Black Mirror Season 7 – Our Episode Wise Ranking
One of Netflix’s A-list shows is back after nearly two years — and it’s darker, sharper, and more thought-provoking than ever. Black Mirror Season 7 returns with six brand-new episodes, all circling around a single haunting question: “Is science a blessing or a curse?” Here’s my personal ranking list to help you out.
In Black Mirror Season 7, the writers have shifted their focus to several relevant situations that we face every day, obviously taking it up by several notches with a dystopian touch. Topics like complications of relationships with technology, use of AI, subscription trap, bullies and grudges, death of a loved one, and corporatization of healthcare. It’s packed with drama, romance, tension, and also ACTION!
But it’s not all a bag of hits and blitz, but it also has its own share of misses.
Rank – 6 (Hotel Reverie, Episode – 3)
The lowest point in the season comes right in the middle of the season in episode 3. This feature-length episode is set in 40s Hollywood, headlined by Issa Rae. A famous movie studio has gone beyond its glory days, and now it is in a financial crisis. With no stars interested in starring in their projects, they approach Brandy, played by Rae, to star in a reimagination of their cult classic, Hotel Reverie.
But here comes the twist! The new movie will now be shot without a set, without any actual actors, script, or set, but with the help of AI! Brandy will be replaced as the lead actor and transported into the world of the original movie. Okay, the script had many things to surprise us with. It tries to infuse modern thought-provoking ideas right into the classic orthodox era. But it eventually fades out and leaves us without any shock value. Truly a disappointing one.
Rank – 5 (Plaything, Episode – 4)
Black Mirror Season 7, for the first time, went for a multiverse concept. The fourth episode, which shares the universe with “Bandersnatch” (yes, the interactive film), features Peter Capaldi. We see a man has been arrested for suspected murder, but this crime was committed by him way back in the 90s. He steals a preview copy of a game developed by Colin Ritman, but what he finds is mindboggling! The tiny creatures of this game are not just a few lines of code but are actually alive in the digital world.
Capaldi’s character slowly gets to understand their language and is literally mind-captured by them. What happens next is for you to discover. But despite all these things, this episode kind of feels dull, with several things that could have been done.
Rank – 4 (Eulogy, Episode – 5)
This episode is the most heartfelt episode of this season. Starring Paul Giamatti, Eulogy is about a man who receives news of his ex-girlfriend’s death. He gets a device which allows him to relive the moments of old photographs by literally getting inside them. But due to some bruises of love, the man has destroyed several photographs of his lover. He gets into every photograph one by one (the ones he is left with), trying to have another look at his lover. These moments are actually heartfelt and emotional.
This episode is one of the rare ones that discusses the benefits of science and technology. The beautiful story, a drama-heavy one for a change, deserves its ranking on the better side for sure. It is filled with several moments, along with some literal revelations, which make us feel for the characters. Give it a watch if you really want to have a feel-good watch.
Rank – 3 (USS Callister: Into Infinity, Episode – 6)
For the first time in 9 years, Black Mirror gets a sequel to a previous episode! This really may be the first time in history for an anthology series. This feature-length episode is a direct sequel to USS Callister (Black Mirror: Season 4, Episode 1) starring Cristin Milioti and Jesse Plemons among others. To my surprise, this episode actually succeeds its prequel. Now that the crew of USS Calister is set in the gaming world from Robert Daly, are they really free? They are now stranded in an infinite virtual universe, fighting for their survival against 30 million players.
The plot is wild and full of dark comedy with more action and plot twists. It’s not that emotional, but it provides almost everything that we wished for. Complete edge-of-your-seat moments guaranteed.
Rank – 2 (Bête Noire, Episode – 2)
To be honest, this episode felt a little underwhelming in the beginning, but it evolved rapidly with its oomph and wows. The story revolves around the bullies of a girls’ high school, and the bullied kept holding on to the grudge. Later, this genius, who has been bullied, goes after each one of them using a high-tech computer to destroy their lives.
It’s odd, it’s wacky, and the turn of events feels entertaining. The finale feels a little out of line, but due to the buildup up it feels great. I will not talk a lot about it and leave it for you to discover. A really good episode of Black Mirror Season 7.
Rank – 1 (Common People, Episode -1)
This episode has everything about the dark side of technology. Right from the privatization of healthcare, AI taking over the human brain, and the growing trap of the subscription model. A couple who are struggling with their financial responsibilities and terminal disease find a way to overcome brain death in the form of an emerging technology. But it traps them inside a subscription model, which grows day by day with the rising prices, making users dependent on it. This also talks about the modern-day societal norms where people are struggling to earn money in traditional white-collar jobs but are getting instant money and fame with the rising influencer culture of the internet.
I have kept this in the first place because this feels so relevant in modern times, yet it has a dystopian setup. This will rank among the top five of all-time best episodes of Black Mirror and is a must-watch.
Well, these were my personal ratings and reviews for Black Mirror Season 7. I found it very much closer to Love, Death, and Robots in terms of ideas, and sometimes it also feels set in the same universe. But what are your thoughts about the new season? Let us know in the comments section below.
