Charlie Brooker’sBlack Mirroranthology series has returned after a nearly two-year hiatus. The popular show takeson a similar dystopian approachas past classics likeThe Twilight Zoneseries, butis technologically-focused, similartoLove, Death, and Robots.Black Mirrorhas some heartwarming moments, but is mostly filled with harsh lessons, consequences of technological advancement, and nightmarish realities brought on by powerful entities.
Although the majority ofthe episodes are disturbingin one sense or another, there are some that stand out as being particularly jarring and complex. These stories reveal not onlythe ugly side of technology, but also the twisted intentions of the human creators behind it, and the effect it has on the individuals who use it.While consequences are deserved in some of these cases, others reveal the harsh potential reality of amonolithic, tech-focused world.
Black Mirror
10"Loch Henry"
Season 6, Episode 2
“Loch Henry” feels less likeaBlack Mirrorepisode and more like a true crime narrative. Directed bySam Miller, the story follows a young couple,film students Davis (Samuel Blenkin)andPia (Myha’la), who set outto make a (somewhat mundane) documentary in Scotland, but switch gears once Pia learns about the town’s history. They insteadpursue a true crime documentaryabouta local serial killer, who has direct connections to Davis and his family. The deeper Pia immerses herself in research, the more horrific her discoveries become.
What makes “Loch Henry"particularly disturbing is how real it feels, and how close it mirrors our current reality.It emphasizes the themeof profiting from trauma, which is increasingly relevant in our current day and age, especially in the true crime space. This direct monetization of trauma is not only exploitative, but arguably makes us desensitized from violence and cruelty. “Loch Henry"also plays on the trope of evil being found where it’s least expected, and has an overarching theme of lies and mistrust. Here, technology has a passive role. It only aids the characters–mostly Pia and Davis–as they try to unravel the town’s twisted secrets.
9"Shut Up and Dance”
Season 3, Episode 3
As the director ofSpeak No Evil(2024),Eden Lake(2008), andThe Descent Part 2(2009),James Watkins is no strangerto unnerving storylines. So it’s no wonder that"Shut Up and Dance” is one of the mostdiscussed episodes of the entire series.It explores themoral righteousness of vigilanteswho exist in digital spaces and touches on themes ofparanoia and extreme surveillance.He also purposely misleads the audience with aseemingly sympathetic protagonist–challenging audiences to not take things at face value, and turning expectations and assumptions on their head.
Essentially,teenager Kenny (Alex Lawther)isblackmailed into performing life-ruining tasksalongside others who were blackmailed by the same source. The actions gradually escalate, from merely delivering a package, to robbing a bank, and eventually to brutal violence. It’s also more focused on humans using technology to achieve a goal and spread a message, than technology itself spinning out of control. The episode is unnerving to watch, and causes conflicting feelings–allowing the audience to marinate in that discomfort for its entire 52-minute runtime.
8"White Bear"
Season 2, Episode 2
DirectorCarl Tibbetts is responsible for both “White Bear"and the “White Christmas” episode ofBlack Mirror–which also made the top 10.“White Bear"is especially dystopiandue to its implications for all characters involved.The plot combines a social experiment setting with reality show satire, but alsoinvolves a pseudo-time loopand a huge twist.Victoria (Lenora Crichlow) wakes upwith amnesia, confused and disoriented, and endures a series of traumatic and confusing events before realizing she’s been set up. The episodefocuses on using voyeurismvia technology as a means of revenge, and follows an eye-for-an-eye mindset.
In a way,“White Bear” is directly comparable with “Shut Up and Dance” with the strong theme of a sympathetic,but highly unreliable lead. Both Kenny and Victoria are seemingly harmless and undeserving of their treatment, but this is just part of the narrative to throw off audiences and make the outcomes completely unpredictable.WhenBlack Mirrorrelies on tropes, it avoids doing anything lazy or cliché whenever possible. The most unnerving part of “White Bear” isn’t even the eventual reveal, but the absolute horror and confusion Victoria initially endures after waking up alone.
7"Plaything”
Season 7, Episode 4
David Slade(Hard Candy,30 Days of Night) directed the interactive 2019Black Mirrorfilm,Bandersnatch. With that, it’s no surprise his second contribution to theBlack Mirrorseriesis also completely unhinged. “Plaything” revolvesaround Cameron (Peter Capaldi), a video game journalist who is brought in for questioning involvingan unsolved murder from decades earlier. The narrative shifts from past to present–showing ayoung Cameron (Lewis Gribben)who becomes increasingly obsessed with AI creatures he fondly refers to as “Thronglets” after he begins studying them for an article.After realizing he can understand and communicate with the creatures while under the influence of LSD, he becomes completely reclusive.
Plaything toucheson themes of isolation, obsession, and autonomy, contained in a digital environment.Throughout the majority of the episode, it’s unclear whether Cameron is losing his mind, or has achieved an elevated technological understanding beyond normal comprehension. The episode’s ending answers that question for audiences, but leaves the remainder of the aftermath unsettled. We know the Thronglets have consciousness, but are not aware of their motivations or intentions, which makes “Plaything” distinctly unnerving.
6"Nosedive”
Season 3, Episode 1
“Nosedive” is one of themost popular episodes of the series, and for good reason.Directed by Joe Wright, the episode followsLacie (Bryce Dallas Howard), an office worker who is trying desperately to be accepted in a society where people rate each other based on everyday interactions. Ratings and overall scores can impact socioeconomic status, from advantages like discounted pricing and exclusive opportunities, to disadvantages like losing a livelihood and being shunned by mainstream society.
