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Black Mirror’s new episode is one of its best, but the rest of season 7 is disappointing by comparison

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Ever since its premiere in 2011, Charlie Brooker’s thought-provoking anthology series Black Mirror has been captivating audiences with exceptional science fiction tales, packed with unexpected twists, shocking scenes that leave you speechless, and poignant moments that might make you tear up.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve just got my hands on the freshly dropped seventh season of this captivating series, and boy, it’s brought something truly exciting for fellow fans – the long-awaited continuation! We’re talking about the first sequel right here, a thrilling extension to the mind-bendingly eccentric fourth season episode titled “USS Callister“. Can’t wait to dive in!

On the other hand, although a few from the six new episodes match the best of “Black Mirror” and contain all the familiar aspects including excellent cast selections, it’s the episode “USS Callister: Into Infinity” that falls short of expectations.

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The standout episode from the latest season is the first one, offering a blend of poignant emotions and subtle criticisms of expensive subscriptions. Named “Common People“, it features Rashida Jones and Chris O’Dowd as couple Amanda and Mike. Their lives take an unexpected turn when Amanda experiences a medical crisis. In an attempt to save her, Mike enrolls her in “Rivermind”, a cutting-edge technology designed to keep her alive.

Regrettably, it’s a subscription-based service, and with each passing month, I find myself struggling financially to keep up with the payments.

In the vein of Black Mirror’s signature gloom, I found myself drawn into a world that left me questioning my own moral compass, thanks to the gripping performances by Jones and O’Dowd portraying a convincing couple. Their choices in this episode made me ponder what I might do if faced with the same harrowing circumstances.

Just as the finest installments of this captivating series, it delves into themes of humanity, love, and the double-edged sword that technology can be. A poignant scene, starring O’Dowd alongside a crib, ranks among the saddest emotional peaks the show has ever presented on screen.

As for the remainder of the series, following up is the intriguing episode “Bête Noire” (if you’re watching sequentially), along with episode five titled “Eulogy”. While these episodes are smartly written and well-crafted, there seems to be a missing element that would elevate them to become timeless classics in the future.

To kick things off, I found myself stepping into the shoes of Siena Kelly, a gamer like no other, who was taken aback when my long-forgotten schoolmate Verity, once a geeky kid like me, joined the very same tech firm where I worked. As days turned into weeks, it became apparent that there was something off about Verity that everyone else seemed to overlook. The storyline began to unfold like a puzzle, and as the pieces fell into place, so did the climactic ending of Eulogy. Here, Paul Giamatti’s character is given groundbreaking tech that lets him physically step into old photos, allowing him to revisit memories from his past.

Giamatti’s rough-edged portrayal is delightful, as anticipated, yet each episode seems overly extended and tends to fade from memory after viewing.

In episode three, titled “Hotel Reverie”, is significantly more delightful, not solely due to the presence of the consistently charming Awkwafina and Harriet Walter, but also for other engaging reasons as well.

In a fresh take, Issa Rae assumes the role of an actress tasked to bring a captivating, immersive remake of an old British black-and-white film to life. However, she finds herself ensnared within the very movie itself, sharing the screen with actors who are convinced they embody their characters – among them is a once-famous movie star portraying the glamorous lead character, Dorothy, played by Emma Corrin.

One of the more delightful episodes from Black Mirror is presented, yet for those seeking a darker narrative, their desires are fulfilled with episode four titled, Plaything. In this installment, game developer Colin Ritman (portrayed by Will Poulter) makes a brief comeback; he was previously seen in the interactive Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.

Apart from what’s been mentioned, we won’t divulge much more. However, let me share some details: Peter Capaldi portrays an eccentric murder suspect, while Lewis Gribben of Shetland delivers a convincing performance as the character in the 90s era. Furthermore, there’s an engaging video game with a Lemmings-inspired style that maintains a balance between being adorable and eerie, making you consider turning off your gaming console before going to sleep.

Now, we’ve discussed the outstanding, average, and decent episodes from Black Mirror season seven. That only leaves us with the least satisfying: the much-awaited follow-up, USS Callister: Beyond the Horizon.

Enthusiasts of the Emmy-winning series USS Callister may recall a situation where an ingenious programmer secretly took the DNA samples of his colleagues and imprisoned digital replicas of them within a game reminiscent of Star Trek. However, by the conclusion of the episode, these characters managed to break free from their captor’s control. The subsequent installment continues their tale.

As Captain Nanette Cole, also known as The Penguin in my gaming world, I find myself and the USS Callister crew stranded in an endless virtual universe. We’re battling for survival against countless real-world players in this Black Mirror reality. The ending we hoped for at the end of the initial episode? Not even close. And to be honest, this isn’t the kind of series where you expect a happy ending anyway – but even the resolution this time feels unsatisfying.

Rather than offering a fresh take, this extended episode seems to revisit familiar territory, echoing aspects of the initial one. It’s wonderful to have Miloti, Jimmi Simpson, Billy Magnussen, Milanka Brooks, and Osy Ikhile back on set, but it appears as though the Black Mirror team returned to the Callister universe primarily due to fan demand, rather than having a compelling new idea they were eager to share on screen.

The production offers a handful of enjoyable instances (one of which could be considered a significant spoiler, though we’ll avoid revealing it), but contrary to expectations, the clever twist that the follow-up would surpass the first installment doesn’t quite hold true. Instead, we find ourselves stranded in space, much like the crew of USS Callister, without any captivating destinations in sight.

Black Mirror is available on Netflix.

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2025-04-10 10:49

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