20 Most Stunning ‘Black Mirror’ Episodes, Ranked
Content material Warning: This text accommodates spoilers for the Netflix present Black Mirror.To say Black Mirror has grow to be a cultural phenomenon could be an understatement. Famend for its Twilight Zone-esque storytelling, it tells weird and infrequently surprising tales in regards to the pitfalls of contemporary expertise. These concepts create fascinating standalone tales that simply get the viewers’s consideration and hook them. By the point an episode wraps up, viewers are left combing the episode for hidden meanings. Many of those tales additionally maintain shocking parts and twists that the viewers can’t appear to get sufficient of, resulting in among the finest episodes of Black Mirror.
Season 6 of the favored Netflix anthology present gave followers among the weirdest Black Mirror episodes up to now (for higher or worse). A few of its storylines now make up the perfect Black Mirror episodes, and viewers might discover that there isn’t any scarcity of surprising reveals and messed-up plot factors that make them particularly memorable.
20
“Nosedive”
Season 3, Episode 1 (2016)
Not typically can we see a cheerful ending in a Black Mirror episode, and the one in “Nosedive” is deliciously paradoxical and catches us off-guard. Lacie (Bryce Dallas Howard) lives in a pastel, curated nook of the world that’s constructed on the hierarchy of social media rankings, and she or he has a possibility to extend her rating at a childhood good friend’s high-profile marriage ceremony. Nonetheless, the journey to the ceremony goes awry, whereas slowly opening Lacie’s eyes to the hypocrisy and superficiality of her world.
This Black Mirror‘s exploration into the constructions of social media goes to a spot we typically count on — the concepts of social pressures and inconceivable expectations aren’t essentially new. But, every twist and switch is equally humorous and irritating, main us into the cathartic closing scenes that genuinely are highly effective. After her antics, Lacie is imprisoned with the bottom social media rating doable, however, sarcastically, that is probably the most free she has ever been, changing into one of many extra hopeful endings of the collection regardless of being behind bars. —Jasneet Singh
19
“Fifteen Million Deserves”
Season 1, Episode 2 (2011)
Daniel Kaluuya leads the second episode of the collection in a dystopian world the place individuals labor on bikes to realize credit they will spend on meals or leisure. He performs Bing, a person who helps a lady enter a expertise competitors with a view to get a greater life by shopping for her a dear entry ticket. Nonetheless, as a substitute of launching her singing profession, she leads to the grownup trade, resulting in Bing staging considerably of a single riot in opposition to the judges that turns into one thing extra surprising.
What’s actually provocative about this episode is how near house it hits. The system arrange is just not not like the capitalist one in actual life: relentlessly laboring for naked requirements, being basically managed by leisure, and hanging the concept of once-in-a-lifetime success in entrance of everybody. When Bing’s enraged speech that dissects the corruption in and cruel nature of the system is commercialized, as he will get his personal present, it additionally looks like a meta method for Black Mirror to reveal their very own present. They might be dealing immediately with these sociopolitical concepts, however finally, they’re like Bing, nonetheless entrapped within the system, having fun with their success. However probably the most resounding a part of this episode is that, given the possibility, who would not make the identical determination? —Jasneet Singh
18
“Past the Sea”
Season 6, Episode 3 (2023)
Aaron Paul and Josh Hartnett star as astronauts Cliff and David in “Past the Sea,” a great Black Mirror episode from Season 6 depicting an alternate model of 1969. The duo is proven touring in deep area on a six-year mission, and since they solely have to do minimal duties, they spend most of their time of their “replicas” again on earth. However when David’s household is murdered and his duplicate is destroyed, issues take a darkish flip.
When Cliff makes the unlucky determination to let David use his duplicate, it complicates the astronaut’s sense of identification (additional influenced by his attraction to Cliff’s spouse). The disturbing ending exhibits David tricking Cliff into staying on the ship as he murders his total household, simply to make him really feel as helpless, remoted, and devastated as he has been. It is an ending which will have come as a shock to some, however was doubtless predictable for many who noticed the indicators of decline in David’s psychological state.
