Warning! This article contains spoilers for Black Mirror season 7.Black Mirrorseason 7 is undoubtedly among the finest outings of the Netflix sci-fi series, but some of its episodes are arguably way better than others. Like its predecessors,Black Mirrorseason 7 does not feature a set of interconnected episodes. Instead, it unfolds a new standalone story with each installment while focusing on the franchise’s overarching recurring theme of the anxieties surrounding humanity’s relationship with technology.
What makes season 7 slightly different, though, is that its final episode,“USS Callister: Into Infinity,“is a direct sequel toBlack Mirrorseason 4’s episode 1, “USS Callister.“Some episodes in the new season also seem significantly different in tone, which allows the overarching franchise to grow in a new direction. However, like its predecessors,Black Mirrorseason 7 is also a mixed bag, where some of its episodes masterfully unfold their sci-fi narratives, while others seem fairly mediocre with their storytelling.
6"Bête Noire”
Black Mirror Season 7, Episode 2
Like mostBlack Mirrorepisodes, “Bête Noire” holds immense potential from the beginning. However, it fails when it stretches the suspension of disbelief a little too far with its central technology. The episode has some intriguing thematic underpinnings about the corporate life, but it struggles to land its ending. “Bête Noire” also seems like a far cry from mostBlack Mirrorepisodes because it takes too long to introduce its core sci-fi elements. Whileit can be seen as an effective experiment for the series to explore new narrative avenues, it fails to be as memorable as the better installments in the season.
5"Hotel Reverie”
Black Mirror Season 7, Episode 3
Emma Corrin puts up an incredible performance inBlack Mirror’s “Hotel Reverie,“which proves to be the only saving grace for the season 7 installment. Although, like all episodes in the series, “Hotel Reverie,” too, follows an intriguing concept, its tone seems to be all over the place as it goes back and forth between being comical and emotionally resonant. Eventhe episode’s commentary on the growing concerns surrounding the lack of originality in the film industry is a little on the nose, which prevents it from being as impactful and novel as other episodes in the season.
4"Plaything”
Black Mirror Season 7, Episode 4
Unlike “USS Callister,” “Plaything” is not a direct continuation of a previousBlack Mirrorinstallment. However, it riffs on the ideas presented inBlack Mirror: Bandersnatchand unfolds more like its spin-off. It rises in the ranks to become one of the better installments in the season because of how it seamlessly blends the past with the future. By merging two distinct timelines, “Plaything” presents both retro visuals and futuristic esthetics whileraising many questions about how humanity’s relationship with technology in the past impacts its present and future.
Plaything Ending Explained: How Did The Throng “Update” Humanity?
Black Mirror season 7, episode 4, Plaything saw Cameron’s plan fall into place and the Throng update humanity, but how did they change human nature?
Peter Capaldi is brilliant in the episode as the older version of the main character, Cameron Walker, and it is also fun to see Will Poulter reprise his role as Colin Ritman. Avid gamers and viewers familiar with 90s culture will enjoy this episode even more than others because it drops many subtle references to everything fromWipeout 2097to Aphex Twin.
3"Eulogy”
Black Mirror Season 7, Episode 5
Like most episodes inBlack Mirrorseason 7, “Eulogy” starts slowly and takes time to establish the rules of its central technology. However, once that is out of the way, it does an incredible job of immersing viewers in its main character’s journey through time as he relives his memories through pictures. The technology featured in the episode, which allows one to step inside old photos, is relatively simple compared to most others in the series. Owing to this, it is hard not to believe that"Eulogy” could have been a dull addition to the franchise.
While mostBlack Mirrorepisodes are quite edgy and disturbing with their portrayal of the future, “Eulogy” thrives on quiet melancholy and feel-good drama.
However, Paul Giamatti delivers an incredible performance, allowing the viewer to feel the rage and emptiness his character has felt throughout his life, not knowing why the love of his life abandoned him and never reached out to him again. While mostBlack Mirrorepisodes are quite edgy and disturbing with their portrayal of the future, “Eulogy” thrives on quiet melancholy and feel-good drama. Some viewers may not like it because it is different from other episodes in tone, but it seems like the right step forward for the series to evolve in a new, refreshing direction.
2"USS Callister: Into Infinity”
Black Mirror Season 7, Episode 6
“USS Callister: Into Infinity” could have easily been the best installment inBlack Mirrorseason 7. However, unlike the other episodes in the season, it is hard to see it as a standalone story since it begins where season 4’s episode 1 left. Some viewers might still be able to enjoy it without watching the original “USS Callister” episode, but it is far more compelling if one sees it as an extension of its parent installment. With that said, though, “USS Callister: Into Infinity” could have ruined its parent episode’s legacy if it had mishandled the established character beats.
Did You Know: The original “USS Callister” from season 4 is theBlack Mirrorepisode with the most number of Emmy Nominations.
Instead of repeating all the story elements that made its predecessor successful,Black Mirrorseason 7’s episode 6 cleverly attempts to resolve all the loose threads its parent episode left behind. It begins by revealing that, despite escaping their season 4 fate, the video game digital clone characters of the USS Callister are struggling to stay alive in the virtual world of Infinity. This proves to be a compelling conflict for the characters and allows the episode to explore new story beats from the real world.
In many ways,“USS Callister: Into Infinity” also seems reminiscent of Apple TV+‘sSeverancebecause of how it portrays the battle for autonomy between two alternate versions of the same character. Although the episode is limited by its runtime, which prevents it from going too deep with its exploration of themes surrounding identity and freedom, it still proves to be a fun ride. Not to mention, it also catches one off-guard by featuring a brief sequence with Jesse Plemons, which makes it a complete and well-rounded follow-up to the original episode.
1"Common People"
Black Mirror Season 7, Episode 1
While many viewers would prefer ranking “USS Callister: Into Infinity” above “Common People,” and understandably so, “Common People, for me, would be the best episode inBlack Mirrorseason 7 because of its hard-hitting and relatable themes. “USS Callister: Into Infinity” enjoys the benefit of being a follow-up to one of the most popular installments in the franchise. “Common People,” in contrast, risks exploring a whole new idea but executes it almost perfectly.
7
33 (excludingBandersnatch)
Streaming On
Netflix
In its early moments,the episode comes off as an effective satire on the growing use of subscription models in nearly every aspect of modern life—from streaming services to healthcare. However, the more it delves deeper into exploring this, the darker it becomes before ending on a poignant note. Although I had a great time watching most installments ofBlack Mirrorseason 7, “Common People” left me shattered with its ending, even though I saw it coming almost midway through its runtime. Even when its credits started rolling, it took me a while to recover before I moved on to another episode.
Black Mirror
Black Mirror is a dystopian anthology series that explores the unsettling and profound impact of modern technology on society. Premiering in 2011, it examines various scenarios where technological advancements intersect with human nature, creating thought-provoking narratives about contemporary and future issues.
