As a reader of a blog that focuses on horror, chances are you have already watched the most recent season of Black Mirror. If not, don’t worry as I have not included any spoilers. Either you have already seen the episodes and are interested in someone else’s thoughts on them, or you are considering watching and therefore probably don’t want spoilers. So with that in mind, what follows are some quick thoughts on a solid season of a show that makes so many of us excited and wanting more.

episode 1 – USS Callister
If Black Mirror does one thing well, it is showing us realistic reactions to hypothetical situations. All I really want to say about this one is that I believe that this exact thing would happen were the technology actually available. Toxic masculinity is terrifying. Incels do not need anything that gives them power. Also, I love Jesse Plemons.

episode 2 – Arkangel
This episode highlights the old adage “too much of anything is good for nothing”, even the love of a parent. This technology is a concept we can all understand and perhaps even think is a good idea, the short-sighted beings we are. Will we ever learn that the human desire to have control over things at any level can only lead to tragedy?

episode 3 – Crocodile
This was my favourite episode of this season. The emotions from all characters are palpable, emotions that would be hard for any of us to understand. I think this episode had the best acting of them all. And what an ending! Muffled “No!”s came from behind my hands as I shook my head vigorously. Is a reality where our memories can be accessed by someone else that far off?

episode 4 – Hang the DJ
This was the most light-hearted episode of the season. The next generation will likely be incapable of making life decisions without loads of extraneous information attained from apps and algorithms instead of actual life experiences or the opinions of other humans they know in real life. Who’s to say that the choosing of a life partner won’t be left up to digital simulations (that’s simulations, not digital stimulations).

episode 5 – Metalhead
Black and white and full of tension, this is the least satirical episode. But that is not to say it is without something to say. I was with the character the whole time, a female whose actions I was happy to never be questioning. The machines are terrifying and it was hard to think of them as something that could just be switched off. The ending was a bit cheesy, but then again in such a reality trying to hold on to any ounce of humanity is understandable.

episode 6 – Black Museum
An interesting premise and a plot twist (though some of you will figure it out sooner rather than later) in a neat setting made for an entertaining episode. The tone is different here, but not the message. We can be terrible.

Do I enjoy Black Mirror so much because I dislike people so much? Who is to say? But I’ll bet it doesn’t hurt.