Review: Black Mirror back to its best in season 7
* Warning: There are spoilers in this article if you have not seen Black Mirror season seven *
Black Mirror returns to its brilliant best in season seven with themes such as the dangers of AI, irresponsible billionaires and forbidden romance prevalent.
The genius of Charlie Brooker's storytelling is that so many episodes of Black Mirror feel all too real in the modern world, and things like the healthcare story in episode one 'Common People', seem eerily possible.
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Rashida Jones and Chris O'Dowd star as a couple who are faced with a devastating medical diagnosis.
Without the means for the best care available, they turn to a high-tech subscription service that initially works miracles, but turns out to have a sinister edge.
'Bête Noire' is a fast-paced episode that feels like a pyschological thriller. Maria (Siena Kelly) appears to have a very full life, and works in her dream job.
However, an old classmate (
Rosy McEwen) suddenly arrives in her workplace and has her questioning her sanity, and reality.
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Episode three, '
Hotel Reverie', was our favourite from season seven.
It has more than a few similarities with San Junipero, one of the best Black Mirror offerings to date, and expect a few easter eggs.
Issa Rae plays Brandy Friday, a high profile Hollywood star who has become frustrated with her career.
She can hardly believe her luck when she is invited to star in a remake of her favourite vintage film.
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It is being reproduced by a cutting edge technology company, and Brandy soon realises it won't be like any film she has worked on before.
Transported into an AI-designed universe, her co-stars are AIs.
A replication of
Ingrid Bergman (Emma Corrin) is more human than it initially seems, with big consequences.
'Plaything' features a character we've previously seen, eccentric video game developer Colin Ritman (Will Poulter).
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One of his new creations is more rooted in reality than behind the screen, and it drives Cameron Walker (Peter Capaldi) crazy.. or does it?
'Eulogy' is a closs second to Hotel Reverie in our ranking, and Phillip (Paul Giamatti) plays a man haunted by his memories.
When he is asked to look back on the love of his life with a virtual assistant, Phillip gets far more than he bargained for.
Giamatti's performance is powerful.
'USS Callister: Into Infinity' is a sequel episode.
It is well saved as the sixth episode and might as well be a film of its own.
The effects and story are visually stunning. It boasts an ensemble cast including Cristin Millioti (who plays Nanette Cole), Jimmi Simpson (as James Walton), and Jesse Plemons (as Roberty Daly).
Brooker's dystopian anthology series has provided again, and viewers will be hoping for a season eight.
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Edinburgh Live
4 hours ago
- Edinburgh Live
Department Q stars share season 2 hopes as Netflix yet to renew series
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Netflix audiences have embraced Department Q, and its stars are eagerly awaiting news of a second season. Despite Netflix not yet confirming a renewal for season 2, the show has received acclaim from both critics and viewers. The enthralling new mystery crime drama showcases a talented cast, featuring Matthew Goode as the astute but haunted DCI Carl Morck who spearheads a fresh Cold Case division with Edinburgh's police service. Speaking to Reach in a recent exclusive interview, Department Q actors Alexej Manvelov and Leah Byrne, portraying Akram and Rose respectively, shared their anticipation for potential future storylines. Both characters develop significant depth throughout the series, leaving many questions about Akram's background and his life prior to Syria unresolved by the end of season one. (Image: NETFLIX) This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Free Netflix subscription Get Netflix free with Sky Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan. Members can watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish, including hit shows like The Last of Us, Black Mirror and all WWE programming. from £15 Sky Get the deal here On the topic of aspirations for Department Q's future seasons, Alexej kept it simple with: "Just for it to happen!" Leah chimed in with fervent agreement, saying: "Yeah, absolutely." Alexej further expressed his eagerness to delve deeper into his character, noting: "I look forward to unpacking a bit more about Akram because I feel there is a lot more to tell." Adapted from Jussi Adler-Olsen's popular Danish Nordic noir novels, Department Q has an extensive source material to explore, with Leah acknowledging: "For sure, we've got so many books worth of stuff waiting for us there to mine." The book series behind Netflix's latest detective series boasts a total of 10 volumes, which could potentially fuel the show's longevity if further seasons are greenlit, reports the Express. The lead actors shared their views on the intricate layers of the characters they portray in the series, avoiding any spoilers. Leah was full of praise for the intricate writing of her role, saying: "I think it's just how incredible Scott writes that character," noting the delight in playing characters with depth. "And I think something we see throughout the series is that we've got these people who are so multifaceted who appear one thing one level but then are hiding or have so much going on and it's such a joy as an actor to get to play someone like that because there's so much to explore with her." Alexej echoed this sentiment, saying: "For an actor, it's such a perk to do a multifaceted character but also not to just reveal it. But just to do a little bit at a time and all these subtle things and stuff." He also expressed gratitude for the collaborative process, adding: "And we worked on the backstory quite a lot on paper and references and stuff like that but then Scott let me do my thing and then he directed me, you know. And to maintain that mystery is also a trick of the trade that I really appreciate." (Image: NETFLIX) Netflix describes the plot of Department Q as follows: "DCI Carl Morck is a brilliant cop but a terrible colleague. His razor-sharp sarcasm has made him no friends in Edinburgh Police." It continues: "After a shooting that leaves a young PC dead, and his partner paralysed, he finds himself exiled to the basement and the sole member of Dept. Q; a newly formed cold case unit. "The department is a PR stunt, there to distract the public from the failures of an under-resourced, failing police force that is glad to see the back of him. "But more by accident than design, Carl starts to build a gang of waifs and strays who have everything to prove. "So, when the stone-cold trail of a prominent civil servant who disappeared several years ago starts to heat up, Carl is back doing what he does best - rattling cages and refusing to take no for an answer." All episodes of Department Q are available to stream now, exclusively on Netflix.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
