Ronit J

Black Mirror Synopsis:

Featuring stand-alone dramas — sharp, suspenseful, satirical tales that explore techno-paranoia — “Black Mirror” is a contemporary reworking of “The Twilight Zone” with stories that tap into the collective unease about the modern world.

Black Mirror Season 7 Review:

I genuinely believe that Black Mirror peaked with its first two seasons (including White Christmas). The moment Netflix acquired the series, there was a visible downgrade to the scathing commentary and unsettling dystopia that made Black Mirror what it was. Also, the fact that such commentary is being streamed on a platform that’s arguably part of the problem feels a little disingenuous.

That being said, Black Mirror Season 7 is not all that surprising. If you enjoy the twisted settings and tech-based cautionary tales, you will enjoy this one. It’s neither an upgrade to the previous seasons nor is it a downgrade. Season 7 rests in that safe middle ground of being just average enough for you to come back for the next one.

Black Mirror Season 7: Best Episodes

Honestly, only two episodes stand out in this season.

Common People:

Story by Charlie Brooker & Bisha K. Ali, and Teleplay by Brooker, Common People follows a middle-class couple who is forced with an impossible situation. Amanda (played by Rashida Jones) is a school teacher who is diagnosed with a brain tumour that virtually puts her in a coma. Her husband Mike (played by Chris O’Dowd) is a construction worker who constantly works extra shifts to be able to afford their above-average lifestyle. When Amanda is in a coma, Mike learns of an experimental treatment called Rivermind, which can remove the tumour and virtually fix Amanda. The only catch is that Amanda will have to depend on the cloud to remain functional.

This episode felt like the closest thing to Seasons 1-2. Although the narrative was predictable, and I genuinely feel this could have been 10-15 minutes shorter, the overall episode unsettled me like the Channel 4 seasons. Seeing Rivermind roll out new, more premium tiers hit very close to home. Just think about it: Why should I have to watch ads before I stream a film when I’m paying for the subscription already? Unfortunately, subscription-based models are way too common today, and have made ‘owning things’ almost obsolete. And honestly, Common People explores this really well. The ending is predictable, but that doesn’t make it any less horrifying.

USS Callister: Into Infinity:

Starring Cristin Miloti, Jesse Plemmons, and Jimmi Simpson, we take off where the original left off. The cloned digital avatars within the game now have to deal with the absurd monetisation that has forced them to become bandits. While gamers respawn without any harm, these avatars bleed and die. On the outside, James Walton deals with the potential scandal of Robert Daly’s involvement in illegal digital clones, and their presence within the Infinity game servers.

While I genuinely believe that we didn’t need this episode, I’ll admit that I really enjoyed its narrative. The conflicts escalate, the characters continue to be interesting, and the overall resolution feels organic. I would have liked to see more ‘commentary’ and less drama, but despite that the episode was entertaining enough.

Funnily, Black Mirror Season 7 starts and ends on its best works.

Black Mirror Callbacks

Like the previous seasons, Season 7 is chockful of callbacks and easter eggs. The most evident one being the ‘nubbin’, which is featured in almost every other episode. However, these devices that first appeared in Season 1 have become more or less common props, so I doubt I can count them.

The second most common reference this season was to San Junipero. Common People features an establishment called ‘The Juniper’. Brandy’s address in Hotel Reverie is also listed as ‘Juniper Drive’. In fact, the whole of Hotel Reverie played out like a twisted call back to San Junipero, from consciousness living in a virtual world to the forbidden lesbian love story.

Ditta is mentioned in more than one episode, with Bete Noire having Ditta Headquarters as the main setting. Will Poulter returns in the episode “Playthings”, reprising his role from “Bandersnatch”. The list goes on and on.

But this begs the question: Is Netflix putting all these easter eggs in because it has failed to recreate the brilliance of the original runs? After all, these callbacks and easter eggs don’t make up for the lacklustre writing.

Black Mirror Season 7 Episodes Ranked

Of course, this ranking is purely based on my personal preferences. Let me know your rankings in the comments!

1. Episode 1: Common People: This one felt like the closest thing to Season 1-2 in a very long time. Common People was brutal. Its satire and commentary was scathing. The writing could have been a bit tighter, and the ending was predictable. Yet, I still liked this uncomfortable watch.
2. Episode 6: USS Callister: Into Infinity: In all honesty, I think this was an unnecessary sequel. Part 1 was a solid self-contained story. Despite that, I think the sequel does a good job of setting up a compelling conflict and delivering a satisfying, bittersweet conclusion.
3. Episode 4 Plaything: Another mostly unsettling episode that almost came close to the original Black Mirror. However, I didn’t particularly like the way the narrative unfolded. If it were half its runtime, I might have ranked it above USS Callister. Even the ending felt a tad bit incomplete.
4. Episode 5: Eulogy: A brilliant concept that sadly fell back on the tragic lovers trope. The moment the focus shifted from the tech to the character’s failed romance, I just tuned out because everything after that was predictable and boring.
5. Episode 2: Bête Noire: An overly complicated plot of teenage revenge that pretty much sidelines the tech. Even the bullying angle didn’t feel real enough. Plus, the characters were too annoying to take seriously.
6. Episode 3: Hotel Reverie: One of the worst Black Mirror Episodes ever made. The conflict feels forced, the setting is absurdly complicated, and the narrative just feels too stupid to watch after you’ve seen Common People. I thought Bête Noire was stupid, but this one somehow made that episode look like a masterpiece. What a waste of a talented cast.

Black Mirror Season 7 Worth Watching?

Sure. I only found Hotel Reverie to be a complete waste of time. The rest of the episodes are average at worst, and gut-wrenching at best.

In Conclusion:

Black Mirror Season 7 continues to deliver a mix-bag of experiences. Common People and USS Callister: Into Infinity really scratch that itch. But the rest don’t hold a candle to the brutal brilliance of the original Channel 4 run.

Also check out:

• Love Death Robots Season 4 Review | Episodes Ranked
• Coherence (2013) | Film Review
• Common Side Effects (2024) | Series Review
• Flow (2024) Animated Film Review
• Maus by Art Spiegelman | Graphic Novel Review
• Island of the Dying Goddess

What did you think of my Black Mirror Season 7 Review? Any other show/movie/book you would like me to review? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time.