All 6 Black Mirror Season 7 Episodes, Ranked From Snoozefest to Masterpiece

On April 10, Netflix released the seventh season of the cult sci-fi anthology Black Mirror.

Although the new season became the second highest-rated in the show's history receiving 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, not all episodes were equally impressive. We have compiled a subjective top of the new episodes – from worst to best.

6. Plaything – Episode 4

IMDb Score: 7.2/10

The police arrest a suspect for a murder committed years ago. Under interrogation, the accused tells the story of his life: from his work as a video game reviewer to his obsession with a mysterious computer game.

Plaything is the biggest disappointment of the season: the intriguing plot could have resulted in something more than a vague techno-thriller about a crazy drug-addicted gamer. Even charismatic Peter Capaldi as a crazy freak cannot compensate for the lazy storytelling. It is the most boring episode of the season, which can be skipped.

5. Hotel Reverie – Episode 3

IMDb Score: 6.9/10

The studio is shooting a remake of a black-and-white film starring a modern Hollywood icon. Thanks to innovative technology, the actress' consciousness is placed in the virtual reality of a classic movie, where she must follow the script, surrounded by original characters. However, the system fails.

The attempt to repeat the success of San Junipero can hardly be called successful: the romantic line between the characters seems too far-fetched.

The episode can be praised only for its fresh look at the use of AI in film production and its jokes about modern industry.

4. USS Callister: Into Infinity – Episode 6

IMDb Score: 8.3/10

It is the first sequel in the history of the show. In this episode, the crew of the starship USS Callister is forced to rob other players in order to survive. Now, instead of a sociopathic developer, digital clones have to deal with real users.

If the original episode from the fourth season felt like a breath of fresh air seven years ago, the unnecessary sequel with the ambitions of a feature film is no longer impressive.

3. Bête Noire – Episode 2

IMDb Score: 7.2/10

A young employee of a candy company is preparing to taste a new product. One of the focus group participants unexpectedly turns out to be her former classmate.

From that moment on, the reality around the woman begins to distort. She is constantly confronted with the fact that her memories and ideas about the world are very different from reality – it all looks like a kind of creepy form of the Mandela effect.

Last season, Charlie Brooker presented Red Mirror – a kind of spin-off of Black Mirror within Black Mirror, but with an emphasis on horror. Bête Noire looks like an episode of Red Mirror – there is technology, but in style and spirit this story is much closer to the Twilight Zone.

2. Common People – Episode 1

IMDb Score: 8.1/10

Amanda and Mike's family idyll is shattered by a diagnosis that leaves the wife in a coma. The only way to bring her back to life is an experimental procedure that creates a backup copy of her brain.

The service costs a lifetime subscription. The couple can barely afford the basic plan, but after upgrading from the standard package, they must find ways to upgrade to premium.

Common People criticizes the health care system and ridicules subscription services. It's easy to forgive the first episode for some predictability, because after all, we're looking at the gold standard of Black Mirror.

1. Eulogy – Episode 5

IMDb Score: 8.2/10

Phillip receives the news that his ex-girlfriend has died. Now he is forced to embark on a journey through his own memory – the deceased's daughter has sent him a device that will help him write a eulogy. Together with an AI assistant, the man begins to travel through old photos.

Eulogy is a rare episode that is not afraid of technology. Brooker tells a story about unfulfilled hopes, unsuccessful love and the mistakes of youth. In terms of light sadness and concept, Eulogy is most similar to San Junipero.