After four years of absence, on Thursday June 15 ‘Black Mirror’ returned in style with a season 6 composed of five episodes and a desire to tell other types of stories. A somewhat atypical installment in which the Netflix series strayed a bit from its dystopias to move us through other subgenres of science fiction and other fantastic fields.
Five episodes, all different and all with an interesting angle. Another thing is that all five are at the same level of quality or that they have enough substance. As always, the result is somewhat uneven and therefore, We are going to try to order this quintet of stories from worst to best. Here we go.
5 – ‘Beyond the Sea’ (6×03)
Managed by John Crowley | Distribution: Aaron Paul, Kate Mara, Josh Hartnett
In terms of cast and ambition, the third episode It was one of the big bets of this season And, to be honest, the bet has turned out to be regular with an episode that is the perfect summary of the virtues and defects of ‘Black Mirror’.
beyond a twist as tragic as interesting in the story of these two astronauts and their “terrestrial life”, Charlie Brooker fails to give the characters and the plot a greater depth or reflection. The result is a typical desktop movie.
4 – ‘Demon 79’ (6×05)
Managed by Toby Haynes | Distribution: Anjana Vaasan and Paapa Essiedu
Here I recognize that the same it’s a matter of marathon fatigue why the last episode is so low in the table more than because of its “unique” quality in a season that, in itself, is atypical. And look, it annoys me because so much Anjana Vasan as Paapa Essiedu They are two fascinating actors.
With a flavor (and emulation) of 1970s horror movies, Brooker’s script and Bisha K Ali It plays its cards quite well in that spiral that plunges its protagonist into what is “forced” to commit murders. A diversion that, perhaps, has lacked a little more punch.
3 – ‘Mazey Day’ (6×04)
Managed by Uta Briesewitz | Distribution: Zazie Beetz, Clara Rugaard and Danny Ramiraz
Right in the middle of the table is the one that It’s the episode “either you like it or you hate it” of this season. And, as often happens in episodes as divisive as this one, the truth lies in the middle because in reality most of the criticism goes more for the revelation of the ending than for its development.
This gratefully short episode that with the presence of Zazie Beetz is easy to imagine as a strange chapter of ‘Atlanta’ (in fact Bo and Van share certain personal traits) focused on the “industry” of rumor and extreme paparazzi. It can be understood exactly like a snackan appetizer for the chapter that closes the season.
2 – ‘Loch Henry’ (6×02)
Managed by Sam Miller | Distribution: Myha’la Herrold, Daniel Portman, John Hannah and Monica Dolan
As a true crime fan I found it fascinating to find this second episode and the story of these young documentarians who travel to the Scottish moors to make a nature documentary but stumble upon a gruesome local story.
Along with ‘Joan is horrible’, this episode forms a very attractive diptych about this era of audiovisual consumption and, more specifically, with the fever for series and documentaries about criminals and the most morbid aspect around it. Although it is not as “Black Mirror” as the other, it is probably one of the most solid both plot and characters of this entire season.
1 – ‘Joan is horrible’ (6×01)
Managed by Ally Pankiw | Distribution: Annie Murphy, Salma Hayek, Michael Cera, Himesh Patel, etc.
The first episode is by far the more blackmirrorian of all season 6. Plus, it’s the most fun. Pure comedy starring Annie Murphy and Salma Hayek that points directly to streaming and the mass generation of content.
As with all the episodes of the series (and I mean the entire series plus ‘Bandersnatch’), it is true that it leaves something to be desired as the twists unfold and what is happening is revealed, but it is precisely the one that it’s a comedy which makes for some welcome self-indulgence. This makes us simply get carried away by it.
And this is our order. How do you order the season?
In Espinof | All episodes of ‘Black Mirror’ from worst to best