Ranking All 6 Episodes of Black Mirror Season 7

[Oliviarfrias]

Black Mirror has returned with six captivating episodes that masterfully explore technology's darker potential. 

This season marks a welcome return to form for the Netflix phenomenon. While no season has ever truly disappointed, last season's supernatural tangents with "Mazey Day" and "Demon 79" felt like an identity crisis. With society teetering on the edge of technological revolution—from implantable bio-tech to artificial intelligence—it's refreshing to see the series reconnect with its dystopian roots.

Without further ado, my definitive rankings of all six Season 7 episodes:

1. "Eulogy"
The crown jewel of Season 7. Paul Giamatti delivers a career-highlight performance as Phillip, who employs revolutionary memory-probing technology to recall his ex-girlfriend Carol's long-forgotten face after her unexpected death. The episode brilliantly examines how memory becomes subjective and how past decisions shape our present reality. This bittersweet tour-de-force will force you to confront your own past relationships, while somehow leaving you with a glimmer of hope.

2. "Common People"
Possibly the most quintessentially Black Mirror episode ever created, this brutal examination of our subscription-based economy is difficult to watch, but well worth it. Rashida Jones shines as a public school teacher who receives a life-saving brain implant, only to discover the data streaming that keeps her mind operational comes with a predatory pricing model. Her "common" tier plan forces her to sleep 16 hours daily so her brain can function as a server, while also injecting random ads into conversations with loved ones. The increasingly desperate measures her husband (Chris O'Dowd) takes to afford an upgrade are both heartbreaking and disturbingly plausible.

3. "Plaything"
"Man murders to save Tamagotchi" sounds like a satirical headline, not a compelling Black Mirror premise—yet Charlie Brooker extracts remarkable pathos from this concept. "Plaything" explores isolation, violence, and our understanding of consciousness while maintaining the addictive quality of true crime. The accompanying interactive game isn't just a gimmick; it's genuinely entertaining and unlocks supplementary scenes that enhance the viewing experience.

4. "USS Callister: Into Infinity"
That this sequel ranks fourth speaks volumes about this season's quality. While "Into Infinity" relies less on its Trek inspiration than its predecessor, it maintains the original's energetic pacing while launching its crew into the chaotic world of online gaming. As a game developer, I found some industry portrayals slightly clichéd. (Note to Writers: No software engineer ever self-identifies as a "coder"—they're "engineers" or "programmers," period). Nevertheless, it's an exhilarating adventure that leaves me eagerly anticipating a potential third installment.

5. "Hotel Reverie"
Issa Rae stars as Brandy Friday, who steps into the iconic role of Alex Palmer in a remake of the fictional black-and-white film that shares the episode's title. But, of course, this isn't your typical remake—Friday performs within an AI recreation of the original, alongside digital reconstructions of the original cast. When a technological glitch extends her stay, she develops feelings for her digital co-star. While the romance is touching and the golden-age Hollywood setting visually stunning, logical inconsistencies prevent total immersion in this otherwise enchanting world.

6. "Bête Noire"
Small discrepancies can trigger existential crises: an email you swear you sent vanishes from your outbox; everyone insists your favorite childhood restaurant had a different name. This episode explores the weaponization of such mental gaslighting. What if someone could alter reality to fit their narrative, specifically to drive you mad? Despite a compelling buildup, the reveal veers too far into the magical for a series anchored in more grounded technological speculation. Though "Bête Noire" ranks last on my list, it's still enjoyable and earns its place in a remarkably strong season.