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- Black Mirror Season 6 has stirred discussions and debates among fans and critics alike, as the series subverted expectations by taking a different approach to its dystopian stories. How does it compare to the best seasons of Black Mirror on Rotten Tomatoes?
Zazie Beetz and Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul have been confirmed to star in Black Mirror's sixth season. With the season also set to include Salma Hayek Pinault and Rory Culkin, it's almost time for Charlie Brooker's dystopian hit to return. It is fascinating how Black Mirror's episode rankings are always so different from person to person.
It is a good time to reflect on the highs and lows of Black Mirror, with some installments faring better than others. From the interactive movie Bandersnatch, to the show's early days on British Channel 4, critical reception has generally always been favorable.
Updated on June 26, 2023, by Hannah Saab:
Black Mirror Season 6 has stirred discussions and debates among fans and critics alike, as the series subverted expectations by taking a different approach to its dystopian stories. How does it compare to the best seasons of Black Mirror on Rotten Tomatoes?
8 Season 5 (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 67%
The worst season of Black Mirror so far includes male friends exploring a romantic connection via a virtual reality game, with another episode exploring the dangers of pop fame. "Smithereens" involves a young man being held hostage by his rideshare driver.
Season 5 was unanimously a real step down from previous seasons. Although it remained one of television's strangest offerings, it was not quite as consistently good. "Smithereens" was a real highlight though, with it brilliantly exploring the dangers of our new and addictive digital world. Andrew Scott was another remarkable standout with his great acting.
7 'Bandersnatch' (2018)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 74%
In an interactive experience on Netflix, viewers must make decisions for the main protagonist, programmer Stefan Butler (Fionn Whitehead). He is adapting a fantasy gamebook into a video game.
With Bandersnatch's multiple endings providing a lot of replayability, this film marked an innovative step forward for interactivity in cinema. However, it sadly wasn't interesting enough to warrant multiple viewings. But, there was still a lot to admire; by cleverly utilizing ideas of post-modernism and meta-storytelling, the psychological thriller worked well for many people.
6 Season 6 (2023)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 77%
The latest offering from Black Mirror has been innovative at best and divisive at worst, with the sixth season bringing star power in episodes like "Joan Is Awful" and "Beyond the Sea" while also featuring familiar faces in "Demon 79." Instead of the typical formula that sees each episode featuring a twisted version of some technological concept, most episodes of this season transport modern-day ideals and ideas to the past.
With a retro feel to go with its messed-up stories (most of which feel like classic horror movies), the new episodes are understandably not for everyone. There are some hidden gems in there that seem to be enjoyed by most, including Aaron Paul's episode and "Joan Is Awful," which features Salma Hayek, Michael Cera, and Annie Murphy.
5 Season 4 (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%
From a mother that uses technology to track her daughter's whereabouts, to a clever dating twist, this season also includes the gripping "Black Museum." In that surprising Black Mirror episode, a proprietor tells multiple stories relating to the museum's artifacts.
This season continued the show's impressive trajectory, with some fantastic standalone stories. It was generally bleak and depressing, with "Crocodile" and "Black Museum" extremely dark yet satisfying. The season made it clear that Brooker was still not out of source material to terrify fans with the dangers of technology.
4 Season 3 (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%
Season 3 includes a young man forced into absurdities to prevent the leak of a video that would ruin his life. Further episodes include a "Playtest" horror game, as well as a police force investigating deaths linked to social media.
Season 3 involved a new influx of cash for the show, with a permanent move to Netflix. "Shut up and Dance" was gripping and ended with a dramatic cliffhanger to make audiences question everything. Alex Lawther was typically fantastic. After an excellently consistent extended season, Brooker was still clearly at the top of his game.
3 Season 2 (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%
In Season 2, fan-favorite episodes include "Be Right Back," which features an emotional look at grief, with Martha (Hayley Atwell) using a new dangerous technology to cope. "White Bear" involves a woman terrorized, with bystanders filming her misery.
This season acted as an almost perfect follow-up to the first but was ultimately let down by a lackluster final episode. The first two were incredible though. The first was so touching and heartbreaking, whilst exploring how people deal with grief in different ways. "White Bear" featured one of the first of the series' iconic twists, with the Black Mirror episode ending in such a dark and unsettling way.
2 "White Christmas" (2014 Christmas Special)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%
Characters played by Rafe Spall and Jon Hamm come together to tell three interconnected stories at Christmas. They spend the festive season together at a remote and isolated location.
This episode juxtaposed the typical theme of happiness at Christmas. Incredibly dark and depressing, it featured perhaps the worst fate of any character in the whole franchise. By exploring themes of existentialism, this Christmas special delivered an extremely compelling and devastating narrative. Hamm and Spall were also both excellent.
1 Season 1 (2011)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
The show began with the British Prime Minister being forced into intimacy with a pig to save the life of a Royal Family member. Episode 2 features the show's attempt to satirize the entertainment history, with the final episode introducing a new technology that allows people to relive memories.
The best season of Black Mirror had its early episodes hooking viewers into the new age of alienation and fear, and it hasn't been able to top it since. The show is known for being bizarre at times, and that was completely emphasized in the premise of its opening episode. It is worrying to consider where technology could go, and whilst this season entertained, it created fear for how new technology can evolve.