10 best ‘Black Mirror’ episodes, ranked
Terrifying misuse of power, frighteningly little attention paid to the ethics of new technologies, and incredibly bleak outcomes that make you question if it’s all worth it? No, it’s not Trump’s America, but a new season of Black Mirror!
Season 7 of the iconic anthology series dropped on Netflix earlier this month to much acclaim, bringing six new episodes into the show’s canon. But what are the best episodes of this (mostly) sci-fi anthology series? Below is our take on the best Black Mirror episodes, ranked (although we’re sure plenty of you will disagree!)
10. “Plaything”
A few of the characters from the choose-your-own-adventure Black Mirror episode “Bandersnatch” appear in this season 7 episode, which is set in the same universe as the experimental 2018 game/film/whatever-it-was. Will Poulter is once again involved, and he’s joined by the outstanding Peter Capaldi, who plays the older version of the main character, Cameron Walker.
“Plaything” is a genre-bending combination of murder mystery and sci-fi, delving into a theme that Black Mirror has tackled previously: just what do we owe to digital beings, especially if they are, for all intents and purposes, sentient? Brilliant plotting and even better acting are why this episode makes the list, and it deserves its place as the only entry from season 7.
9. “Shut Up and Dance”
Black Mirror is famous for its stark endings, as well as offering up a stunning surprise twist or two, and this season three episode is the epitome of those characteristics of the show. Labelled a “dark thriller,” “Shut Up and Dance” follows Kenny (Alex Lawther) as he has to engage in an increasingly bizarre and dangerous set of tasks to avoid an anonymous online puppetmaster from releasing some sort of blackmail tape. What begins as an exploration of the dangers of sharing private information and images on the internet takes a wild turn, and the ending is the sort of shock to the system that Brooker has made a habit of forcing. Lawther is tremendous as Kenny, and his performance ties the episode together.
8. “The National Anthem”
Call me a Black Mirror purist, but the very first episode of the series (which began on British Channel 4 before moving over to Netflix) remains one of the most interesting and unique stories the show has produced. The fact it was (allegedly) prescient only adds to its infamy. However, even without the accusations that came out around former Tory Prime Minister David Cameron’s relations with a dead pig’s head, “The National Anthem” stands up as a standout episode.
A parable about the power of social media and the nefarious use of technology to share something across the globe in an instant, this episode stars Rory Kinnear as the British Prime Minister. In it, he needs to make a horrific choice between the life of a princess and, well, the David Cameron story covers it off pretty well, actually. Compelling and brilliant.
7. “Demon 79”
This season 6 episode is a huge departure from the sci-fi roots of Black Mirror, and shows the writers and showrunners can move beyond their bread and butter successfully. The episode is set in Britain in the late ’70s and comes with all the nostalgia for that time one could ask for, as well as reminding us of the deeply racist political rhetoric that was commonplace at the time. The outfits are pretty kick-ass too.
“Demon 79” follows Nida (Anjana Vasan), a young shop assistant who accidentally summons a demon and is made to commit a number of gruesome murders to stop the apocalypse. Wild, unique, and brilliantly funny, while also providing some great jump scares, this is a must-watch, even if it goes against the general grain of Black Mirror from a genre perspective.
6. “White Bear”
We’re back to being brutal with season 2’s “White Bear”. This incredible episode touches on themes like desensitization to violence, vigilantism, and what justice means, all while taking place in a dystopian future setting. You can’t get more Black Mirror than that.
The episode begins with an unnamed woman (played fantastically by Lenora Crichlow) waking up with no knowledge of who she is, where she is, or how she got there. As she leaves the strange house she gained consciousness in, strangers begin filming her. She soon meets Jem (Tuppence Middleton), who is on a mission to destroy a transmitter that turns people into zombie-like creatures that can only record things with their phones. However, as the episode unravels, it becomes clear that our unnamed protagonist might not be the victim we make her out to be.
5. San Junipero
It’s not all techno-misery and bleak endings in the Black Mirror universe, as shown by this beloved season 3 episode. The winner of two Emmys, this was another successful departure from the show’s usual formula that worked incredibly well.
The twisty but wholesome episode follows Yorkie (Mackenzie Davis) and Kelly (Gug Mbatha-Raw) and, at its heart, is an uplifting love story, even though it has the usual Black Mirror techy elements. In this case, the titular San Junipero is a simulated reality where the deceased can live and be visited, as long as they consent to being uploaded to the cloud. An interesting ethical question, but most importantly, an iconic episode of television.
4. USS Callister
The opening episode to season 4 is a sci-fi epic that draws heavily from Star Trek, but with a much darker twist (would it be Black Mirror without that?). “USS Callister” follows Robert (Jesse Plemons), an underappreciated Chief Technical Officer who takes out his frustrations with his co-workers by simulating them in the game his company created, Callister Inc. There are some common Black Mirror themes explored, like the nature of consciousness, the trouble with power dynamics, and the morality of torturing seemingly sentient digital beings, but the episode excels because of its excellent storytelling, and the fantastic imagery.
3. Nosedive
Black Mirror took on the world of social media with this iconic episode, which features an all-timer performance from Bryce Dallas Howard as Lacie, our unfortunate protagonist. While there are definitely some very Black Mirror elements to “Nosedive”, generally it is a bit more lighthearted and funnier than the average episode, while still working well as a cautionary tale for modern times.
Nosedive follows Lacie, a woman trying to get to a friend’s wedding in a society that utilizes social scores, a number decided by others voting. The score affects everything, from availability of doctors appointments to what cars people can rent, and as Lacie’s score begins to, ahem, nosedive, we get a thoroughly entertaining look into what can go wrong when we allow others to assign value to us.
2. The Entire History of You
The second season 1 entry on this list is quintessential Black Mirror. Written by Brooker and Jesse Armstrong (Peep Show, Succession), there’s no doubt it’s an uncomfortable watch at times, but definitely nails its premise.
The story follows lawyer Liam (Toby Kebbell), who has “grain” technology implanted into his body, which allows people with it to rewatch their memories. He becomes jealous of his wife Ffion’s (Jodie Whittaker) relationship with a mutual friend, Jonas, an emotion that soon turns to obsession, runining his life and his family. At it’s heart, this is a story about trust and relationships, but the setting and writing are typical Black Mirror, at its best.
1. White Christmas
A Black Mirror Christmas special sounds like an oxymoron, and there is very little joy and good tidings to be had in this iconic 2014 episode. Jon Hamm and Rafe Spall are impeccable as Matt and Joe (respectively), two men who are in a remote cabin on Christmas Day, trading stories. There are three mini-tales in this episode, each dealing with some very Black Mirror topics, like the implications of AI, how to define consciousness, and what tech means for our lives in the real world. And then there’s the shocking twist ending, which will leave you breathless. An astoundingly good episode of television.
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