Fictional Reality

In many cases, movies and television shows tend to be fictional. Fictional meaning “not real.” However, “The Black Mirror” episode “The Waldo Moment,” displayed a situation that was extremely realistic and relevant to this year’s presidential election. This specific episode and the election share uncanny similarities. Donald Trump, a previous reality T.V. show host, is now our 2016 President Elect. Someone who lacks experience in the field of government has received the majority of the Electoral College's votes with ease. The same situation happened in “The Waldo Moment,” a fictional, vulgar yet well known character named Waldo, was pressured by his team to run in a current election. The voice of this character, refused at first mainly because he thought that there was no way someone with no experience and someone that is seen as a fictional figure could actually run in an election as a candidate. Donald Trump running in this year’s election was another similar experience of this. Many people doubted that Trump would really be the next president elect but shockingly enough, he is. Many Americans across the country are expressing a feeling of worry as they become aware of what their future president plans to change. In the episode, Waldo who was a three dimensional bear would slander the other candidates running. He would blurt out personal facts about each candidate. Waldo was seen as a laughable imbecile. A figure you could not take seriously. Sadly, Donald Trump is viewed as this same type of figure. For someone as such to hold such a powerful position over the country has struck many citizens with fear. Waldo and Trump both express a very blunt and straightforward attitude. At times, these two can also get out of line, however, that behavior seems to earn them more supporters, or fans I should say. They are liked and supported for the wrong reasons. Its upsetting that neither candidate this year seemed extremely fitting for the position. This election made a major change from the last election. This year, nothing seemed to have been taken seriously by the voters or the candidates. Just as shocked as the voice of Waldo was when he saw that the public was voting for him, American’s have experienced the very same shock.