Black Space
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Black Space
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Black Space is an Israeli series that centers on the investigation of a brutal high school shooting and how the students cope. It features lots of gun violence, and shows scenes of teens and adults being shot, wounded, or killed. Bullying and suicide are major themes, too. It also contains some sexual content, cursing, cigarette smoking, drinking, and drug dealing. Logos for Mitsubishi and Nikon cameras are visible, and there are occasional references to social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Those sensitive about topics relating to gun violence and school shootings may find it especially disturbing, but it offers food for thought.
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What's the Story?
BLACK SPACE is an Israeli thriller about a police detective who must rely on unorthodox means to investigate a deadly mass shooting at a local high school. When a group of gunmen wearing unicorn masks barges into Heritage High School, it leaves four dead and many wounded. Special investigator Rami Davidi (Guri Alfi), who is an alumni of the school, arrives on the scene and sets out to capture them before they can do more harm. But somehow they escape, and soon three Palestinian construction workers are arrested for the crime. Davidi is convinced that what happened was an inside job, and does some rogue detective work to uncover the identities of the shooters, much to the chagrin of his boss, Noga Ruso (Assi Levy). Investigators soon uncover a (fictitious) private media app called ‘Black Space', which students are using to privately communicate about what happened. Soon Davidi, with the help of Investigator Morag Shmuel (Reut Alush), begins putting together a complicated set of details that led to the massacre.
Is It Any Good?
This disturbing but entertaining series is as much a psychological thriller as it is a social commentary on the rising violence in contemporary Western society. It highlights the different ways younger generations of Israelis are responding to the emotional and physical threats, ranging from bullying to living with the constant threat of being bombed by neighboring countries. It also highlights the fact that these threats have become commonplace over the years, despite the constant calls for peace.
Black Space points to the reasons the teens in this story justify their brutal behavior as a serious problem. It also refers to the United States as an example of what Israeli society does not want to become. Meanwhile, Rami Davidi's (Guri Alfi) struggles with the torture he endured while in high school, and how it affects his job and his marriage to his pregnant wife Miri (Meirav Shirom), underscores the troubled legacy that a world full of violence will leave behind. It's not the easiest of shows to watch, but one that offers some troubling food for thought.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about gun violence. What impact does living with the fear of school shootings have on kids? What role, if any, does media play in all of this?
In Black Space, social media platforms are regarded as the main site of communication between teens. Is this is true in real life? Is there a connection between social media use and violence? What about social media use and mental health?
If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for information and counseling resources.
TV Details
- Premiere date: May 27, 2021
- Cast: Guri Alfi, Reut Alush, Assi Levy
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: High School
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
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