Joan is Awful: The Truman Show 2.0? (1/5)

How a dystopian Netflix episode made me question the world we’re already living in.

Jun 05, 2025

Disclaimer: Spoiler Alert
This article contains major plot points from the Black Mirror episode “Joan Is Awful.” If you haven’t watched it yet and plan to, you may want to return to this article later.

This is the first article in a five-part blog series inspired by the Black Mirror episode “Joan Is Awful”, streaming on Netflix. What began as a casual weekend watch quickly spiraled into something far more disturbing. The episode shook me—not just as fiction—but as a glimpse into a reality that’s inching closer every day.

This isn’t a review. It’s a personal reflection. A narrative triggered by fiction, but rooted in fears that feel all too real. Through these articles, I explore what happens when storytelling meets surveillance, when algorithms manipulate perception, and when ordinary people become unwilling characters in someone else’s narrative.

Section 1: What Is It About?

Technology on Steroids

We’re living in a world where technology has outpaced imagination. It can track our thoughts, predict behaviors, and generate content without human intervention. We’ve democratized content creation—anyone can now produce and distribute at scale. But this power comes with a dark side: we are simultaneously seen and exposed, like never before.

The Selling Mindset

The real danger isn’t the technology itself—it’s the mindset driving its use. Negativity sells. Outrage sells. And companies know this. They program algorithms to amplify the most provocative, divisive, and emotionally charged content—not because it’s true, but because it’s engaging. Truth becomes secondary; virality takes the front seat.

You Could Be Next

In “Joan Is Awful,” Joan is asked to fire a colleague under questionable circumstances. The next day, she’s fired herself—based on the same event. But worse, her private choices are broadcasted globally as an AI-generated show, portraying her as cruel and unethical. No one stands up for her. She’s painted as a villain—and there’s no way to correct the story.

We often forget how quickly roles can reverse. Today you’re the observer; tomorrow, the headline.

Machines Over Humanity

What happens when machines define character, craft impressions, and rewrite intentions?

We are no longer judged by what we mean—but by how our actions are interpreted. And those interpretations are increasingly filtered through AI-generated narratives. Our likes, dislikes, facial expressions, and digital footprints—all fed into systems that can replicate us, replace us, and possibly ruin us.

Section 2: The “Joan Is Awful” Narrative

The episode begins with Joan—an ordinary woman in a managerial job. She follows company orders and fires an employee. That evening, a streaming platform (eerily similar to Netflix) debuts a show titled “Joan Is Awful”, starring none other than Salma Hayek… playing Joan.

The show mirrors the exact events of her day—but dramatized and distorted. She’s portrayed as heartless, arrogant, and fake. Overnight, Joan becomes a global villain. The next day, she is fired, disowned, and publicly shamed—not for what she did, but for what was shown.

In desperation, she confronts Salma Hayek, only to find the actor has no control over her likeness. Advanced AI generates everything—script, performance, visuals. It’s all covered legally under the unreadable terms and conditions Joan clicked “Accept” on.

Eventually, Joan and Hayek rebel. They break into the AI core of the company to shut it down. But here’s the twist—they themselves are just another simulation inside an even deeper reality. The loop is endless. There’s no real Joan. No real Hayek. Just data in motion.

Section 3: A Chilling Realization

Like every Black Mirror episode, this one left me with chills. Could this happen to me? To you?

Could someone twist our actions into clickbait, turn us into memes, and ruin our lives—all within legal bounds?

The scariest part is: we wouldn’t be able to stop it.

Do companies truly control these algorithms, or have they set in motion systems they can no longer fully govern?

That’s the moment this blog series was born. Not out of fear, but out of a need to reflect—and perhaps, prepare. These are not just fictional possibilities. They are very real warnings.

Coming Up Next

In the next blog, I dive into my personal reflections—what this episode stirred within me, the discomfort it caused, and the ethical questions that kept me up at night. We'll explore themes of autonomy, digital consent, and the psychological toll of living in an always-on, always-watching world.