Rafe Spall in the Black Mirror Christmas Special (2014)
Vitals
Rafe Spall as Joe Potter
Set on Christmas… somewhere
Series: Black Mirror
Episode: “White Christmas” (Episode 7)
Air Date: December 16, 2014
Director: Carl Tibbetts
Creator: Charlie Brooker
Costume Designer: Sharon Gilham
WARNING! Spoilers ahead!
Background
Black Mirror‘s Christmas special—considered one of the series’ best episodes—aired ten years ago today on December 16, 2014. Written by series creator and showrunner Charlie Brooker, the episode takes a yuletide twist to Black Mirror‘s trademark tech-infused dystopia, centering on a new kind of “Christmas cookies” that you would not want at your holiday gathering!
We’re introduced to Joe Potter (Rafe Spall) as he wakes up on the morning of December 25th to the sounds of Christmas music and the sounds of cooking in the mysterious remote cabin here he’s evidently lived for five years. Stepping out into the kitchen, Joe discovers his apparent colleague and co-resident Matt Trent (Jon Hamm), a loquacious former social interaction engineer whose work included creating “cookies”—digital clones of people to serve as their own assistants.
“No one ends up here without things going to total shit for them back out there,” Matt observes when discussing their respective pasts with Joe.
Spall was nominated for an International Emmy Award for Best Actor for his performance as Joe.
What’d He Wear?
Unlike the smart layered winter gear he wears in the flashbacks set “back out there”, Joe Potter dresses simply—and somewhat slovenly—for his pitiful Christmas with Matt. His outer layer is a lightweight mustard-yellow cotton flannel waist-length jacket with a shirt-style collar, straight front zip, and patch-style breast pocket. The plaid pattern consists of a balanced brick-red check framed by narrow black stripes and wider blue stripes—the vertical stripes comprising each check are more vividly intense than the horizontal stripes. He leaves the single-button squared cuffs undone.
Joe layers the jacket over an olive-green ribbed cotton long-sleeved henley shirt with five mixed plastic 4-hole buttons at the top placket. The green henley and red check in his jacket may be costume designer Sharon Gilham having some ironic fun with Joe’s wardrobe by infusing the festive holiday’s traditional colors for this decidedly non-festive observance.
Joe’s navy cotton chino-cloth trousers have a flat-front, side and back pockets, and plain-hemmed bottoms. His tan leather moc-toe derby-laced work boots fit the rugged setting of their remote cabin, even if he never actually goes outside during the scene.
Joe and Matt are both dressed in mustard tops and navy trousers, suggesting some uniformity between them. Consistent with their natures, Matt’s gold shirt is more solid, straightforward, and simple, while Joe’s plaid jacket suggests a greater complexity.
What to Imbibe
“No work today, so bottle’s on the table,” Matt greets Joe, indicating the tawny port on the table. Appropriate for the setting, I believe the screen-used bottle features a fictional label, though it features some resemblance to real-life port brands like Graham’s and Maynard’s.
Tawny port is a style of port wine that is aged in wooden barrels, resulting in a lighter amber color and a smooth and somewhat spicy nutty flavor profile with notes of dried fruit, caramel, and nuts. The bottle in “White Christmas” indicates that the port was “aged 25 years” in casks.
How to Get the Look
Rafe Spall in the Black Mirror Christmas Special (2014)
The festive red and green present in Joe’s clothing could make his simple ensemble a comfortably casual approach to Christmas dressing.
- Mustard-yellow (with brick-red and blue plaid) cotton flannel waist-length zip-up jacket with shirt-style collar, breast pocket, and single-button squared cuffs
- Olive-green ribbed cotton long-sleeved henley shirt with 5-button placket
- Navy cotton chino-cloth flat-front trousers with side pockets, back pockets, and plain-hemmed bottoms
- Tan leather moc-toe derby-laced work boots
Do Yourself a Favor and…
Check out the series.
The Quote
It’s a job, not a jail.
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