Black Mirror is an anthology TV series in which each episode tells a standalone tale of caution about dystopian technology in the near-future. It’s been two years since season 6 (which was really good) and this week Netflix added all six episodes of season 7. As viewers don’t have to watch the episodes in any particular order, or even watch all of them if they’re a casual fan, here are all the episodes of season 7 ranked from worst to best.
“Infinity” is the sequel to the original “USS Callister” episode from season 6 of Black Mirror.
What is “USS Callister: Into Infinity” about? A video game company clones their employees and uses them as characters in their game, Infinity, about the USS Callister. In order to survive, the characters need microtransactions (purchasable in-game upgrades) and so players become pirates and rob other players. The Callister crew seeks out the game clone of the video game company’s CEO in order to create a virtual space where they will be safe from other players.
To be honest, I didn’t like the first USS Callister episode (from season 6). This sequel was hard to follow and was twice as long as some of the other season 7 episodes. It dragged.
Will Poulter as eccentric game designer Colin Ritman, who we first met in the interactive “Bandersnatch” episode.
What is “Plaything” about? In a flashback, a game reviewer named Cameron is given a coveted opportunity to interview a famous (and eccentric) programmer, Colin. Colin gives Cameron a copy of his newest game, which is a lofi Sims-like game requiring the user to care for a hoard of animals called Thronglets. Cameron becomes obsessed with his Thronglets which is magnified by a burgeoning LSD addiction. When a guest in his home cruelly murders his beloved baby Thronglets, Cameron murders him. In the present, Cameron hijacks a government server and allows the Thronglets to reprogram the entire human population into peace-loving pacifists.
This episode is a “one man’s descent into madness” story, which lacks the emotional connection of other Black Mirror episodes this season. However, the end twist is fun and I think gamers may rate “Playthings” higher.
Paul Giamatti and Patsy Ferran in “Eulogy”.
What is “Eulogy” about? A technology company called Eulogy reaches out to Phillip after his ex-girlfriend Carol dies. A Eulogy Guide assists Phillip in trying to find memories of Carol to share with her family at her memorial service. The couple did not end on good terms and the search eventually reveals a lost letter from Carol to Phillip that changes everything.
The technology in “Eulogy” is pretty cool. Phillip can enter any photo to explore the memory attached to the image. I also like the idea of using technology to explore a failed relationship in its entirety. “Euology” is a great episode, but I rated it lower than other great episodes that had stronger endings.
Issa Rae and Emma Corrin in “Hotel Reverie”.
What is “Hotel Reverie” about? New technology allows a small movie studio to create a remake of a beloved classic film, Hotel Reverie, with a famous actor because it will be filmed in real time, and they will only need to pay for 90 minutes of the actor’s time. Actress Brandy Friday (Issa Rae) is thrilled at the opportunity as she has always loved the movie and even knows all the lines. However, the technology malfunctions and Brandy becomes stuck inside the world of the film where she falls in love with the lead actress.
“Hotel Reverie” is a great standalone love story that will remind Black Mirror fans of the “San Junipero” episode, and in fact, a reference to this episode is made when Brandy’s address is revealed to be on “Junipero Drive”. It is a sweet love story where the danger comes from technology. The characters can actually be killed by the movie’s black-and-white assassins and and if Brandy doesn’t hit her final line, she could be trapped in the world of Hotel Reverie forever.
Chris O’Dowd and Rashida Jones in “Common People”.
What is “Common People” about? A happy couple, Amanda and Mike, are shocked by a medical tragedy. Desperate, Mike agrees to a subscription-based technology, Rivermind, that will bring Amanda back. As time goes on, the technology becomes crappier with the only solution being an upgraded subscription to financially prohibitive “tiers” of the service. When the “common” tier the couple is on begins programming her to interject ads into her everyday life (endangering her job as a teacher), Mike goes to extreme lengths to afford the upgrade.
It’s hard to rank “Common People” second because it is a really good episode and feels like classic Black Mirror at its best, but the top three episodes were all really close. Chris O’Dowd and Rashida Jones are genuinely endearing as a working class couple and the Rivermind technology getting more and more expensive (while the company gaslights users about the shoddy “Common” tier) is something we are already experiencing in real life (see: planned obsolescence). This felt like the nearest “near future” in this season.
The former high school outcast and new girl in “Bête Noire”.
What is Bête Noire about? The glammed-up version of a high school outcast is hired by former classmate’s work. The classmate is then gaslit by a series of disorienting events in which reality seems to shift (for example, she has a lifetime nut allergy and suddenly nut allergies don’t exist). She finally discovers that the new girl has a pendant which uses quantum physics to allow her to choose a parallel universe in which the specific reality she wants exists.
Bête Noire is captivating because viewers start off skeptical of the main character, but as the episode goes on we become more convinced that she is being gaslit and something major is amiss. The technology discussed is fascinating and the episode has such a juicy ending. Many Black Mirror stories end on a depressing note, so the end of Bête Noire is remarkable in that the main character has just about the best ending anyone can ask for — she’s queen of the universe!
