Black Mirror is the best sci-fi/horror anthology since The Twilight Zone.
But which episodes are the best of the best?
See our choices here!
Early adopters of sci-fi anthology seriesBlack Mirrorwere once able to rattle off their list of favorite episodes with ease.
Thankfully, its a a challenge were happy to take on.
Unfortunately, Shut Up and Dance is simply too ugly for its own good.
The concept of being able to literally watch ones own memories Dumbledores Pensieve-style was definitely appealing.
Problem is: The Entire History of You has aged incredibly poorly.
Central character Waldo is just absolutely unfunny and insufferable.
The notion of co-opting sarcastic revolutions from frustrated voters is pretty right on.
Still, Waldo is just the fucking worst.
Men Against Fire
Season 3 Episode 5
Men Against Fire is actually pretty solid.
Its a story and a concept that just needed some more time and money to marinate.
Crocodile
Season 4 Episode 3
Crocodileis one ofBlack Mirrors best-looking episodes.
Director John Hillcoat (The Road) makes the absolute best of the configs still, disquieting Icelandic landscapes.
And that interesting concept of accessing memories comes up again only this time in a more primitive form.
The technology being developed and primarily used by insurance investigators is entirely logical and intelligent on the shows part.
The plot that Brooker creates around it is again just too bleak.
Its all a bit much and at times flat out silly.
Its still a fun episode that combines moments of sharp humor and real intensity.
Its also one of the fewBlack Mirrorepisodes to tackle social media and does so in a pretty smart way.
Youll have some fun here but for the most part this Zazie Beetz-starring installment isntBlack Mirrorat its best.
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
Bandersnatchis a bit of an odd duck in theBlack Mirroroeuvre.
Released late in 2018 as a standalone,Bandersnatchis Netflixs first ever choose-your-own-adventure showcase for adults.
Bandersnatchworks surprisingly well as a pureBlack Mirrorepisode, devoid of the narrative tricks.
Its those darn choices though that get in the way of the things.
In a way thats fitting, asBandersnatchmight be about how choice is an illusion anyway.
Not only that but she creates a touching portrayal of mothers and daughters.
Rarely has an episode ofBlack Mirrorfallen apart so precipitously in its third act, however.
Smithereens is perfectly fine, but unremarkable.
Theres no catch here!
The good folks at Rivermind bring Amandas brain back online for free.
All it costs to keep it that way is $300 a month via the subscription model.
Wait, did we say $300?
Its actually closer to $1300 now, you know with the upgrading of the cell towers and all.
Also, can we interest you in Rivermind Luxe?
Its the only way to remove ads.
The show has indulged inStar Trek-like adventure in U.S.S.
Callister, post-apocalyptic horror in Metalhead, and basically straight up romance in San Juinpero.
Season 5sRachel, Jack and Ashley Toomight be the series most striking tonal departures yet.
If not for the occasional F-bomb, this is basically a madcap childrens movie.
Still, its hard not to fall for the charms of this strangely wholesome installment.
Playtest
Season 3 Episode 2
Theres quite a bit of time-padding in Playtest.
Despite a reasonable running time of 57 minutes, the first act feels like its nine hours long.
In Playtests case, thats to be thefirst flat out techno horror movie episode ofBlack Mirror.
Its hard to imagine the episode succeeding in this goal more effectively.
Playtest is far scarier than one could reasonably expect.
Loch Henry
Season 6 Episode 2
Black Mirrordoes true crime inLoch Henryand it does so quite well!
In an increasingly bleak series, Loch Henry might just offer up one ofBlack Mirrors bleakest-ever endings.
Case in point isBete Noire,the second episode of the shows seventh season.
Soon enough Verity (Rosy McEwen) is brining the concept of gaslighting to new sci-fi heights.
At the center of it all is the bete noire, or black beast, herself: jealousy.
Beyond the Sea
Season 6 Episode 3
Its hard to find the right spot forBeyond the Seaon this list.
Technically-speaking, its one ofBlack Mirrors most impressive episodes.
But then theres that ending.
Despite featuring one ofBlack Mirrors many trademark bleak endings, theres something endearing about Plaything.
Metalhead
Season 4 Episode 5
Metalheadis beautiful in its simplicity.
Its among the shortest, most direct, and most exciting episodes ofBlack Mirror.
Brooker presents us with a simple black and white story of survival.
Black and white literally and black and white figuratively: man (in this case woman) vs. machine.
The System takes users from relationship to relationship, gathering information to find the users one true love.
Its a wonderful, clever, and emotional love story.
That is to say: a greatBlack Mirrorepisode.
Of course, like manyBlack Mirrorcharacters in season 7, she doesnt quite read the instruction manual.
Folks who have never seenBlack Mirrormay be under the mistaken impression that the show thrives on tricking its audience.
Thats obviously not always the case.
But it is in White Bear and the results are incredible.
The National Anthem
Season 1 Episode 1
Black Mirrors first episode is among its most polarizing.
Its incredible that this is what Brooker chose to lead off with.
The prime minster in question is the uninspiring Michael Callow (Rory Kinnear).
Reality has basically become an episode ofBlack Mirror.
Brooker himself has copped to occasionally feeling hamstrung by the worlds increasingly dystopian tendencies.
Joan Is Awful uses the Black Mirrorification of our reality to its advantage.
Its a perfectlyBlack Mirrorconcept that episode writer Brooker knows just what to do.
White Christmas
White Christmas is the first and superior ofBlack Mirrors two anthology episodes.
White Christmas follows Trent through three seemingly unrelated stories before they cross in fascinating and terrifying ways.
Then the twist hits.
Through a silly little Mortal Kombat style videogame,Black Mirrormakes the audience reconsider their own relationships and values.
Just like all the truly greatBlack Mirrorepisodes this is a love story.
Whats the technology here?
Lo and behold, its a ton of fun the second time around too.
The effort to do so sends her into a … well, a nosedive.
A fun aspect ofBlack Mirroris being able to recognize certain plot points and themes in real life.
Ok, so its not always fun.
For Nosedive, though its somehow both.
Demon 79
Season 6 Episode 5
Demon 79represents theBlack Mirrors attempt to do something completely new.
And it all works!
The technology of Eulogy is simple and certainly not what youd call dystopian.
What the episode lacks in flash, however, it makes up for his heart.
This is a touching, bittersweet installment that stands out as one ofBlack Mirrors best.
15 Million Merits
Season 1 Episode 2
15 Million Merits is all over the place.
It satirizes talent shows likeThe VoiceandAmerican Idol.
It satirizes the app culture thats invading our phones and computers.
It satirizes the weight loss industry.
Its a lot, and its hard to fully categorize.
Instead of all these elements detracting from the story at hand, they enhance it.
15 Million Merits is genius dystopian fiction.
Its Brookers sense of humor placed neatly over Orwells1984.
Its only the second episode of the entire series and its as auspicious a beginning as possible.
Well,USS CallisterisBlack Mirrors fun Star Trek parody.
Its also a compelling examination of bad men and the damage they do.
USS Callister is one of the most complete and exciting stories the show has told yet.
A show that was sometimes about things that go viral suddenly had a thing that went viral.
Its all more than well earned.
San Junipero is near perfect.
For once technology brings people together onBlack Mirrorinstead of tearing them apart.
One night, Ash heads out for a drive on a snowy road and the unthinkable happens.
So Martha goes through with it and tries to fall in love again with a facsimile of Ash.
Be Right Back is beautiful and sad because its human.
And it gets to a truth about all technology.
Life is a race to experience love against the clock of death.
ItsBlack Mirrors best episode.
