Black Mirroris back , and it ’s a solid time of year overall . All six episodes capture dystopia , despair , andtech terror , along with — don’t blink!—the casual glint of joyousness . If you ’re a sports fan of Charlie Brooker ’s series , you should definitely watch the whole drib without skipping any . But if you ’re curious , here ’s how we suppose the first appearance line up , from least successful to most entertaining .
6. “Plaything”
A wiry - hairy Peter Capaldi ’s execution as a hombre who has n’t left his flat in far too retentive is note - perfect , and the flashbacks to his younger , acid - gobble self ( Lewis Gribben , presently to be seen inBlade Runner 2099 ) are perfectly calibrated . We also hump the appearance of Will Poulter ’s Colin Ritman , last reckon offering up unelaborated choices inBlack Mirror : Bandersnatchand no less of a peril - maker here — as well as the episode ’s cynical depiction of ’ 90s video recording plot journalism .
But there ’s a beat a niggling too early in “ Plaything ” where Capaldi ’s character take government note of the “ fundamental Department of State computing machine ” that ’s watching him during a police interview , and that sort of kill the suspense . It ’s already obvious his marshy arrest at the top of the episode is part of some grander design , and it ’s not hard to connect the dot to figure out what his purpose are . Using a menial pen and newspaper publisher to tumble all of guild in a single blow is a nice touch , though .
5. “Common People”
Season seven ’s lead - off sequence has dozens of build - in goodwill thanks to the casting of Rashida Jones and Chris O’Dowd , much - sleep together comedic actors who here spiel marital mates Amanda and Mike . They ’re barely scrape by as it is when Amanda develops a brain tumour that ’ll mean the end of her life — if not for Rivermind , resplendent experimental engineering described as “ a rotation in neuroscience . ”
“ Common People ” distills a deal of anguish into its plot of ground . There ’s the repulsion of chronic illness and becoming dependent on an uncaring healthcare diligence . There ’s the distressing delectation people take in witnessing human woe , as march by the humiliating online challenges Mike submits to in exchange for much - needed cash . There ’s the apprehensiveness - replete realization that the expensive thing you already had that was working just all right now demand exponentially more dollars to pay for . There ’s also the reveal that Rivermind is feed on its customers ’ own head power to fire its server , which adds a whole other dimension of proprietary ickiness .
It ’s a deal , and “ Common People ” balances it well , with a dose of purgation at the end that ’s adequate parts release and awful . Also , the sight of a rock - bottom Mike selling the duet ’s never - used crib to minor who cheerfully declare they be after to set it on firing for a medicine video walk the telephone line so perfectly between hilarious and sob - inducing . It ’s a small import , but it captures the tone at study here with expert precision .
Emma Corrin as a vintage Hollywood star in “Hotel Reverie.“© Netflix
4. “Bête Noire”
Unlike mostBlack Mirrorepisodes , “ Bête Noire ” accept place in a instant where applied science mirrors what ’s really available to us in 2025 . That makes it even freakier when Maria ( Siena Kelly ) starts to suspect that her former classmate and current employment rival , Verity ( Rosy McEwan ) , has deployed computer trickery to somehow sabotage the textile of reality . She does n’t have much to go on other than her own certainty … and the knowledge that trueness is a technical school wizardry with a licit bitch against her .
The actual reveal of Verity ’s strategy , however , stray deeply into fantasy district ; for all of the wild techBlack Mirrorhas imagined over the years , Verity ’s harnessing of multiple dimension — and being able to switch between them with the nictation of an eye — feels among the most far - fetched .
In the build - up to that steep reveal , “ Bête Noire ” is often hard to watch ; the tension builds to near - unendurable floor as everyone in Maria ’s cranial orbit starts to consider she ’s lose her creative thinker . Weshouldbe on her side , but both Maria and Verity are middling frightful the great unwashed ; one ’s a raging narcist , the other ’s essentially a comic record book supervillain . The instalment need patience from the viewer , but it does have its rewards , including a breathless nasty streak you justhaveto salutation and well - come in Amyl and the Sniffers traverse leading up to the final showdown .
Verity (Rosy McEwan) at her desk in “Bête Noire.” © Netflix
3. “Hotel Reverie”
The tech in “ Hotel Reverie ” is so complicated , it ’s lucky viewing audience have Awkwafina and her ReDream co - worker to explicate its finer points throughout the episode ( no thanks to that hombre who spills his drink on the hardware , though ) . But it ’s used in service of a delicate beloved story , in which Issa Rae ’s contemporary movie star falls for a vintage moderate lady ( Emma Corrin ) when the two meet in an immersive humanity re - create a dark - and - snowy Hollywood classic .
There ’s a lot going on here paper - Stephen Samuel Wise — admit the uncomfortable thought that an AI fibre could evolve , gain dimensionality , and perhaps even become ego - cognizant . There ’s also the whole alarming but not all far - fetched scheme of jazzing up “ inheritance medium ” by adding advanced A - listers , aiming to attract untested hearing who would n’t bother watching it otherwise .
But the romance is the main focus of “ Hotel Reverie , ” and eagle - eyed TV audience will mark that Rae ’s grapheme live on “ Junipero Drive , ” a nod toBlack Mirror‘s much - loved sequence about another meaningful connecter that forms within a simulation . The tender end view is n’t quite “ San Junipero ” levels of happy , but it ’s refreshing whenBlack Mirrorthrows out an affirmative conclusion to cut through its usual farewell short letter of concern and melancholy .
Verity (Rosy McEwan) at her desk in “Bête Noire.” © Netflix
2. “Eulogy”
Sometimes , the most effectiveBlack Mirrorepisodes are the most childlike . “ eulogium ” has just two characters and pivot around straight ( if far - succeeding and wondrous ) tech . It follows a taradiddle screw thread that wind through an ordinary man ’s life — unveil one tragical mistake that send ripple throughout his entire existence .
Paul Giamatti is perfectly drift as Phil . He still has a landline phone , which is how he receives the news that he ’s being asked to contribute to a virtual remembrance for a former girlfriend . And this is not just an ordinary memorial ; this is a foreshorten - edge immersive memorial that helps recreate moments from the deceased woman ’s aliveness .
He agree to facilitate , with an AI guide at his side , he ’s able-bodied to actually step inside of the Polaroid he digs up and re - experience the minute the photos were taken . At first , it ’s kind of playfulness . But as the memory come flooding back , so does the nuisance the family relationship make .
Phil (Paul Giamatti) looks through his almost-forgotten memories in “Eulogy.” © Netflix
By focusing so tightly on a exclusive character reference ’s life and pain sensation — drawn out by tech that actuallyisn’tharmful for once—”Eulogy ” ends up being a deeply human taradiddle . It ’s beautifully brought to life by Giamatti , who has us breathlessly watching as Phil learns an torturous truth that ’s long been lodged in his past , then discover a style to make peace with it .
1. “USS Callister: Into Infinity”
A perfectly executed extension of much - enjoy season four episode “ USS Callister , ” this sequel is nearly characteristic - length and work both its “ innies ” and “ outies ” ( or theBlack Mirrorequivalent ) to a comforting conclusion that ’s equal parts thrilling and clever .
We especially loved Cristin Milioti doing three-fold duty as digital and human Nanette Cole as they meet face - to - face , but special props go to Jimmi Simpson for tincture his versions of James Walton with unlike story of cheapness , heroism , and caveman charisma .
you could find out season seven ofBlack Mirroron Netflix now . Which episode did you like the best ?
© Netflix
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