Black Mirror season 7 amazes, but falls short on tech-driven storytelling; did the episodes live up to expectations?
Here's a breakdown of all the episodes of Black Mirror season 7 and why I felt it missed the mark in many places:
Episode 1: Common people
The season opener Common People had plenty of potential, striking the right emotional chord from the beginning. The premise—a husband using high-tech means to save his wife's life—was intriguing. Yet, the execution felt predictable, echoing themes explored in previous seasons, without enough technological twists to keep it fresh. Chris O'Dowd and Rashida Jones delivered convincing performances, but the climax did not do justice to the setup.
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Siena Kelly and Rosy McEwen's second episode is a psychological thriller about a culinary researcher whose reality shifts after an old schoolmate joins her workplace. However, the story lacked impact and clear explanation. The technological metaphor—hinting at the Mandela effect—felt underdeveloped and unsatisfying. Instead of focusing on a novel tech invention, the episode leaned more heavily into psychological manipulation, missing the essence of Black Mirror's tech-driven storytelling.
Episode 3: Hotel Reverie
Set in 40s Hollywood, the black-and-white episode explored the use of AI-based virtual production to recreate films in the modern world. Emma Corrin impressed as Dorothy, but Issa Rae's performance as Brandy felt less convincing. While the episode succeeded in evoking emotions, the technology served more as a background detail than a core focus. Compared to the early seasons, the episode lacked the sharp technological commentary that once defined the show.
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Episode 4: Plaything
This episode offered beautiful storytelling but left me confused by the climax. The ending did not fully justify the episode's emotional buildup. Peter Capaldi's chilling performance brought back memories of Bandersnatch and elevated the narrative. A video game journalist becomes obsessed with an unusual game populated by artificial lifeforms, leading to the end of humanity. If I had to rank all the season seven episodes, Plaything would likely take first place for its storytelling quality, even if its tech innovation was modest.
Are the makers running out of fresh ideas? Eulogy felt like a rehash of concepts explored in earlier seasons, similar to Common People. It followed a lonely man revisiting memories and photographs of a deceased ex-girlfriend using a system that allows users to relive moments inside images. Sound familiar? While the emotional angle was powerful, thanks largely to Paul Giamatti's gut-wrenching performance, the technological element took a back seat. Again.
Episode 6: USS Callister: Into Infinity
The most anticipated episode, USS Callister: Into Infinity, a sequel to the beloved season four episode USS Callister, finally delivered. In my opinion, it had the most satisfying climax out of all the episodes. Revisiting the digital realm adventure of the office peers with even more high stakes to save their lives, the narrative served tech value and character development with a familiar backdrop. The theme of digital consciousness lives up to the expectations in the episode.
Black Mirror season 7 shines when it comes to storytelling, emotional depth and character development. But, it surely lacks in presenting new, high-end and fresh technological concepts. It touches the deep psychological string, but leaves you wanting more of the show's sci-fi trademark.
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