Black Mirror - Top Ten Episodes (5-1)
This article reveals no spoilers for any episodes discussed!
And we're back! Believe it or not, this is the first time I've written Ranked articles back to back. I've found that when I'm in the mood to talk about something, it's best if I power through all of is instead of separating it out. Allowing myself the time to just go off about stories makes me feel complete than leaving something out there for myself. This results in me having a clear mind going into my next shows/movies and articles! So, without further adieu, welcome to my top five episodes of Black Mirror! Let's start with #5!
5. The Entire History of You
Do you ever wish that you could record your life and playback your memories so essentially you can relive them? Well, that's what the world of The Entire History of You promises! Anyone with the funding can have a "grain" implanted in their head to do just that! Following Toby Kebbel's Liam Foxwell, he is one such person who has this grain. After a bad meeting with his employer, he heads out to a gathering to meet his wife Ffion Foxwell (Jodie Whittaker). Here he happens upon her speaking with a man he doesn't recognize and begins to become suspicious. He begins to rake through his memories for clues as to who this person is, and begins to lose his mind the process.
What makes this episode so great is that it has nearly everything you want from a good episode of television. Jodie Whittaker and Toby Kebbell are stellar leads, leading the way for great pairings such as Haywell Atwell and Domnhall Gleeson. They have a chemistry in their characters and in reality that helps to make their story more believable. In fact, that's the second important aspect, a story that is captivating and interesting. For a long time I considered this to be my favorite episode of the entire series, but since Season 4 and some reconsiderations, it found itself here.
4. USS Callister
With Season 4 of Black Mirror, we received some of the highest highs this show has to offer, along with some of the lowest lows Black Mirror has in its back pocket. USS Callister luckily takes the side of the former, creating a story that hits on multiple different genres. In the starring roles, we have Jesse Plemons' Robert Daly and Cristin Milioti's Nanette Cole. In this story, Robert Daly is a bit antisocial but a brilliant programmer. Working at Callister Inc., Robert meets Nanette the new programmer. From there they have a small connection, but Robert takes things a step too far when he decides to import a version of her into his modded game of his own creation: Space Fleet.
What makes USS Callister so great is that it tackles a question of who we are as people, and whether just because we're different does it mean we can't accomplish the same goals as others. Along with this, it manages to bring a great ensemble performance from all of its stars, some of which you may recognize from other shows or films. In my opinion, this is the most star-studded cast we have yet to see in Black Mirror and boy do they make use of it. The story is excellent, filled with thrill and action, it satisfies and delights the viewer at every turn. But, the darker undertones of the story help you to come back to reality in that this is truly one of the darkest episodes to date.
3. Hang the DJ
Sometimes Black Mirror is at it's best when it's stories are straightforward and simplistic. That's the case for the majority of Hang the DJ, focusing on a world that is seemingly taken over by an idea to find the perfect match (Tinder World Order). The main characters of Hang the DJ are Georgina Campbells' Amy and Joe Cole's Frank. They meet each other through this system and discover they only have a short amount of time as each other's dates. They immediately hit off, and are distraught when they are separated by the system. Afterward, the system challenges each of them to a long-term relationship, resulting in them meeting each other on occasion and wanting to reignite their flame. As the story continues they become increasingly downtrodden with their current standings on their way to find the one and are drawn to one another. Unfortunately for them, the system doesn't want this and does whatever it can to push them apart.
What makes Hang the DJ so great is that it's two leads are stellar. They have beautiful chemistry as I felt that of all the pairings we've seen on this show, they have the second most palpable chemistry of any of them. Joe Cole and Georgina Campbell are simply stellar and carry this rather simple story to heights that I couldn't believe. But, the best part of Hang the DJ comes at its uplifting tone. Black Mirror has always been focused on telling darker stories, but there are a few episodes that turn this on its head and give the user a happy ending. This is one of those few.
2. White Christmas
The Christmas Special! Commonplace in British television, this is something that is new to many of us here in the States. In this special, featuring Jon Hamm as a man by the name of Matt Trent and Rae Spall as Joe Potter, we are placed inside a small remote station in the middle of the snow-filled world. These two men are preparing for Dinner on Christmas, with "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" on the radio. Matt and Joe begin to connect by speaking about what brought them to this point in their lives, and in the process, the viewer uncovers a dark truth about both of these men.
The thing with White Christmas is that this episode does so much. Like Black Museum, White Christmas tackles multiple different miniature stories focusing on different points in each of these characters' lives. Jon Hamm is the obvious standout, playing a cocky young man with a rather strange sense of satisfaction with the events that brought him to the outpost. Despite Matt's dark past, the truly terrifying member of the group is Joe. Rafe plays him with a sense of confusion and very little awareness. This fits the character perfectly and matches with the audience. You see, Joe's story is critical to the overall episode, and what makes discussing this episodes deeper meanings that much more difficult. But regardless, White Christmas' overall arc and everything in it is incredible, and if it weren't for a very special episode in Season 3, this would take the top spot.
1. San Junipero
For those who have already watched Black Mirror in its entirety, there really shouldn't be a question as to what is the truly best episode of this outstanding series. San Junipero is one of the best episodes of television ever, taking Black Mirror's usual formula and turning it on its head to create an episode that stuns the viewer, making them laugh and cry along the way to its beautiful conclusion.
Following Mackenzie Davis' Yorkie and Gugu Mbatha-Raw's Kelly, San Junipero is the first and remains to be the only episode that focuses on going backward in time rather than forwards. Yorkie is a shy woman who is visiting the beach resort town of San Junipero, and happens to find Kelly who is the exact opposite of her, and strikes up a conversation with her. At first, Yorkie is against Kelly's advances as she is engaged to another. After leaving Kelly at the bar, she returns to San Junipero again the next week in search of her. From there, their relationship blossoms and they create a connection that few have.
San Junipero is a masterwork of television because it tackles so many different themes and ideas that are often challenging to face on television. To name just a few, love, loneliness, death, and despair. Challenging the viewer to draw their own conclusions in a story that on its own manages to make you have questions, San Junipero leads you on a love story that you'll never forget. When I first saw this episode, I knew it was special because in the end, what you are left with is something incredible and absolutely unexpected. When you find out what it's about, it all makes sense and just makes this episode so perfect. I want people to watch this episode so badly, but I need people to experience all of the darkness that comes before to understand just how magical and powerful San Junipero is.
Final Thoughts
Surprise surprise right? Anything other than San Junipero would have been an absolute travesty! Black Mirror has created some of the most amazing moments in recent television history, challenging the likes of Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones. Netflix certainly knows what it's doing with this sci-fi series, and I only hope that if it were to continue that they keep up this excellent standard they set. For those who are uninitiated into this world, take the leap and shatter the mirror. You won't regret what you find on the other side.