See also: Black Mirror Season 6, Ranked
Black Mirror season 7 is now streaming on Netflix.
USS Callister: Into Infinity
“Infinity” is the sequel to the original “USS Callister” episode from season 6 of Black Mirror.
What is “USS Callister: Into Infinity” about? A video game company clones their employees and uses them as characters in their game, Infinity, about the USS Callister. In order to survive, the characters need microtransactions (purchasable in-game upgrades) and so players become pirates and rob other players. The Callister crew seeks out the game clone of the video game company’s CEO in order to create a virtual space where they will be safe from other players.
To be honest, I didn’t like the first USS Callister episode (from season 6). This sequel was hard to follow and was twice as long as some of the other season 7 episodes. It dragged.
Plaything
Will Poulter as eccentric game designer Colin Ritman, who we first met in the interactive “Bandersnatch” episode.
What is “Plaything” about? In a flashback, a game reviewer named Cameron is given a coveted opportunity to interview a famous (and eccentric) programmer, Colin. Colin gives Cameron a copy of his newest game, which is a lofi Sims-like game requiring the user to care for a hoard of animals called Thronglets. Cameron becomes obsessed with his Thronglets which is magnified by a burgeoning LSD addiction. When a guest in his home cruelly murders his beloved baby Thronglets, Cameron murders him. In the present, Cameron hijacks a government server and allows the Thronglets to reprogram the entire human population into peace-loving pacifists.
This episode is a “one man’s descent into madness” story, which lacks the emotional connection of other Black Mirror episodes this season. However, the end twist is fun and I think gamers may rate “Playthings” higher.
Eulogy
Paul Giamatti and Patsy Ferran in “Eulogy”.
What is “Eulogy” about? A technology company called Eulogy reaches out to Phillip after his ex-girlfriend Carol dies. A Eulogy Guide assists Phillip in trying to find memories of Carol to share with her family at her memorial service. The couple did not end on good terms and the search eventually reveals a lost letter from Carol to Phillip that changes everything.
The technology in “Eulogy” is pretty cool. Phillip can enter any photo to explore the memory attached to the image. I also like the idea of using technology to explore a failed relationship in its entirety. “Euology” is a great episode, but I rated it lower than other great episodes that had stronger endings.
Hotel Reverie
Issa Rae and Emma Corrin in “Hotel Reverie”.
What is “Hotel Reverie” about? New technology allows a small movie studio to create a remake of a beloved classic film, Hotel Reverie, with a famous actor because it will be filmed in real time, and they will only need to pay for 90 minutes of the actor’s time. Actress Brandy Friday (Issa Rae) is thrilled at the opportunity as she has always loved the movie and even knows all the lines. However, the technology malfunctions and Brandy becomes stuck inside the world of the film where she falls in love with the lead actress.
“Hotel Reverie” is a great standalone love story that will remind Black Mirror fans of the “San Junipero” episode, and in fact, a reference to this episode is made when Brandy’s address is revealed to be on “Junipero Drive”. It is a sweet love story where the danger comes from technology. The characters can actually be killed by the movie’s black-and-white assassins and and if Brandy doesn’t hit her final line, she could be trapped in the world of Hotel Reverie forever.
Common People
Chris O’Dowd and Rashida Jones in “Common People”.
What is “Common People” about? A happy couple, Amanda and Mike, are shocked by a medical tragedy. Desperate, Mike agrees to a subscription-based technology, Rivermind, that will bring Amanda back. As time goes on, the technology becomes crappier with the only solution being an upgraded subscription to financially prohibitive “tiers” of the service. When the “common” tier the couple is on begins programming her to interject ads into her everyday life (endangering her job as a teacher), Mike goes to extreme lengths to afford the upgrade.
It’s hard to rank “Common People” second because it is a really good episode and feels like classic Black Mirror at its best, but the top three episodes were all really close. Chris O’Dowd and Rashida Jones are genuinely endearing as a working class couple and the Rivermind technology getting more and more expensive (while the company gaslights users about the shoddy “Common” tier) is something we are already experiencing in real life (see: planned obsolescence). This felt like the nearest “near future” in this season.
Bête Noire
The former high school outcast and new girl in “Bête Noire”.
What is Bête Noire about? The glammed-up version of a high school outcast is hired by former classmate’s work. The classmate is then gaslit by a series of disorienting events in which reality seems to shift (for example, she has a lifetime nut allergy and suddenly nut allergies don’t exist). She finally discovers that the new girl has a pendant which uses quantum physics to allow her to choose a parallel universe in which the specific reality she wants exists.
Bête Noire is captivating because viewers start off skeptical of the main character, but as the episode goes on we become more convinced that she is being gaslit and something major is amiss. The technology discussed is fascinating and the episode has such a juicy ending. Many Black Mirror stories end on a depressing note, so the end of Bête Noire is remarkable in that the main character has just about the best ending anyone can ask for — she’s queen of the universe!
See also: Black Mirror Season 6, Ranked
Black Mirror season 7 is now streaming on Netflix.