A Guide to Black Mirror: Ranking all the original Black Mirror episodes from good to best

Black Mirror season 3 premieres on Netflix 14 October 2016. But insight of that premiere date let’s take a look back at this fantastic series Netflix couldn’t help but revive. For those who not familiar (mild spoilers ahead), Black Mirror is an anthology series which examines modern society and how it would react to unanticipated consequences of new technologies. Each episode features stand-alone episodes, with new stories and a different cast each episode. These technology themed stories are emotional, sometimes thrilling, sometimes introspective and often times dark.

Every episode of Black Mirror is unique yet criticizes the same absurd society we’re living in. The resulting mix of bleak sci-fi, drama, satire and black comedy makes for highly intelligent Television and ranks among the most original and entertaining shows I’ve ever come across. The writing is clever, innovative, and  the directing is fantastic. The visuals/cinematography are stunning and even though each episode tells a different story, they often share a similar dark, chilling tone.

Only 7 episodes of Black Mirror has been released since 2011. Season 1 which consisted of 3 episodes aired in 2011, followed by season 2 also 3 episodes in 2013, followed by a Christmas special in 2014. Since being added to Netflix near the end of 2014, Black Mirror has begun gaining popularity and with its upcoming 6-episode season 3, it is definitely one of the most anticipated shows of 2016. But before season 3 hits us, lets take a look back at the previous Black Mirror episodes, starting from the good ones to the best ones:

Ranking Black Mirror Episodes:

 

7. The Waldo Moment (s02e03)

This episode focuses on comedian Jamie Salter, who has created the blue cartoon bear ‘Waldo’ and provides voice and movements to the character. Waldo is the host of a satire night show where he interviews politicians to humiliate them. “The Waldo Moment” is a slight deviation from other Black Mirror episodes in that it takes place in the world of politics. It is also slightly more comedic in tone than other episodes, due partly to the profane cartoon bear who is the centerpiece of the episode. “The Waldo Moment” is still a solid hour of television, but when placed next to the rest of Black Mirror, it lacks the emotional punch and sharp satire of the rest of the series.

Rating: 7.3/10

6. The National Anthem (s01e01)

This episode focuses on Prime minister Micheal Callow as he is awoken by news of Princess Susannah’s kidnapping. The kidnappers demand that Prime Minister Micheal Callow has sex with a pig or they would kill her. “The National Anthem” is the promising beginning of the Black Mirror series, with a realistic and sick story of terrorism. The plot is comedic, tense and the attempt to find the responsible in short time is still impressive. The story shows the power of Internet and how unethical and destructive the press can be in certain situations seeking for a scoop. The conclusion is very ironic.

Rating: 7.5/10

5. White Bear (s02e02)

“White Bear” is easily the most disturbing episode of Black Mirror, which is saying something for a show that specializes in being unsettling. The episode focuses on a woman named Victoria, who wakes up with no memory, and soon finds that no one will speak to her or come near her; they only record her with their cell phones. Victoria is then suddenly chased by what appears to be masked lunatics throughout the town, all the while the voyeurs continue recording her. The episode initially plays out like a fast-paced action film, but if we know anything about Black Mirror, it’s that nothing is ever that simple. A plot twist is pulled off to perfection about 3/4 of the way through, and the last scene is powerful enough to make one reevaluate the way we seem to exploit others’ tragedy as our entertainment.

Rating: 8.1/10

4. White Christmas (Special)

“White Christmas” features three different stories intertwined into one. This one-off episode that breaks away from the show’s traditional format to tell three interlinked stories, ‘White Christmas’ falters a little in its odd second act, starring Oona Chaplin as an artificial intelligence forced into submission. But it opens strong with a terrifying excursion into what the future might hold for ‘dating apps’ and wraps with a devastating climax exploring how ‘blocking’ someone might translate from social media to the real world. This is definitely is the most chilling episode of the series.

Rating: 8.5/10

 

3. Fifteen Million Merits (s01e02)

“Fifteen Million Merits” is just an absolute masterpiece from start to finish. I would not expect to find a deeper, more thought-provoking hour of television anywhere or ever again in this lifetime. This episode explores themes such as love, loss, loneliness, idolatry, and conformity, and it hits each nail on the head with impeccable precision. The story is set in a completely indoor, claustrophobic, dystopian world where one can only escape by earning fifteen million points called “merits” and exchanging them for a chance to impress on the fictional talent show “Hot Shots”. The episode focuses primarily on a man named Bing and his attempt to “fight” this system. This episode is brilliant, not even just because of the near future sci-fi world it got so perfect but mostly because of how believable each character was. We advanced to this great technology level but human emotions such as greed, jealousy, fear, ambition are all still being exploited in the same ways as they are today. This one hit close to home because you didn’t even have to imagine the future world to see how humans would be exploited by it, the methods exist today. One of the bleakest Black Mirror episode in my opinion because of how naturally today’s world could evolve to that.

Rating: 8.8/10

2. Be Right Back (s02e01)

This emotional episode of Black Mirror  is centered around Martha and her husband Ash , a man who is obsessed with social media and his online profiles. Ash is killed in a car accident, and Martha is left a widow. Martha’s friend informs her of a new technology, one that allows a virtual person to be created based off of one’s social media profiles and online interactions. Although she is reluctant at first, Martha eventually gives in, and a synthetic substitute of Ash is created. Martha is desperate to recreate what she had before – but all the android can offer, all it can be, is a heartless replica. A near-perfect fusion of techno-paranoia and heartfelt drama, ‘Be Right Back’ explores the lengths we might go to if it meant having a departed loved one back in our lives. ‘Be Right Back’ is romantic yet disturbing, sad and dark.

Rating: 9.1/10

1. The Entire History of You (s01e03)

In the world created for “The Entire History of You”, every human has received an implant inside their head which allows them to record and watch everything they have ever done in their life. The plot here focuses a relationship in trouble as the guy, Liam,  obsessively replays specific moments in his life because he’s suspicious of his wife cheating on him. The central character clearly not at his most comfortable and then continues wriggle and squirm and slide downwards into an unhealthy mindset before finishing up with a real gut punch of a final scene. Liam’s ability to replay life take his relationship down a ugly path. This episode is almost entirely dialogue and character driven, and the result is excellent. The closing sequence is so well done that it could easily induce tears in many a viewer. This is definitely one of the most thought-provoking and devastating episodes of Black Mirror and the best overall in my opinion. At its core, Black Mirror is about how technology has the power to shape, and even destroy human relationships. Which makes ‘The Entire History of You’ the purest example of the form  charting the complete disintegration of one man’s life in a little under an hour.

Rating:  9.3/10