17
“Demon 79”
Season 6, Episode 5 (2023)
“Demon 79” is surprising in a meta type of method, with the ultimate episode of Season 6 underscoring collection creator Charlie Brooker‘s divisive try at increasing the scope of the collection. The darkly comedic episode follows the meek gross sales assistant Nida (Anjana Vasan), who experiences microaggressions in her work every single day. When she encounters the demon Gaap (Paapa Essiedu) and learns she’s the one one who can cease the world from ending, she has to make some powerful selections.
Drawing inspiration from ’70s horror flicks, traditional novels, and even style traits, “Demon 79” is a real standout within the present, for higher or worse. It was a giant danger and solely time will inform if there will likely be a type of re-evaluation for your entire season, in addition to if Black Mirror Season 6’s change will have an effect on the way forward for the present.
16
“USS Callister”
Season 4, Episode 1 (2017)
“USS Callister” is about Callister Inc. co-founder Robert (Jesse Plemmons) who finds himself bullied by different workers. Callister Inc. is a online game firm, and Robert creates an offline, modded model of the sport, “Infinity,” for his private use. The NPCs in his recreation are based mostly on his real-life coworkers, who’re topic to his juvenile and petty whims. Nonetheless, these modded variations of his coworkers are self-aware and really a lot alive. As a consequence of this revelation, the group tries to seek out methods to flee from his energy.
“USS Callister” was definitely an pleasant episode that referenced popular culture. It was additionally shocking in that, initially, the viewers is led to imagine that Robert is an effective one that is just mistreated by colleagues for no cause. Nonetheless, when he provides a brand new worker into his recreation, the depths of his cruelty are revealed. This sudden pivot is a shock to everybody watching the episode.
15
“Males Towards Fireplace”
Season 3, Episode 5 (2016)
Stripe (Malachi Kirby) is a brand new recruit within the army who’s tasked with eliminating “roaches” with assistance from technological implants referred to as “mass” that creates an augmented actuality that provides the troopers tactical benefits and even rewards within the type of candy goals. Throughout one such mission, a chunk of kit interferes along with his mass, and he ultimately realizes that it has been altering the way in which the troopers understand the roaches. The victims have been really different people who have been focused attributable to their genetics, and thus the mass made it simpler for the troopers to kill them pitilessly.
The reveal of the genocide is surprising sufficient on this Black Mirror episode, particularly since we do not actually query the identification of the roaches to start with. It basically emulates the facility of propaganda and misinformation, because the dehumanization of the victims makes them simple to homicide. Alongside the ethnic cleaning is the dismal outlook on the toxicity of the army, making the parts of a haunting episode that is not too removed from actual life if we glance again into historical past. —Jasneet Singh
14
“Be Proper Again”
Season 2, Episode 1 (2013)
Grief is not a stranger to Black Mirror themes, and like many different episodes, “Be Right Back” delves into how it can be twisted into one thing extra sinister. Martha (Hayley Atwell) loses her accomplice Ash (Domhnall Gleeson) in a automotive accident, and after she finds out she is pregnant, she decides to reconnect with him on a program that mimics his texts and voice throughout telephone calls. Ultimately, this escalates, and she or he has a bodily but superficial copy of him that she is rapidly unnerved by however does not have the guts to do away with.
The episode explores the size somebody will go to utilizing expertise to assuage their grief, however finally winds right down to the fruitlessness of the endeavor. The guts of the unique relationship can by no means be artificially copied. Nonetheless, it’s what Martha does after that opens a gap in our hearts, as she leaves him within the attic like an outdated {photograph}, for her daughter to sometimes go to or give a slice of cake to. There’s one thing viscerally disturbing about figuring out he’s left in there, as he appears to be like like a human, however we all know he’s not — merely a wayward by-product of somebody’s grief. —Jasneet Singh
13
“Loch Henry”
Season 6, Episode 2 (2023)
“Loch Henry” follows a pair who arrive within the titular city to create a nature documentary, solely to be sucked into the true crime thriller of the previous. Davis (Samuel Blenkin) and Pia (Myha’la Herrold) examine the string of murders dedicated by Iain Adair (Tom Crowhurst), solely to find that Davis’ mother and father’ have been really the ringleaders of this sadistic torture membership. Pia and Davis’ mom Janet (Monica Dolan) are lifeless by the point the credit roll, and Davis comes out the opposite facet with a documentary on Streamberry and a BAFTA award.
