It’s that time again when Charlie Brooker reminds us that we’re all doomed – but which Black Mirror episodes hit the mark this season and which fall short?
The sci-fi dystopian series on Netflix prides itself on its ability to delve into the disturbing crevices of our psyche and offer both horrifying and revolutionary ways in which technology could evolve in humanity’s future.
In seasons past we’ve had pig f***ing, child killers tortured through forced amnesia, blackmail with a perverse twist and dating app woes.
And season seven offers up a whole new palate (and for the first time, some returning favourites).
There’s a spiralling look at the future of healthcare, a dive into the dangers of AI in Hollywood, a workplace where not everything is as it seems, an anguished trip down memory lane and video game horror stories.
Get personalised updates on all things Netflix
Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.
So, which ones are actually worth tuning into?
6. Eulogy
This episode follows an isolated man, Phillip, who uses a piece of technology to re-enter long buried memories when someone – clearly once beloved – from his youth dies.
He embarks on a deeply emotional journey as he tries to reconcile the decisions he made at the time and the regrets he’ll live with for the rest of his life.
There’s no doubt that Paul Giamatti is an astounding actor, and the emotion he can convey, whether bittersweet melancholy or nostalgic yearning, is perhaps the one saving grace of this episode which culminates in a memorable finale.
But the 40 minutes it takes to get there feel more like four hours.
Depending on the mood you’re in, you might find yourself enjoying this slow-paced and somewhat frustrating tale. But for most, as was the case for me, it feels like being forced to listen to a sermon about the life of someone you don’t know, and don’t particularly care about.
I found myself getting easily distracted and thought the main character’s hang-ups and past motives baffling enough to turn me off the entire plot.
Perhaps it can hold up as a vignette of first love but as a Black Mirror episode it came across as a snooze fest that pulled through too little too late.
5. Hotel Reverie
Look, there’s a reason San Junipero is one of the most acclaimed episodes in the show’s history. But given Hotel Reverie is the second sapphic love story in the Black Mirror universe – the AI, slightly fantastical elements of the romance were perhaps too similar for comfort.
It’s an episode already doomed to be compared to San Junipero given its central queer themes and Charlie Brooker doesn’t give it a running chance to stand on its own two feet with a far-removed concept.
Comparisons aside, there are definitely some great aspects to this episode – not least Emma Corrin’s gorgeous performance as golden age Hollywood starlet Clara.
What is your favourite episode of Black Mirror season 7
-
Common People
-
Bete Noire
-
Hotel Reverie
-
Plaything
-
Eulogy
-
USS Callister: Into Infinity
When Issa Rae’s character, a modern-day actor, is offered the chance to act opposite Clara in a classic movie through AI technology, soon everything begins to fall apart.
Unfortunately it takes slightly too long to be convinced of Issa and Emma’s chemistry and the way the plot unfolds seems to be focused on all the wrong elements, culminating in a middling ending despite the solid set up.
There are plenty of fun elements to this episode though, including Awkwafina’s chaotic performance and the high-stakes threat to keep the plot moving no matter the curveballs thrown everyone’s way.
4. Bete Noir
Next we have Bete Noir. This episode unfolds like a good ol’ Black Mirror mystery where viewers are plunged into the perspective of our main character whose life takes a strange, and maddening, turn for the worst when a ghost from her secondary-school past lands a job at her workplace.
It’s a brilliant study of gaslighting, toxic workplace dynamics and has racial undertones that naturally evolve on screen. And, frankly, it’s an inventive (and refreshing) use of technology in a sea of recent episodes that sometimes feel like they are treading on each other’s toes.
I was gripped by the escalating mystery and it had a real old-school Black Mirror aesthetic to it bolstered by the stand-out performances from Siena Kelly and Rosy McEwan.
The main thing letting this episode down is, once more, the ending which is slightly underwhelming after such a climactic episode. It’s rewatchable but doesn’t quite make it into absolutely classic territory.
3. Common People
Chris O’Dowd and Rashida Jones play married couple Mike and Amanda, whose lives implode when Amanda is forced to rely on a new high-tech, and pricey, healthcare system to stay alive.
It perhaps loses points for originality (humans have long dissected the disastrous consequences of privatising healthcare) but the human element of this story, matched with powerhouse performances from both Chris and Rashida, make this shine.
It’s not afraid to get dark, and at points I thought it could have been helped by getting even darker since it felt as though it didn’t go quite full throttle enough to drive the point home.
But it all crescendos in a powerful ending scene that will stay with you long after the credits start rolling which is Black Mirror at its best.
2. Plaything
Peter Capaldi grounds this impressive episode that delves into the repressed and demented depths of the human soul – and just how far video games can change our reality.
When a nervous young reporter, Cameron (played by Lewis Gribben), is asked to review a new video game created by Bandersnatch’s Colin Ritter (Will Poulter) the consequences stretch far beyond a simple article.
The build-up has a rich tension and you truly feel that horrible sensation crawl through you as though watching a car crash in slow motion.
Flitting between past and present (the older version of Cameron is played by Capaldi), we start to put together the pieces of the decades-long impact one chance meeting has had on this man’s life.
And the ending will be sure to spark plenty of theories of exactly what went down… and why. So, strap in for a head-scratcher.
1. USS Callister: Into Infinity
The original USS Callister has stood the test of time, exploring themes around abuse of power, male ego, and how far ownership over our bodies extends in an era when technological giants seem to be losing control of the steering wheel.
The cast returns for a poignant, and just as engaging follow up, with our crew attempting to navigate Infinity as undercover game users when up against 35 million paying players.
More Trending
In the real world, as Robert Daly’s death looms large over the company’s head, reality and fiction fuse when we delve into the history of Infinity and just how far Nanette and her friends are willing to go to survive.
It’s a crowdpleaser that follows beloved characters that we’re already invested in while still offering something new to chew on, whether it’s another aspect of technological abuse or a fresh set of moral conundrums in Charlie’s complex web.
For those who loved USS Callister, it’s likely you’ll find this just as enjoyable. And for the sceptics, this might just win you around.
Deals of the Day
Save £300 on the 'Ferrari of lawn mowers' that gardeners are calling 'unbelievable'
The little-known UK chain store where you can buy Amazon returns for 85% off
Antler’s sell-out overnight bag is the 'ultimate travel accessory' and here's why
The sun’s out and here are the best butter yellow staples to brighten your spring dressing
I'm a drinks writer and didn't rate Lidl wine — until I tried this £4.85 gem
Black Mirror season seven is available to stream now.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE: WWE icon CM Punk would be ‘dead or in jail’ without wrestling
MORE: Adolescence season 2 is looking very likely now thanks to Brad Pitt
MORE: Forget Threads – Adolescence creator already made one of the best horror shows ever
