Let's Look at Black Mirror Season 7

I love the TV show Black Mirror. If you haven't seen it, it's a show on Netflix that is kind of like a Twilight Zone but centered around technology. It does a lot of alternate universe or "slightly in the future" stories and almost all of them end badly. You know, like a show that is part horror and part thriller and part warning about technology does. Twilight Zone did the same thing and so did The Outer Limits.

So, I have heard that many people are so upset after watching the first episode of the new season and some going so far as to cancel their Netflix accounts. Huh? If you are upset at the first episode, cool, welcome to your first ever episode of Black Mirror. This is a show whose very first episode ever has the prime minister of England forced to have sex with a pig. What did you think was going to happen?

Basically, like all seasons, the episodes are hit or miss but even a miss is better than most shows on TV these days. If you drop out after the first one, you mare missing out. So, let's break it down.

Episode 1 - Common People

Actors Chris O'Dowd and Rashida Jones play a loving couple. He works as a welder and she's a teacher, but soon she collapses in class and it turns out she has a brain tumor. All seems lost until a company comes by and says they can restore her memory, but you have to buy a subscription plan.

What follows is, at times funny, but as the story goes on, the dread grows. Again, this is Black Mirror - there are rarely happy endings. As the couple struggles to keep up with the rising costs of their subscription, the husband resorts to desperate measures to make money. Meanwhile, as they keep getting knocked back to basic subscriptions, Rashida's character soon spouts ads at random times, and becomes slower and more not there.

Then there's the ending. Yeah - it's sad. Very sad. Welcome to Black Mirror.

It's a shocker of an opening, but not the best of the season. It does, however, tackle some real life issues in a satirical way and how commercializing everything, such as healthcare, could have horrible consequences.

Episode 2 - Bête Noire

Not a great episode. Well, it starts with promise, but the ending leaves a bit to be desired. A woman works for a food company creating amazing new dishes and food, only to see a woman she knew back in school show up for a taste test. Bit by bit this woman ends up working at the same company, and slowly takes over the main character's life. It is revealed that bullying was rampant against this woman by our main character, and Verity (the woman's name) has found a technological way to change reality itself.

It plays with the idea of the Mandela Effect and that is fun, but the ending? Not great. Also, check out my novel The Revisionists for more playing with reality and the Mandela Effect fun

Episode 3 - Hotel Reverie

One of my favorites. It plays with the idea of using AI to create movies and mess with old classics. Film companies with nothing but old black and white movies now have a way to get current stars to star in their films. It's a bit of an AI trick known as ReDream and Issa Rae plays a modern actress who dives into a classic film (obviously inspired by Casablanca) to give it new life. Of course, it starts out a bit silly. I mean, Awkwafina stars in this one, but when the technology goes wrong and she has to exist in this alternate reality with the main star of the movie, it turns into a very sweet, surprising, and heart wrenching love story. This is my second favorite of the season.

Episode 4 - Plaything

Imagine if The Sims ended up actually gaining sentience and could talk to at least one person. Imagine now that they grow and grow in population so that they decide they want to take over the minds of men and turn them all into peaceful beings. Imagine the Sims experiencing a user who murders them, then watches as a real life person commits a murder in front of them, inspiring them to take over the world.

That's Plaything. Peter Capaldi is great in it, with long stringy hair and furtive eyes. The plot it interesting, but the whole thing sort of ends just as things get interesting.

Episode 5 - Eulogy

My absolute favorite episode. The episode that, by the end, I was weeping like a baby. A story that delves deep into relationships, heartbreak, and the decisions we all made that we wish we could unmake only to find out it is all too late.

Paul Giamatti is outstanding in this one as Phillip. He finds out his deepest love, from college, has passed away. Now, while trying to put together a montage of her memories to feed into the brains of the funeral attendees, he has to delve into his photos, his own memories, and years of pent up anger, frustration and deep,deep love to try and help.

You really have to watch it to appreciate it as it subtly pulls you into the story. As you learn more about his relationship with Carol, and then realize the opportunity they missed...well, if you are still dry-eyed and cold as ice when it ends, you may just be dead.

Heartbreaking. Profound. Lovely. Beautifully acted and filmed. Eulogy was the stand-out for me and the one I will take with me.

Episode 6 - USS Callister: Into Infinity

The first Black Mirror sequel! Back in season 4, a kind of homage to Star Trek called the USS Callister was created and became a fan favorite. It turned out the characters were digitally created beings in a game created by a madman so he could boss them around. That is a simplified version, but this one picks up where the original left off.

Cristin Milioti stars again as Nanette and she plays both the character in the game and the character in real life. Just like the previous entry, it manages to combine both humor and tense action and suspense.

I don't want to give anything away, but the ending kind of sets up the possibility of a third installment, but to tell you the truth they could make a whole season of the Callister if they wanted and I'd be there.

The Rankings

So, for me, the episodes in order of excellence go:

• Eulogy

• Hotel Reverie

• Common People

• USS Callister

• Plaything

• Bête Noire

So, give season 7 a chance. If the first one upsets you too much, then stop it and go on to the next one. I promise you, there are gems within this season.

Get my latest tale of sci-fi horror called Obsidian now!

Or you can visit my online bookstore and see all of my works in all formats.