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Indian Express
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Black Mirror season 7 amazes, but falls short on tech-driven storytelling; did the episodes live up to expectations?
When a sci-fi fan sits down to watch Black Mirror, they expect a certain level of technological intrigue. However, season seven, while rich in psychological depth, did not quite deliver what matters most: groundbreaking technology. Over time, Black Mirror's sharp focus on the dark side of technological development seems to have been dialled down. Instead of showcasing tech evolution, the latest season often felt like a collection of recycled ideas, familiar narratives, and only average innovation. 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. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO 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. ALSO READ | 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.
BreakingNews.ie
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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). Advertisement 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.
South China Morning Post
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
How was Black Mirror's Hotel Reverie made? Director Haolu Wang on AI, love of old films
In 'Hotel Reverie', an episode from the recent, seventh season of Netflix series Black Mirror, filmmaker Haolu Wang focuses on the hot topic of artificial intelligence (AI). Advertisement The episode sees AI technology being used to speed up, simplify and, most importantly, reduce the costs of remaking a classic film as something of a money grab. This 78-minute instalment of the science-fiction anthology series dropped just months after Hollywood writers, directors and actors went on strike to protest at the expansion in the use of AI – and the lack of agreements on it – in the entertainment industry. The irony of the timing is not lost on the Chinese-born director, who hopes that 'people will realise AI is terrible for creativity'. Haolu Wang on the set of Hotel Reverie, which she says was crafted by hand to resemble the way they made films in the 1940s. Photo: Netflix In a video call from her London home, Wang tells the Post: 'Although 'Hotel Reverie' seems to present a way that AI can be used more positively … humanity, creativity and love are ultimately what matter. AI cannot create love.' Advertisement
Irish Daily Star
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
Fans all say the same thing about newest series of Netflix's Black Mirror
Netflix's Black Mirror has been stirring up a storm since 2011, with its brain-bending, dystopian themes that have viewers going through a vast range of emotions. The series stands as a thought-provoking, boundary-pushing anthology that delves into technology's shadowy impact on society – yet, reception to the various seasons has been a mixed bag. A dedicated Netflix viewer took to Reddit to gauge opinions on the newest Black Mirror season, questioning whether it's worth a watch – and people all seemed to have the same opinions. They posted: "Is the new Black Mirror season any good? The last maybe like two seasons have been kinda hit or miss (maybe more miss honestly), and strangely, I haven't heard almost anything about the new season at all, good or bad. "Doesn't anyone have any strong opinions on it? Should I give it a shot, or maybe not?". The community responded, giving their honest take on whether the latest instalment is worth watching. One respondent shared: "I found it much better than seasons 5 (which was barely a season, let's be honest) and 6. There were two episodes I didn't love, two I did, but overall I enjoyed it and can say it felt for the most part a lot closer to Black Mirror to me. "Plus, what a surprise on that cast! I went in blind, so I had no idea who was making appearances. Just watch it." Another chimed in with: "I really liked the first episode. It makes you feel different emotions". Someone reflected: "Agreed... that episode had me thinking for was sad and honestly something that could happen to anyone." A dedicated Black Mirror viewer expressed their satisfaction by saying: "I really quite liked all of them, this was one of the best seasons yet for me." They singled out an episode, noting: "Plaything's my personal favorite from the lot, Hotel Reverie is probably the worst but I think that's less of a matter of it being bad and more so disappointing to think about how better it could have been with a different lead. I didn't like Issa Rae's performance very much". Another chimed in: "Better than the last two seasons for sure. The thing I noticed about this season is that there doesn't seem to be a definitive episode that everyone agrees on that is the best." The fan continued: "You either like some episodes or you don't, based on your preferences," highlighting that opinions varied widely based on individual tastes and thoughts on the variety of episodes. Discussing the emotional impact, they commented: "The first one is very sad". They elaborated: "To me, it's unfair to place that in the best of list because it's just a different genre compared to the rest. I'm not a crier, but I cried, so it's very, very good." Concluding with their rundown, the person said: "Episode two is my fave, and episode three is my second best. Four is intriguing to me, but meh. Five is boring in my opinion. "Six is a follow-up to a previous episode, which I thought was boring, but fans of that episode will probably like it".