How real life Scottish murder inspired Netflix smash thriller Dept. Q
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ACTRESS Chloe Pirrie studied episodes of BBC Scotland's documentary series Murder Trial to prepare for her dark role as a prosecutor in Netflix smash Dept. Q. Edinburgh-born Chloe played Merrit Lingard in the gritty nine part series that sees her cross paths with DCI Carl Morck (Matthew Goode) - the cop tasked with setting up the new cold case unit staffed by a bunch of police misfits. 6 Chloe Pirrie was inspired by real life murders 6 Chloe plays Merritt Lingard in the show 6 Renee and Andrew MacRae disappeared in the 1970s But she got up to speed for the part by watching BBC Scotland's Murder Trials documentaries which charted real-life court cases including Bill McDowell being found guilty for murder of lover Renee MacRae and her three-year-old son Andrew who disappeared in the 1970s. Chloe, 37, who had previously appeared in the Black Mirror episode The Waldo Moment in 2013, says: 'I did a lot of research around the legal world in Edinburgh. 'The court system there has been televised quite a lot through the BBC documentary series Murder Trial so I could see how it works, and how it feels like a bit of a club. 'Merritt would absolutely exist outside of something like that, and actually be in conflict with it. 'That immediately told me she would be someone who is potentially not well liked – but that she probably doesn't give a s**t that that's the case.' The series is based on the books Department Q by bestselling Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen, with their Copenhagen setting swapped for the cobbled streets of Edinburgh. But in 2020 Chloe appeared in the Netflix miniseries The Queen's Gambit as Alice Harmon, the birth mother of Beth Harmon ( Anya Taylor-Joy) And that helped her land her major role in Dept. 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Q which has rocketed to the top of the Netflix charts. She says: 'It was really cool, especially because Edinburgh is one of these cities where there's a version that the tourists experience but there's also parts of it that people don't necessarily see – parts where people live with massive wealth disparity. 'So what I love about the show is you're really seeing Edinburgh – all of it - in a very true way. 'I really enjoyed seeing the city I'm from portrayed in a three dimensional way. 'I also loved working with my own accent and being able to offer up really specific Edinburgh sayings. It was quite a full circle moment for me. 'So if it's right for her to come back, then absolutely.' 6 The cast is a who's who of Scottish talent
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
Pulp's Jarvis Cocker says his writer's block ‘led the band to grind to a halt'
Pulp's Jarvis Cocker says his writer's block 'led the band to grind to a halt' The Britpop band, best known for their hit song Common People, will release their first album in over two decades, More, on June 6 Jarvis Cocker performs during the Pulp concert at Kings Theatre on September 14, 2024 in New York (Image: Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone via Getty Images ) Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker has said his writer's block "led the band to grind to a halt". The Britpop band, best known for their hit song Common People, will release their first album in over two decades, More, on June 6. The frontman, 61, said he wrote the lyrics before going into the studio to "make things easier". Speaking to the Big Issue, Cocker said: "It's weird because we don't hang around with each other outside of the band any more, but I was aware of what the others were up to with various projects. But when you've made music with people for that many years, you have an unspoken understanding. "I tried to make things easier by writing my lyrics before we went into the studio, for the first time ever. Because that's what kind of led the band to grind to a halt in the first place. "It was taking me so long, I just felt embarrassed that the rest of the band were hanging around waiting for me to get my finger out." Article continues below The group split in 2002 but got back together for occasional live performances including headlining Wireless Festival in Hyde Park and playing at Glastonbury in 2011. They reunited again in 2023 for a series of UK and Ireland dates, but months before the tour was due to start bassist Steve Mackey died at the age of 56. Cocker added: "It sounds a bit crass, but Steve passed away just before our last tour and it made me realise that we only have a finite amount of time to do the things you want to do. And for Steve, it was no longer an option, but it was for us." Speaking about raising his son amid conversations about toxic masculinity he said: "Women brought me up. All the males in our family just disappeared, and that had a significant effect on me. "As for Andrew Tate, I did worry when my son first got his phone that he would encounter weird ideas about stuff. I thought, 'If I don't discuss certain subjects with him, then who will he learn from?'" The Sheffield group formed in 1978 and is currently made up of singer Cocker, keyboard player Candida Doyle, drummer Nick Banks and guitarist Mark Webber. The band struggled to find success in their early days, releasing It (1983), Freaks (1987) and Separations (1992), before finding their audience during the 1990s Britpop era with their first UK top 40 single, Do You Remember The First Time? and subsequent His 'N' Hers album, in 1994. In 1995, they gained nationwide fame with the release of the single Common People and the critically acclaimed Different Class album as well as their Glastonbury performance. They have since had five UK top 10 singles and two number one albums. Article continues below The new album More is dedicated to bassist Mackey and is due to be released on June 6.
