The 7 Best Episodes of ‘Black Mirror’, Ranked
Nowadays, it’s easy to compare any anthology series to The Twilight Zone, whether discussing ‘60s contemporaries like The Outer Limits or more recent examples like American Horror Story.
In spite of the numerous TV shows favorably held up to The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror arguably comes the closest to living up the expectations and tone of Rod Serling’s genre-defining sci-fi series, right down to the harrowing storylines and the unexpected plot twists present at the end of every episode.
Just as The Twilight Zone offered intelligent conversations about prevalent ‘60s themes like racism, nuclear armageddon, interstellar travel, and humanity’s relationship to the stars, Black Mirror offers a similarly in-depth look at topics related to contemporary mass culture, including intelligent breakdowns of technology, A.I., social media, and the discrepancies between our digital and physical realities.
As it prepares to enter its seventh season, we decided to take a look back at Charlie Brooker’s award-winning sci-fi TV show so far. From humorous dystopian satires to genre-bending romantic dramas, here are some of the greatest Black Mirror episodes we’ve seen so far, ranked in order from worst to best.
7. Nosedive
Nowadays, our current obsession with social media only seems to be steadily worsening over time, blurring the lines between our lives off-screen and the fabricated personas we build online. Touching upon this idea in a sadly not-so-exaggerated manner, “Nosedive” finds people using a sophisticated app to rate their interactions with other people, significantly influencing one another’s social standing within their outlandish environment. Utilizing a more comedic tone than most other Black Mirror episodes before or since, “Nosedive” is sure to gain increased relevance with each passing year, humorously surveying the dangers of social media in a tense yet thoughtful manner.
6. Hang the DJ
Dating is never easy, requiring us to awkwardly stumble our way through conversations and rely on poorly-delivered jokes to ease the dramatic tension we feel at the dinner. Probing the intricacies of blind dating, “Hang the DJ” also provides a tantalizing scenario when it comes to our romantic endeavors: I.E., what if an app could curate a list of suitable partners, including the exact amount of time we’re able to spend with them before our relationship ends? A novel enough idea on the surface, “Hang the DJ” shows off Black Mirror’s abilities to pack a whirlwind of surprises into its otherwise straightforward premise, encouraging viewers to assess their own relationships and the strength of the connections they share to their respective romantic interests.
5. White Bear
Where to even begin with an episode as powerful as “White Bear”? One of the earliest Black Mirror episodes that single-handedly put the series on the map, “White Bear” focuses on an amnesiac woman’s flight from a nightmarish near-future where everyone is controlled by a strange signal on their phone and television screens. Cleverly skewering a far range of topics from crime and justice to violence as a form of mass entertainment, “White Bear” hooks viewers’ interest from its opening moments onwards, embodying every telltale aspect of a traditional Black Mirror episode (the twist ending, the discussions about technological misuse, the morally gray characterization, etc.).
4. The Entire History of You
Imagine if you had a device capable of recording every memory you’ve ever had, affording oneself a chance to replay these life-altering events whenever you so choose. Taking this simple idea and pushing it towards its most disastrous potential, “The Entire History of You”’s intelligent takedown of pseudo-cell phone technology is enough to leave viewers hurriedly adding password protection to their own photos and personal text messages. In an era where the physical world is moving increasingly towards an online presence, “The Entire History of You” offers a glimpse into a sobering future, one where the distinction between the digital and material is less clear-cut than ever.
3. USS Callister
The crown jewel of Black Mirror’s fourth season, “USS Callister” also acts as a brilliant takedown of online gaming culture, simulated reality, and systemic abuse of power in a self-contained setting. Though marketed as a tongue-in-cheek spoof of Gene Roddenberry’s legendary Star Trek: The Original Series, “USS Callister” uses its space opera presentation to deliver a dark and disturbing look at the intricacies surrounding interpersonal communication. With Jesse Plemons knocking it out of the park as an embittered programmer/James Kirk wannabe, “USS Callister” is a Black Mirror episode unlike any other, leaving plenty of room for debate, interpretation, and thematic analysis in the course of its fast-moving 76-minute runtime.
2. San Junipero
It’s ironic to think that one of the best Black Mirror episodes ever made doesn’t rely on any outright scares or thrills, as is so often the case with the series’ signature narratives. Instead, “San Junipero” provides a sweeping love story about two young women who meet, by chance, at a mysterious 1980s beach resort. As expected from Black Mirror, not everything is quite what it seems in its enigmatic settings, yet “San Junipero”’s upbeat tone allows it to stand in sharp contrast to the harrowing atmosphere of practically every other episode in the series. For this reason alone, it deserves viewers’ avid attention, unfolding like an ambitious cross between Call Me By Your Name, Her, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
1. White Christmas
In many ways, “White Christmas” is responsible for helping Black Mirror make the leap from a regional sensation into the world-renowned phenomen it’s currently hailed as. Set in an isolated winter cabin where two men (Jon Hamm and Rafe Spall) share personal stories about their past over a blustery Christmas Day, “White Christmas” conjures a predictably claustrophobic atmosphere over the course of its 74-minute runtime. An unconventional holiday special that touches upon a range of relevant topics – including A.I., dating, and a heightened portrayal of digital blocking – “White Christmas” is a devastating sci-fi parable sure to make viewers’ skin crawl for days, perhaps even weeks, after their initial viewing experience.
