentary Davis and Pia had been working on was accepted by a production company. The documentary, now titled Rock Henry: The Truth Will Come Out, reveals all the harrowing details of Ian Adair’s murder, including the involvement of Davis’ parents. The documentary gained attention and was aired on the streaming platform Streamberry.
Henry Lake: The Truth Will Come Out went on to win the prestigious BAFTA Award. During the ceremony, the head of the production company accepted the award on behalf of the team and dedicated it to Davis and the late Pia. Due to the success of the documentary, tourism in Lake Henry has boomed, bringing economic benefits to the town. Stewart, who was instrumental in supporting the documentary, reaped the rewards of this newfound prosperity.
For Davis, however, the ending was bittersweet. He looks at the note his mother left and wonders if his achievements and the success of the documentary can truly compensate for the personal sacrifice he endured. The final moments of the episode left Davis questioning the true value of his accomplishments and whether the price he paid was ultimately worth it.
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What happened to Pia?
Pia’s fate is somewhat ambiguous in Black Mirror: Lake Henry , but the episode’s final arc strongly suggests that she met a tragic end while trying to escape Janet.
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Throughout the series, Pia relentlessly pursues the production of a documentary about the murder of Ian Adair, despite being aware of the potential negative impact it could have on Davis and his mother. Although Davis suggests a less sensational documentary about Eggman, Pia’s desire for a gripping story overshadows her consideration of the potential exploitation and re-traumatization of Davis and his mother.
Similar to Davis who paid the price for pursuing superficial success and fame, Pia faced serious consequences for pursuing exploitative stories for personal gain.
Pia’s journey comes full circle with her tragic death, when Davis has to live with the consequences of uncovering painful truths about her family’s history. Her fate might have been different if she had chosen to follow Davis’s idea of documenting “Eggman,” although it would have meant that the famous production company wouldn’t have accepted their documentary.
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This narrative arc underscores themes of the moral and personal costs of pursuing fame, sensationalism, and success at all costs. Pia’s character is a cautionary tale, illustrating the potential dangers of pursuing a story without considering the moral implications and well-being of those involved.
This episode highlights the importance of balancing ambition with empathy and responsibility, reminding us that the pursuit of success should not come at the expense of the lives and well-being of others.
Locke Henry cast
actor |
Features |
|---|---|
| Samuel Blenkin | davis |
| Michal Herold | Pia |
| John Hannah | Richard |
| Monica Dolan | Janet |
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