The performative nature of digital media shown throughoutNosediveis just as relevant today as ever.As a society, we already judge othersbased on social mediaand status, but this escalates that concept to a new height since others can review, judge, and analyze every move others make.There’s a certain standard for how to act, look, and exist, and as mentioned, nonconformity is frowned upon.“Nosedive” is brilliant in how it approaches the future of social media and is a cautionary tale about the performative nature of how we present ourselves outwardly versus who we truly are. Dallas Howard is magnificent in her role, and although disturbing, this episode is one of the few with an optimistic ending.
5"The Entire History of You"
Season 1, Episode 3
One ofBlack Mirror’searliest episodes is still one of its most unnerving.“The Entire History of You”, directed byBrian Welsh, follows a young coupledealing with trust issuesin their relationship.Liam (Toby Kebbell) andFfion (Jodie Whittaker) go to a dinner partywhere Ffion encounters a past lover. Liam is immediately jealous, and becomeshyperfixatedwith Ffion’s past relationship.Using his Grain device, an implant that allows individuals to see their memories and interactions, he analyzes their argument repeatedly, trying to find a crack in Ffion’s narrative.
This concept of recalling memories is unnerving because it completely wipes out anytrue sense of privacy. While the Grain device is useful to the individual attached to it, like helping find a misplaced item or reliving a positive memory, it becomes predatory in that others besides the individual can view the memories. This shifts the Grain from a convenient tool to a dangerous technological device.When memories can be stolen, all concepts of personal autonomy are instantly negated.This narrative especially highlights those negative aspects by showing the downwardspiral of Liam’s paranoia, and despite finding the answers he was searching for, it cost him everything he cared about.
4"White Christmas"
Season 2, Episode 4
“White Christmas” is right out ofa technological dystopian nightmare. Not only is this episode especially complex, but its eventual climactic reveal is equally shocking as it is horrifying. Also directed by Carl Tibbetts, the story centers around two men,Matt (Jon Hamm) andJoe(Rafe Spall) who areisolated together in a remote cabin. OnChristmas Day, they open upand discuss their lives with one another. Much like the iconic “Black Museum"Black Mirrorepisode,this storyintroduces various interconnected narratives, and as more context is revealed, the stories meld and create a full picture.
While Matt’s past involves creating and using exploitative and predatory technology, Joe’s past is more hung up on a relationship that met a tragic end, partially due to censorship tools. They are both selfish individuals, but use their negative traits in different ways.Matt’s sins involve endangering others for monetary gain as a career move, while Joe’s sins are directly related to his personal life, and are motivated by anger and bitterness.“White Christmas” explores what a “moral” punishment entails, and uses the manipulation of timeas a torture method. “White Christmas” takes its time to give context, but eventually leads toa harsh reality checkfor both men.
3"Arkangel”
Season 4, Episode 2
“Arkangel” is a highly underrated episode directed bycontemporary legend Jodie Foster. The story is unique in thatit will heavily resonate with those who grew up with helicopter parents and/or households. Itexplores themes of overprotection, censorship, andloss of privacy through surveillance. Children can receive an implant that allows their parents to monitor and censor their entire point of view, and even see their vitals.
In this case,single mother Marie (Rosemarie DeWitt)is overly cautious due to an incident early in her daughter’s life, and uses Arkangel constantly as a personal comfort. At first, it works well, but asher daughter Sara (Brenna Harding)grows into a young woman, Marie still cannot fully let go, and chooses to spy on her teenage daughter. This loss of privacy, in combination with extreme sheltering, does nothing but a disservice to Sara in the long run. It leads to resentment, violence, desensitization, and heartbreak.This episode is one of the most tragic in theBlack Mirroruniverse, as it begins with good intentions, but morphs intoa violation of privacy,and eventually erupts into violence.Arkangel is an emotional, cautionary tale about how violating personal boundaries can destroy trust and lead to long-term consequences.
2"Men Against Fire"
Season 3, Episode 5
“Men Against Fire” is often overlooked in the series, and is likely underappreciated due to its dystopian themes, heavy ending, and harsh parallels to reality–now more than ever before.In the future, soldiers receive an implant called MASS, which they are told will improve their senses and strategic abilities. They are then set loose tohunt zombie-like creatures called Roaches. But whatbegins as a “humans versus monsters"dynamic shifts into something even more horrific, asprotagonist Stripe (Malachi Kirby)starts seeing through the cracks of the reality he’s been presented with.
“Men Against Fire” explores dehumanization through technology, ethnic cleansing, and manipulation.It shows whatdystopian military indoctrination can lead to, anduses fascist ideology, mind manipulation, and extreme violence to keep the status quo.It explores the theme where the horrors of war are rewritten as heroism, which was masterfully doneby director Jakob Verbruggen. Today, with countless humanitarian conflicts throughout the world, the concept that soldiers can be manipulated by a technological implant is terrifying, but likely inevitable. Dehumanization is often used in times of conflict, so adding AI to the equation has devastating implications for peace and humanity.
1"Common People”
Season 7, Episode 1
Living in a time when everything is constantly shifting from ownership to subscription is daunting. “Common People” cleverly heightens this concept to the extreme. Happy coupleMike (Chris O’Dowd) andAmanda(Rashida Jones) have their world turned upside downwhen Amanda is diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor. They’re given the option to opt into a surgery and subscription service that would replace the damaged brain tissue and maintain Amanda’s cognitive function for a reasonable monthly cost. They both agree, and are grateful at first–but their relief is short-lived.The subscription service cost starts to rapidly increase, forcing the couple to pay more just for Amanda to maintain a normal, functioning life, and leading Mike to take extreme measures in an attempt to keep her alive.
Keep Reading:‘Black Mirror’ Season 7 Review: Charlie Brooker’s Netflix Series Goes Back to Basics
