Sayak Basu
Very few TV shows have been as intense and philosophically provocative as Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror. The series focuses on the overuse of technology and its serious implications on the human condition. The dark, at times violent and riveting episodes, serves as a warning to modern society which has created a parallel social order using the technologies of AI and digital communications. The genres of each episode shifts from political satire to heist, cop procedurals or war dramas.
Here is the list of top episodes of this modern television classic. If you were wondering which was the best season of Black Mirror, we will leave that up to you.
10. Arkangel — Season 4 Episode 9
This was a special Black Mirror episode directed by Jodie Foster and stars Rosemarie DeWitt as Marie, an over-possessive mother who when she comes to know that there is a technology to monitor her daughter 24*7 decides to go for it. This was an experimental program, and directly live-streamed to her iPad whatever the daughter sees through her eyes. And as we all know, some things should be kept personal from the parents. The mother thus comes to see certain things she would not be proud of, consequences of which takes a massive tragic turn by the end of the episode.
9. Metalhead — Season 4 Episode 5
This Black Mirror episode was written by Charlie Brooker and directed by David Slade and is the only episode in the entire series to be filmed completely in black and white. The film, set in a dystopic near-future, follows the plight of Bella, a woman trying to survive the wrath of robotic dogs from finding and killing her. These machines are ruthless and unreasonable. They do not go beyond what is programmed into their system, and will not stop till the task is complete. In this dark and desolate American landscape., these robots are the hounds of death.
8. Hang The DJ — Season 4, Episode 6
In season 4 episode 6 of Black Mirror, Amy (Georgina Campbell) and Frank (Joe Cole) are two of many people in a walled-off system who are placed into trial romantic relationships by a digital companion called coach. The companion dictates how long the first meeting can last, collects all the data of the participants, and helps them find their ultimate compatible partner. But how it actually does so shall remain the revelation that will surprise and amaze the viewer at the end of the first watch.
7. Fifteen Million Merits — Season 1 Episode 2
Written by Charlie Brooker and his wife, this Black Mirror episode is set in a futuristic world where most of human society have to cycle on exercise bikes in order to power their environment and surroundings and earn a currency called “Merits”. The episode follows Bing, who meets Abi and convinces her to participate in a talent game show to escape the world around them. Brooker puts up a scathing criticism of the extremely competitive and murky culture of reality TV in this episode, where desire has no end and to fulfil such desires participants can stoop down to unimaginable lows.
6. Nosedive — Season 3 Episode 1
The first episode of season 3 of Black Mirror is set in a world where every interaction a person has with a fellow individual can be rated by the other on a scale of 1 to 5, upon which the person’s socio-economic position depends. Bryce Dallas Howard does an amazing job portraying the central character, Lacie, who is a young woman and obsessed with her ratings, and this obsession leads her to troubles when she sets out to reach the wedding of her friend, who has invited her to be the maid of honour.
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