Amazon’s latest update to Alexa has reminded Black Mirror fans about a past episode. The tech giant recently announced that it will add a feature that enables Alexa to speak in the voice of a dead relative or friend. In the Netflix series, the Season 2 premiere, “Be Right Back,” has a similar premise where an android copies the mannerisms of a dead partner.
Many other episodes of the tech-themed show either reflect what is happening in modern-day society or predict the future. But which among them is the most engaging and memorable? Various viewers have their picks but a few episodes stand out more as the most recommended among the Reddit fanbase.
“White Christmas” (S2E4)
Loneagle397 is still in awe. They label the episode the “most thought-provoking Black Mirror episode, “adding,” if it were a movie (which it practically is), I would not be surprised to see it pick up a few Oscars. “In it, a former seduction trainer is tasked with getting a confession out of a murder suspect to win his freedom.
The Redditor is right about “White Christmas” not getting a single thing wrong. It is not only loaded with twists and emotional moments but also examines more than one technological development. Jon Hamm’s character, Matt, is shown to be an amazing storyteller too, easing viewers through one astonishing event after another while blurring the lines between the real and the virtual.
“Playtest” (S2E3)
After getting scammed, a man named Cooper decides to participate in the trials of an augmented reality game by having a chip implanted in his head. Redditor sebinca_ confesses that they love “how fast it escalates,” adding that, “the ending is just amazing.”
The episode perfectly combines melancholy with jump scares. Moreover, Cooper is overall one of the most tragic and unluckiest characters in Black Mirror. He never catches a break as it’s revealed that even before getting scammed, his father had died from Alzheimer’s. While testing the game, he experiences horrors that make even the most hardcore of viewers uncomfortable. Worse still, he dies, simply because a phone call from his mother messed with the chip’s signal.
“Nosedive” (S3E10)
In the future, social status is determined by online ratings, therefore, everyone tries to live a fake life to please others and get high ratings. Apart from the plot, mschmitt_ says “the music and aesthetic are just so beautiful.”
“Nosedive” is a perfect reflection of a modern-day society where people strive to get approval on social media to feel good about themselves. Most importantly, it has Lacie, one of the best. Black Mirror characters, who pushes herself hard to get high ratings so that she can be allowed to live in an affluent neighborhood. And the best part is when she reaches her breaking point after realizing she will never be popular.
“Fifteen Million Merits” (S1E2)
Events occur in a world where people must cycle to earn “merits” which they can in turn use to purchase things. Astrolemur says they were “simultaneously impressed and horrified of the depiction of counter-culture being re-appropriated to work in favor of the dominant culture.”
Apart from offering a commentary on modern-day slavery and capitalism, the episode perfectly underscores the importance of being humane. Viewers can not help but feel impressed when a man named Bing showcases his generosity by offering millions of merits to a talented woman so that she can buy an entry ticket into a singing competition. Human love for controversy is later explored when Bing rants about the woman being denied an opportunity only for him to get high ratings and an opportunity to have his show because of the rant.
“Hated In The Nation” (S3E6)
In the #DeathTo social media threads, users get to decide who they want dead. A team of law enforcement officers tries to find out who is behind it. In only a few words, Watchadoinfoo describes “Hated In The Nation” as “the best episode.”
In typical series fashion, nothing feels basic. In an ordinary show, those targeted in such a hashtag would be killed in cliche manners but in Black Mirror, they are murdered by Autonomous Drone Insects (ADIs). Fans also get to see how much technology can go out of control when it’s revealed that the hashtag was started by bots rather than actual people.
“Shut Up And Dance” (S3E3)
A teenager who recorded himself masturbating and a man who was having an affair are blackmailed by a hacker into committing crimes. AGCrin likes the fact that the events “took place in the present instead of the future, which gave it a fresh vibe.”
The proceedings serve as a reminder as to why peoples’ desire to record everything is not always a good idea. The extent to which people will go to protect their reputation becomes clear too. And as the Redditor puts it, the ending is a solid one because it proves no one can be trusted. Despite the two individuals doing as told, the hacker fails to keep his word.
“Hang The DJ” (S4E4)
An algorithm forces citizens to spend lengthy periods with a potential soulmate to determine if they are the perfect match. ReKiVeki feels the episode is full of “great characters, great story, amazing ending, and a perfect mix of sadness and happiness.”
Technology does not get everything right, a fact that is heavily emphasized throughout the proceedings. Despite the algorithm promising a 99.8% success chance of finding the perfect soulmate, most people are shown to be miserable with the partners they are paired with. In the end, the two protagonists make their own conscious choice to be together.
“The Entire History Of You” (S1E3)
In the future, “grain” technology allows humans to rewatch their memories. Redditor gypsyloveletter describes the episode as having a “really cool concept, awesome tech, super good acting, creepy and interesting ending that sticks with you.”
The plot mainly revolves around infidelity and the challenges of marriage. In a way, the concept is an advanced take on the habit of partners checking each other’s phones and finding out the actual truth. It’s a major sad moment for both viewers and the man who checks his wife’s memories and finds out she cheated, leading to the conception of their daughter.
“San Junipero” (S3E4)
Events occur in a world where the consciousness of dead individuals can be transferred into a VR system, enabling them to continue their lives as virtual characters. Among those who love “San Junipero” is openmindedskeptic, who admits they have always tried “to find some more like it.”
Apart from incorporating major LGBTQ + themes, the episode guides viewers through a wild fantasy of virtual immortality. The virtual characters can do everything normal humans do, including making merry, having sex, and getting married. And the concept is tied to current practices via the revelation that people who are about to die can enter the VR system briefly for a trial period.
“Crocodile” (S4E3)
Insurers begin using technology that can project the visual memories of people onto a screen but the technology ends up revealing more than expected. Redditor banditkk77 admits they cherish the episode because “seeing everything unfold and almost agreeing with her decisions made me unexpectedly uncomfortable.”
The investigation-themed plot makes “Crocodile” feel a lot like some of the best procedural crime shows. Since the main character happily murders people in order to cover up her secrets, the violence feels a bit too excessive at times. Nonetheless, it makes the entry feel a little bit different from the rest.
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