The episode overtly leans into the private price of true crime, a style that’s more and more getting a extra polished look regardless of its horrific contents. Though, on this case, we have been definitely not anticipating the connection to be as private because it was, with Janet demanding our consideration in her last scenes (cementing herself as one among Black Mirror‘s most disturbing characters). As she dons her purple masquerade masks, hangs herself, and leaves all of the footage to her son (signed “In your movie. Mum.”), Dolan evokes a profoundly twisted type of maternal love that makes the episodes all of the extra eerie. —Jasneet Singh
12
“Crocodile”
Season 4, Episode 3 (2017)
In “Crocodile,” Mia (Andrea Riseborough) is haunted by a cover-up she helped with after a hit-and-run involving her good friend Rob (Andrew Gower). When his guilt threatens her freedom, she does what she thinks is important. Sadly, Mia is later approached by an insurance coverage investigator who makes use of a “Recaller” that may visualize her reminiscences. As a substitute of seeing simply the pizza supply accident, the investigator discovers Mia’s ugly previous, forcing the protagonist’s hand as soon as extra.
This violence solely results in extra loss of life as Mia desperately tries to cover her darkish secrets and techniques. Whereas Mia has established a sample at this level and audiences typically know to count on the worst from her, it is nonetheless surprising to see the collection cross a line when the killer is confronted with a (seemingly) last witness to her crimes – an harmless child. And naturally, the ultimate twist with the precise last witness simply seals the deal.
11
“Hold the DJ”
Season 4, Episode 4 (2017)
Black Mirror’s episode “Hold the DJ” is a few relationship app that finds the perfect match for an individual by pairing them with quite a lot of completely different individuals. This story specifically follows two individuals, Frank (Joe Cole) and Amy (Georgina Campbell), who date for a reasonably brief interval. They understand that they sync effectively with each other on their first date, however after their date is over, they need to proceed relationship others to seek out their excellent match. These characters ultimately discover themselves dissatisfied with each different accomplice they’ve.
Though this present is easy with the idea, it’s revealed in the direction of the tip that each characters have been in a simulation – the a thousandth one – the place it succeeded as a result of they found out that they have been in a simulation and escaped it collectively. Out of all of the simulations, in 998 of them, they rebelled collectively. This makes them an nearly excellent match in the true world. The present then shifts focus: they meet. It’s general shocking that the 2 of them turned out to be excellent matches when the whole thing of the episode leads the viewers to imagine that they won’t find yourself collectively and that their love story will finish in demise as any clichéd one would, but it surely seems to be pleasantly shocking when it’s confirmed that this was a easy simulation meant to check their compatibility. It is a uncommon Black Mirror episode that isn’t completely depressing, which is what makes it considerably surprising.
10
“Arkangel”
Season 4, Episode 2 (2017)
“Arkangel” is likely one of the extra in style episodes of Black Mirror. It follows the story of Marie (Rosemarie DeWitt), a mom of a younger woman named Sara. After a traumatic expertise when Sara was youthful the place she wandered off, Marie resorts to an organization that sells an implanted chip referred to as Arkangel which tracks the consumer, data their reminiscences, gives a view into their perspective, censors something that raises their coronary heart fee, and data knowledge of their well being. Marie turns into obsessive about the Arkangel and retains a cautious eye on her daughter, but it surely proves to be detrimental to Sara’s psychological well being and developmental levels.
There have been a number of shocking moments in “Arkangel,” one being when Marie’s mom invades her teenage daughter’s privateness and secretly crushes a capsule into Sara’s smoothie to drive an abortion. However probably the most shocking half, and what cements this as one of the vital tousled Black Mirror episodes, was when Sara nearly killed her mom in the direction of the tip. After discovering that her mom continued to invade her privateness and gave her the capsule, she beat her mom with the Arkangel pad till she was bloody and unconscious. After that, Sara walks out of her mom’s life to elements unknown.
