Disclaimer: There are some spoilers in these reviews
Common People was the perfect opening to a brand new series of Black Mirror. The episode focuses on a married couple's lives in the not-so-distant future (where robot bees exist). After the wife nearly dies due to an unexpected brain tumour, she is given another chance at life using 'Rivermind' technology. Unfortunately, this comes with a catch, and the couple quickly realise that they have signed up to a capitalistic money-making scheme, which they can neither afford nor manage, resulting in catastrophic consequences for them both.
This episode was devastating and disturbing, but an incredible insight into our current technological landscape and the possible repercussions of 'subscription' platforms. It felt authentic and human, filling the viewer with emotion and frustration. Common People has quickly become one of my favourite Black Mirror episodes, earning the highest ranking on this list and garnering the same response as previous iconic episodes such as San Junipero and Hang the DJ.
This episode was genius. Telling the story of a young woman, Maria, who works for a chocolate company, as she comes across a figure from her past who starts playing mind tricks with her using a reality-altering necklace. This very British episode was the perfect antidote to the Americanisation of Black Mirror, alluding to 00s British secondary school culture and even mentioning Greggs. Bête Noire touched on several themes, including the Mandela effect and gaslighting, to bullying and social exclusion. I was a fan of the comedic moments in this episode (especially the 'Nutallergy?' scene) and the sensational acting, which transported the viewer into the episode.
Hotel Reverie was a gorgeous and thought-provoking ode to classic cinema. This episode focused on the AI 'rebirth' of a made-up 1940s classic film called 'Hotel Reverie' where a black female actress, Brandy Friday, is cast in the white male lead role, subverting the story's narrative. Brandy is transported into a black and white world, using a high-tech chip (one of several instances of a brain chip being used in this series), where every other person is an AI who believes they are actually in the 1940s. However, technical issues occur, and Brandy and the increasingly self-aware female lead, Clara, are trapped within the simulation for several days, where they begin to fall in love for real. This episode was immersive and beautifully constructed, telling a devastating love story, however, I do feel like it was longer than it needed to be. I loved the concept, and Emma Corrin is fantastic, but it isn't one of the highest-rated episodes on this list.
Plaything was another disturbing and provocative episode that was occasionally difficult to watch. Set in 2034, the episode follows the arrest of a suspected murderer, played by Peter Capaldi, as he tells his story. The episode is bizarre and confronting, encouraging viewers to consider their own weird fixations and virtual activity. Plaything seems to comment on the violent repercussions of immersive games or obsessions, ending with a shocking and unpredictable twist that will leave you wanting to find out what happened next. Though it wasn't my favourite episode from season 7, it was still a thought-provoking concept and worthy of a watch.
Continuing with their devastating episode streak, Black Mirror's Eulogy is a beautifully sad story of loss and memory. Focusing on a man's recollection of his time with a past lover, he is able to transport himself into old photographs and reconstruct old memories using Eulogy's groundbreaking new technology. Eulogy is as sad as it is heartwarming, showing how incredible future technological advancements may be, sending us back to the best times of our lives. It's both eerie and impressive to watch, and certainly an all-time Black Mirror episode.
The first Black Mirror sequel episode was an ideal way to close another series, although I don't think it was anywhere near as good as the original USS Callister from Season 4. With the same concept essentially reshaped into a new narrative, Into Infinity was good, but it wasn't great. I'm not saying that it isn't worth a watch, because it definitely provides the closure that Nanette and all the fleet members deserved, but for a one-and-a-half-hour episode, it didn't feel like much really happened. The USS Callister sequel was high-production and immersive, but didn't have the same emotional and authentic undertones as some of the other episodes from series 7. That being said, it was fun to be transported back to the space fleet, and I enjoyed the subtle nods to previous Black Mirror episodes like San Junipero and Black Museum.
Overall, I believe series 7 of Black Mirror was one of the best series in recent years, delivering everything from high-production techniques, interesting and original themes, to heartbreaking narratives. Though it demonstrates how much Black Mirror has changed since season 1, losing some of its British authenticity and casting Hollywood stars in lead roles, the show still deserves credit for being one of the most relevant and important social commentaries of all time.