'Black Mirror' Season 5 - Worst to Best

Which episode lacked? Which episode slapped?

By Cronan ParryPublished 5 years ago • 3 min read

At this moment right now I'm 3/4 of the way through episode one, and oh boy do I have some thoughts. I'll try and put them into cohesive paragraphs and not just ramble at you. I'm not making any promises though.

Episode two down, thoughts are happening.

Episode three is also done.

Let's get into it.

SPOILERS.

3. 'Striking Vipers' - Season 5 Episode 1

After finishing the season I thought this would end up as number two, but after a little bit of thought I've decided that even though this is a better episode of Black Mirror than episode three "Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too" it's a worse episode of television and not particularly entertaining.

The premise of what our lives could become in the world of VR and the future of gaming is something they've covered multiple times before. In the episodes "Playtest", "San Junipero", "USS Callister" and "Hang the DJ" all at various levels of virtual realities and all much more entertaining than whatever this is.

The plot and concept is interesting as you expect, but would a VR game where you can fuck not cause a scandal? Who programmed in the genitalia?

Sure, it has interesting messages about relationships and sexuality but honestly could it be more of a bore?

Anthony Mackie as 'Danny' and Nicole Beharie as 'Theo' were both fantastic. But Pom Klementieff as 'Roxette' and Ludi Lin as 'Lance' were both poor in my eyes. It could be a badly communicated idea that they are video game characters speaking as real people. But I feel that it was poor delivery rather than a badly executed additional concept.

So what I'm saying is it had potential, but did nothing with it much like most of my opinions about most of this show.

2. "Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too" - Season 5 Episode 3

As an episode of Black Mirror, no. This is no good. It's worse than the previous episode. But, as one of those 'you hate it but you love it' weird ass teen movies we all watch. It's a good 'un. Sure it takes a while to pick up because Black Mirror thinks that slow always equals tension, but boy do we get to go on a ride with this. I would happily watch this over episode one any day.

DISCLAIMER: I'm almost certain I'll never watch any of these again.

Miley Cyrus as 'Ashley' was pretty good, as were Angourie Rice and Madison Davenport as 'Rachel' and 'Jack' respectively. Susan Pourfar's 'Catherine' was another stand out of the episode even managing to play off the weird to camera line at the end.

1. "Smithereens" - Season 5 Episode 2

It's been a few days since I started writing this and I nearly forgot to finish. That's not a comment on Black Mirror, it's a comment on me.

Anyway.

I think everyone did an excellent job in this so I'm not going to name anyone specific.

The premise is the most black mirrory of any this season. Social media sites know more about you, and are more useful, than the police. They see you and your every move. They know your music. They hear your call.

Another slow burn but this one had reason. Set in a car waiting for a call. It's a slow game.

I did think it ended a little abruptly but that's just a creative choice that I'll have to live with. Easily the best episode of the season.