9
“Joan Is Terrible”
Season 6, Episode 1 (2023)
“Joan Is Terrible” follows a seemingly common lady’s wild journey when she realizes {that a} world streaming platform referred to as Streamberry (an apparent parody of Netflix) is taking precise occasions from her life and turning it right into a present. Her life begins to show chaotic when her deepest secrets and techniques are uncovered on the uncanny collection, so she finds a option to cease the company that is ruining all the pieces for her.
Whereas its darkly humorous method to the story softens the blow of its shocking moments, there isn’t any denying that “Joan Is Terrible” has fairly a couple of of them. Whether or not it is Salma Hayek and Michael Cera’s unexpected cameos or the twist in regards to the quantum laptop and the a number of simulated realities, they will not be successfully delivered, however they’re nonetheless principally surprising.
8
“Mazey Day”
Season 6, Episode 4 (2023)
“Mazey Day” could also be divisive, however there isn’t any denying it is now among the many most surprising episodes of Black Mirror. Set in Los Angeles, it follows Bo (Zazie Beetz), a paparazzi photographer who nearly quits the exploitative trade, however goes again for one final job as a result of she desperately wants money. It does not take her lengthy to trace down the lacking movie star Mazey Day (Clara Rugaard), who’s in some type of rehab facility – or so she and her fellow photographers thought.
The scenario quickly turns nightmarish as Mazey transforms into an precise werewolf and begins to tear aside the paparazzi, chasing Bo and her good friend to a neighborhood diner the place the gory affair continues. At this level, the shock has dissipated and given option to worry, with the episode reworking right into a horror fest in a really surprising exhibiting from the anthology collection.
7
“White Christmas”
Particular (2014)
“White Christmas” is about two males – Joe (Rafe Spall) and Matt (Jon Hamm) – who’ve lived with one another for 5 years in a cabin; regardless of this, they know little or no about one another. Matt talks about his previous, corresponding to what bought him within the cabin, to start with: a murder-suicide involving some man he was monitoring just about. He additionally discusses his job previously, which was creating “cookies,” which have been digital copies of precise individuals in order that they could possibly be private assistants. These clones are “housed” in an egg and may expertise years in a matter of moments. After listening to this, Joe opens up about his story, which ended with him killing the daddy of an ex-girlfriend and his supposed daughter freezing to loss of life.
The large twist on this episode is when it is revealed that Matt was merely opening as much as Joe to get testimony out of him concerning each murders. And Joe? He’s a cookie. The viewers – like Joe – trusts Matt utterly when he tries to befriend Joe. However because it seems, Matt is just attempting to enhance his personal life whereas forcing a sworn statement out of a cookie.
6
“Playtest”
Season 3, Episode 2 (2016)
Black Mirror‘s online game episode, “Playtest” is an eerie storyline from the show that tries to predict the future. It is a few younger man (Wyatt Russell) who finds himself caught in London with a journalist after working out of cash. As a method to make some cash, he indicators up for playtesting – because the title implies – a brand new psychological horror recreation utilizing augmented actuality. He indicators up and guarantees to ship photos to the journalist, and after signing up, he’s taken to a room the place the gear – a headscarf – is positioned on his head. Someday after this, he’s taken to a secluded home to check out the sport, however the expertise goes downhill from there as he’s trapped in an countless waking nightmare.
What was shocking about this episode was that the viewer by no means actually knew when Cooper was again in actuality. Every time he thinks he’s damaged free of those horrors, the present reminds the viewers that this isn’t the case. Nonetheless, the shock units in when a telephone rings in his actuality, and Cooper is killed by the phone interference. It’s revealed that Cooper had barely begun the playtest, as after lower than a second of beginning the augmented actuality in that room, his mom had referred to as him, and the telephone name went by way of as a result of he disobeyed the principles of turning his telephone off – simply so he may take photos and ship them to the journalist.
