Black Mirror has returned for a seventh season, and as always, it holds a mirror to our darkest tech-fuelled fears and ethical dilemmas. But not all episodes strike the same nerve. Here’s a countdown from the weakest to the most mind-blowing entry in this latest batch.
6. “Rebooted” – Despite a strong premise about AI resurrecting deceased actors, the episode falls flat, weighed down by predictable commentary and lacklustre pacing. It’s not a bad watch, but compared to the standard Black Mirror sets, it feels too on-the-nose and undercooked.
5. “Deepfake Love” – This one tackles synthetic relationships and digital manipulation, but its satire feels oddly tame. With such a rich concept—romantic deepfakes used in dating shows—it could’ve pushed boundaries further. Still, its emotional core offers a few genuine moments.
4. “Past Perfect” – A noir-style mystery set in a retro-futuristic Britain where memory tourism gets a disturbing twist. The aesthetic is striking, and the moral questions are sharp, though the payoff isn’t quite as strong as the build-up. Think Inception meets Timecrimes, but with less emotional weight.
3. “Halo Code” – A sleek, fast-paced exploration of social scoring and algorithmic bias in policing. It’s one of the more politically charged episodes of the season, reminiscent of Nosedive, but angrier. A brutal ending lands it in the upper tier, though some viewers may find it too heavy-handed.
2. “Joan Is Still Awful” – A sequel-of-sorts to the infamous Season 6 episode, this entry surprises with even darker layers of media exploitation. Annie Murphy returns in a meta-horror take on fame, consent and AI-generated entertainment. It’s sharp, stylish, and sinister in all the right ways.
1. “Red Light” – The standout of the season. Set in a dystopian Europe under permanent surveillance, this slow-burn thriller is Black Mirror at its finest: chilling, elegant, and heartbreakingly human. With stunning cinematography and a jaw-dropping final twist, it leaves viewers haunted long after the credits roll.
Season 7 may not be Black Mirror’s most consistent, but it shows the series still has teeth when it chooses to bite. At its best, it delivers clever, cynical takes on our tech obsessions. And at its worst? Well, it’s still more inventive than most of what’s on streaming today.
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