Forbes
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Black Mirror' Season 7: ‘Hotel Reverie' Is Reminiscent Of A Favorite Episode
Former journalist-turned-TV writer Charlie Brooker has gained a cult following with his Netflix sci-fi anthology series, Black Mirror, as viewers worldwide discuss and analyze each episode when new seasons air. Since its April 10 premiere, the six-episode seventh season has had more than seven million views. The new season of Black Mirror made the Top 10, landing at No. 4 on the English TV list. Additionally, the new season has entered the Top 10 in 71 countries. For gamers, the episodes were launched alongside a mobile video game that they can download and play while binge-watching. Awkwafina in 'Black Mirror' on Netflix. Photo Courtesy of Netflix. The new episodes have had the usual online buzz, with one being compared to a past favorite. The episode 'Hotel Reverie' stands out this season with its bittersweet message of love, how it can be found unexpectedly, and how nothing can destroy it if it's real. This story is reminiscent of season three's 'San Junipero,' about two women who find true love in a simulated afterlife. In both stories, love prevails in Brooker's dark landscape. Each of these tales are, at their core, love stories. The happy-ish ending in 'Hotel Reverie' is a departure for Brooker; his twisted tales rarely end on a high note. In separate sit-down interviews, Awkwafina and Issa Rae confirmed they were both huge fans of Brooker's writing before signing on. 'The human condition is so fully realized,' said Awkwafina. Of this episode, she added, 'Charlie's stories open up worlds that haven't been traveled before. Time and space cannot stop a connection, and that's the ultimate love story. There's something beautiful about it.' In 'Hotel Reverie,' Rae portrays modern-day Hollywood star Brandy Friday, who is frustrated with being typecast. She believes her luck is changing when she discovers that a favorite vintage romantic film from long ago is getting a remake when Keyworth Pictures studio head Judith Keyworth (Harriet Walter) is approached by Kimmy (Awkwafina) to remake her classic film 'Hotel Reverie' with the new Redream software. Brandy has the idea of gender-swapping the male lead, Alex Palmer, and taking on that role. When offered the part, she signs on without realizing this technology inserts modern stars into classic films for interactive remakes. Things quickly go awry as Brandy enters the immersive, AI-generated version of the movie. She finds love with the film's original star, Dorothy Chambers (Emma Corrin), and when she misses a cue, she creates a major plot hole in the story. Trapped in this otherworld, the only way out is to keep the story moving forward until the end credits roll. Then, an engineer working on the film spills his coffee on a computer server, knocking Redream offline with Brandy trapped inside. In real life, the program is up and running within minutes, but in the simulated reality, months have gone by, and the two women have fallen in love. 'This is about how love can exist outside of this realm, outside of this space,' explained Rae. 'Time and space can't stop this connection. It was bittersweet at the end because there was a real love there that can't exist in her reality, and that hurt me, despite the ending.' The episode ends with Brandy and Dorothy, who live in different eras, having an opportunity to connect in this parallel dimension of time. 'I thought it was a beautiful episode. It's interesting because I feel like the themes of Black Mirror coincide with technology gone awry, but there's always this human element with it. The answer behind the Black Mirror is that it's up to us how we use this technology. I think that's the point of this series,' Rae added. Rae connected to and understood her character immediately. 'She desired to take agency over her career and to be seen outside of this box that the industry was putting her in. She felt very lonely to me, and so it felt like it was completely possible that she would enter this world and open herself up to fall in love. I was just drawn to this element of the character, and also how scary this technology would be if it existed.' Awkwafina described this story as a warning against the misuse of ever-evolving advances in technology. 'That's the scary thing about AI. It's so integrated into what we do in our lives, and we don't know what it can do. Every episode of this show serves as a cautionary tale. When you have people peddling technology and they don't know the bounds of it, then I think we're all screwed.'