5
“Black Museum”
Season 4, Episode 6 (2017)
“Black Museum” incorporates a museum loaded with artifacts which have some form of felony affiliation. Nish (Letitia Wright) visits the museum and learns in regards to the varied units that Rolo – the proprietor, performed by Douglas Hodge –has a connection to. This episode delves deep into the tales surrounding the artifacts, and ultimately, they arrive throughout the final artifact, which was a hologram of a person named Clayton who was presumed responsible of homicide and summarily executed.
“Black Museum” is certainly one of the vital fascinating and best episodes of Black Mirror. It tells a number of tales in a span of 1 episode whereas shocking the viewers with a twist on the finish: Nish is Clayton’s daughter, and she or he is out for revenge in opposition to Rolo. It was an surprising twist, ending with Rolo being electrocuted like Clayton was.
4
“White Bear”
Season 2, Episode 2 (2013)
“White Bear” begins with none context in any respect. The principle character, Victoria (Lenora Crichlow), wakes up in a chair, unable to recollect something aside from transient flashes right here and there. As she exits what’s presumably her house, she notices that the city is quiet, and everybody else is recording her. Upon this realization, a masked man with a shotgun exits a car and begins chasing her. She is hunted from there on out, however she is just not certain why.
Most viewers are doubtless shocked by this Black Mirror episode due to the shortage of context. The viewers is aware of that Victoria is being hunted – unfairly, so far as the viewers is conscious. Nonetheless, as soon as it’s revealed that she was an adjunct to homicide, the environment adjustments. Out of the blue, it is a little bit tougher to sympathize along with her: the viewers by now could be in an excessive amount of shock after discovering her felony historical past.
3
‘Black Mirror: Bandersnatch’
(2018)
Though not essentially an episode of Black Mirror, this movie was probably the most fascinating entry to Black Mirror up to now. Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is harking back to a online game because it’s an interactive film. Fittingly, it tells the story of an up-and-coming online game developer (Fionn Whitehead) who has a decent deadline earlier than Christmas.
The shocking factor about this specific Black Mirror particular is that it has a number of routes that the viewer can select. And if the particular have been to finish badly, it might revert the viewer to a checkpoint the place you possibly can attempt once more for a greater ending. There may be a number of content material with Bandersnatch, and it is price attempting out the opposite routes.
2
“Shut Up and Dance”
Season 3, Episode 3 (2016)
“Shut Up and Dance” is a few younger man named Kenny (Alex Lawther) who begins receiving threatening textual content messages that blackmail him into finishing suspicious and mysterious duties. What’s he being blackmailed with? Earlier than this incident, Kenny does one thing express in entrance of his laptop computer digicam whereas a Trojan was put in, and the hacker threatens to ship the video to different individuals corresponding to his contacts until he completes the duties. Alongside the way in which, he meets different people who find themselves in the same scenario.
Like most of the characters within the present, nobody understands specifically why Kenny is keen to do harmful duties attributable to an express video of him. Nonetheless, on the finish of finishing the final process – which was preventing somebody to the loss of life – it’s unexpectedly revealed that Kenny masturbated to little one pornography. It is one of many darkest Black Mirror endings that leaves followers feeling conflicted and disgusted.
1
“The Nationwide Anthem”
Season 1, Episode 1 (2001)
“The Nationwide Anthem” – which stays one of the vital disturbing Black Mirror episodes – is in regards to the trials of a British prime minister (Rory Kinnear) after a member of the royal household is taken hostage. The princess is not being held for ransom, however will likely be let go below one situation: the prime minister should interact in sexual activity with a pig, which should even be recorded on reside tv. All through the present, the British authorities does its finest to keep away from this consequence whereas trying to find the kidnapper and the princess.
Unable to discover a method out of doing the soiled deed, the present ends with the prime minister giving in and having sexual activity with the pig on reside tv. Nonetheless, whereas the viewers believes that the results of this led to the princess’ launch, the shocking actuality is that she was launched thirty minutes earlier than the reside broadcast. Ultimately, the sacrifice of his popularity and picture was mindless and wholly pointless, which cemented the episode as one of the vital unsettling and surprising from Black Mirror.
