We’ve waited for more than four years for another season of Black Mirror and now, we finally get season 6. After a long hiatus, the anticipated Netflix anthology series graces us with five episodes of different stories each having unexpected twists. Today, we will be ranking every episode of Black Mirror Season 6 and see where your favorite episode ranks on our list.
But, before we start, be sure to read this at your own risk! This article is a major spoiler but if you see how this one goes, then let’s go!
5. Mazey Day
Deadpool and Bullet Train actress Zazie Beets makes her debut in Black Mirror as a paparazzi in the episode “Mazey Day”. Mazey Day (played by Clara Rugaard) is a beloved actress in the show, who has gone AWOL after an apparent hit-and-run incident on the night she was drinking and intaking shrooms. With the famous celebrity gone from the face of the earth, the media has been trying everything to get a single photo of Mazey. This is where Zazie Beets comes in. Beets plays a paparazzi photographer named Bo who makes a living out of taking the most controversial pictures of celebrities.
As an expert in the field, Bo was able to track where Mazey Day is currently hiding. With the help of his friend Hector (Danny Ramirez), the two discovered a rehab facility where Day is allegedly on retreat. Unknowingly, they were found by two other paparazzi photographers. Shortly, they were able to trespass into the area and find Mazey Day, who is chained to her bed. Before they found the actress, it was believed she was addicted to drugs and alcohol. But, lo and behold – Mazey Day turned out to be a werewolf. Back when she had the hit-and-run incident, she was bitten by the werewolf who she supposedly hit with her car.
Despite the fact that the pretty lady is turning into a rabid monster, the paparazzi still took photos.
Truly, it was an unexpected twist in the show. The show even makes sense since in reality, the paparazzi can be real pricks. They’re probably the most invasive men in the media. Overall, this episode shows the reality of how awful the paparazzi can be. But, the story seems quite lacking and a bit bland. It’s not the worst Black Mirror episode, but we’ll put it as the worst in season 6.
4. Demon 79
Set in the racist and fascist late ’70s era of England, Needa (Anjana Vasan) finds herself in trouble after she accidentally marks herself on a mystical talisman. Turns out, that talisman is owned by a demon named Gaap (Paapa Essiedu). This episode, called Demon 79, created an uncanny partnership between Needa and Gaap, who both have to complete the task to sacrifice three human beings in three days to prevent the apocalypse.
Needa, who also had dark fantasies of killing people who pisses her, surprisingly killed two people successfully. However, just when she was about to kill her third sacrifice, Needa was apprehended by the cops. Unfortunately, everything that Gaap said was true. The earth was wiped out after a nuclear war broke out and it was a complete devastation. Demon 79, which we thought was a slasher episode of suspense and thriller, was more like a comedy-horror one. The humor was good and both Vasan and Essiedu were fantastic actors. However, the run time of 72 minutes is a bit too long. Plus, it seemed that the episode was also a bit predictable. Apart from the two actually living happily together in the cosmic void, it was evident that the world would probably end.
3. Beyond the Sea
Season 6 Episode 3 “Beyond the Sea” marked one of the biggest episodes of Black Mirror. The episode featured award-winning stars like Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad), Josh Hartnett (Pearl Harbor), and Kate Mara (House of Cards). Paul and Hartnett play two astronauts Cliff and David who were set on a six-year mission in outer space. Set in 1969, the two men were given mechanical clones of themselves to be able to walk the earth while their real bodies are asleep inside their ship. However, everything took a sinister turn after David’s family was murdered in front of his very eyes.
David was already battling his mind and with four more years to go, it seems that everything is already lost. His co-pilot, Cliff, allowed him to use his link to his mechanical body and allow David to have a fresh breath of air. Right at the bat, it can be predicted that David would grow to love Cliff’s wife and life. Obviously, he would want what Cliff has – a nice family and a nice house. The life he had lost can now be his once again. It was a constant battle up in the skies with Cliff and David in outer space. Tension grows every day between the two astronauts. Eventually, David had to do the most sinister act a person can do – kill Cliff’s family with his own mechanical clone.
Aaron Paul had a stellar performance by portraying both David and Cliff on Earth. This episode is probably most viewers’ favorite one among the rest. But, with an hour and 19 minutes of screen time, the story seems to be stretched even though it’s already predictable how this would end.
2. Joan is Awful
If Beyond the Sea featured huge names, then you haven’t seen the 1st episode in season 6 yet. Joan is Awful featured not just one, not two, but three of the biggest names in Hollywood. Joan, played by Annie Murphy, discovers that her life was being streamed on the fictional streaming platform Streamberry. As she watches the show, she sees that Salma Hayek portrays her pretty ordinary life on screen. And as such, Salma Hayek (the 2nd Joan), also sees herself being portrayed by Cate Blanchett. It does feel a bit like Inception, only that it’s not a dream, it’s an AI-generated reality inside another AI-generated reality.
Joan is Awful shows us that we do have to check what’s written on the Terms & Conditions page before signing up for anything. Kidding aside, this episode is also a jab at streaming platforms like Netflix, which allegedly learns which show to provide with the user’s algorithm. It’s the harsh truth, even in social media nowadays. Truly, our identity is already put on the internet for everybody to see and nobody is safe, even Salma effin Hayek.
1. Loch Henry
To those who have been watching Black Mirror since season 1, you would know it’s not just about science fiction and technology. Black Mirror is actually about human nature, society, and everybody’s fears. Loch Henry seems like Black Mirror is steering from its usual formula, but in reality, it’s the very Black Mirror we all loved.
Season 6 Episode 2 titled “Loch Henry” is all about a young couple named Davis (Samuel Blenkin) and Pia (Myha’la Herrold) who were both aspiring filmmakers trying to make it big in the industry. The couple went to Davis’ hometown in a fictional town called Loch Henry in Scotland for the weekend. But, little do they know, they’re about to discover something disturbing. After Pia found out about the atrocities of the infamous serial killer Iain Adair, she had a eureka moment. Pia suggested they make a documentary about Iain Adair to make a breakthrough in filmmaking as well as promote Loch Henry.
As they were making the documentary, Pia finds out that Davis’ parents, Janet and Kenny, were the real culprit behind the murders in Loch Henry. The episode was pretty suspenseful and the true-crime feeling was amazing. As morbid as it sounds, it also goes to show how networks and streaming platforms (i.e. Netflix) monetize the deaths of other people with true-crime documentaries and shows. Black Mirror once again exposes what’s wrong with society and the people behind everything.
Do you agree with our list? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. For more content, stay with us here at Spiel Times. Make sure you subscribe to our push notifications and never miss an update. You can also follow us on Spiel Anime, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Until next time!
