I remember watching the very first episode of Black Mirror back when it first came to Netflix somewhere around 2016. When I saw that first episode, “The National Anthem”, I had no idea what I was in for (🐷 iykyk). Since then, I’ve equated the show to Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, and other sci-fi, speculative fiction type shows that I’ve always loved; however, it doesn’t always hit those great anxiety-filled moments that Twilight Zone and the like are known for and this season is no different.
Episode 1: Common People
I really wanted to like this episode as much as social media does, but I just didn’t have a connection to the characters like I did in previous episodes like San Junipero or The Entire History of You. Honestly, I felt like it was a little too funny for the content of the story. I wanted to be sadder by the end, but unfortunately, I was just thankful it was over.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Episode 2: Bête Noire
Never trust your own memory. This episode made me so frustrated and nervous and that is a great thing. I never really believed in the Mandela Effect and having Verity using it as a weapon against her enemies is truly terrifying and makes me scared of technology even more. I wouldn’t call this the best episode of the season, but it was definitely a return to form for the series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Episode 3: Hotel Reverie
I kept wanting a story like the one told in San Junipero and Hotel Reverie was a nice way to give us that same type of character study in a different format. I’m a fan of films, I’m a fan of vintage style, and I’m a huge fan of love stories emerging where they might not have had a chance before. Issa Rae is amazing, Emma Corrin is perfectly authentic, and I didn’t even mind Awkwafina in her role. This one blew me away and I would watch it again just on its own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Episode 4: Plaything
I remember Bandersnatch very well and Will Poulter being at the center of the story so when he showed up in this episode, I got excited. A seemingly simple comfort game turns into something far more sinister…but you won’t get to that until almost the end of the episode. This one kind of plays out like a police procedural with flashbacks, so it might seem a little boring at first, but trust me, you’ll want to finish this one.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Episode 5: Eulogy
This is the episode I am obsessed with. Probably my favorite episode of the season and its not just because Paul Giamatti is absolutely knocking it out of the park with his emotions the whole way through. There are so many reveals as Phillip relives his relationship with his ex, Carol, and all of them are so heartbreaking, it makes you wish you could help him yourself. It was a great portrayal of how there are three sides to every story – yours, theirs, and the truth.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Episode 6: USS Callister: Into Infinity
Ok, I’ll be honest. I wasn’t really into the first USS Callister episode. It was fine, but it just didn’t stick with me like the other episodes. After watching Season 7’s USS Callister episode though, my first thought was – wow, I need to go back and rewatch that episode. Buckle up because this one is feature length at 90 minutes, but it was worth it. I enjoyed this episode from start to finish and I need to see Cristin Milioti in more sci-fi roles, she was perfect as the confident captain and her anxious real-life counterpart. I would watch this as its own stand alone series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
There have been previous seasons that I honestly can’t remember anymore because they just weren’t interesting for me (time for a rewatch!) but this season had some decent stories to tell. I would recommend you check it out if you have been a fan of some of the earlier seasons because I think it does show that the writing has circled back to what it’s goal was all along – showing technology for all the good…and bad…it can do for people while creating characters that we, as an audience, can really stand behind. And I’m looking forward to more!
Christine N Rifkin - Author 
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