Black Mirror: exploring our technological fears

Published by Mason Oldridge, 1 May 2025

CONTAINS SPOILERS!

Black Mirror is a groundbreaking and innovative anthology series that deals with an underlying theme of technology and serves as somewhat of a psychological thriller, manipulating the minds of both characters and viewers alike. Becoming ever more relevant, we take a look back at the show that unlocks increasingly possible nightmares!

S1E1: The National Anthem

A troubled artist kidnaps a royal princess and blackmails the prime minister to have sex with a pig on live television. The princess is released prior to the heinous act, which therefore could’ve been prevented, yet no-one notices as the billion plus audience are eagerly watching, a commentary on how everyone is glued to their phones!

S1E2: Fifteen Million Merits

In an alternate reality, people ride stationary bikes for the currency of merits. The way Bing hypocritically sells out similar to Abi outlines how as a society we favour our own betterment at selfish costs, a message further conveyed via the chilling final scene of the natural world outside.

S1E3: The Entire History of You

In a future where people can replay their memories stored on a grain device behind their ear, Toby becomes suspicious of his wife Ffion when she interacts with her friend Jonas at a dinner party. The episode serves to show the negative effects of jealousy as well as uncovering some unpleasant truths.

S2E1: Be Right Back

When Marta’s boyfriend Ash dies in a road accident, she begins interacting with an AI android version of him. The episode highlights how AI may appear to be helpful but can actually have an adverse effect, in this case hindering the grief process.

S2E2: White Bear

A woman wakes up with no memory and is recorded by multiple people. The plot twist in which it is revealed the whole event is a staged performance and she is a child murderer receiving punishment makes the episode one of the more shocking instalments.

S2E3: The Waldo Moment

Jamie portrays an animated bear called Waldo on a satirical show, but his life changes when the character becomes a political candidate. This can be viewed as an exaggerated demonstration on how entertaining figures can become popular within the political landscape.

Special: White Christmas

Two men discuss their past in a remote cabin on Christmas Day. Their respective stories are compelling, Joe’s growing confusion is intriguing and the reveal and ending is shocking.

S3E1: Nosedive

In a world where people have an overall rating in life based on social interactions, Lacie is desperate to increase her score. This system draws parallels with real-life popularity on social media and delivers a message on the pressure to maintain likeability as Lacie, despite being imprisoned, is relieved to no longer care.

S3E2: Playtest

Cooper takes part in an experimental AR horror game which targets his own fears. As the episode progresses, it becomes unclear what is real-life and what is simulated and the reveal that Cooper died from interference in 0.04 seconds after ignoring the rule to turn his phone off elevates the episode as one of the best.

S3E3: Shut Up and Dance

When a hacker records Kenny masturbating via his webcam, he is blackmailed into a series of bizarre and increasingly sinister tasks. The closing scene, in which the police descend on a bloody Kenny as his mum calls him and we learn he went to such extreme lengths as he was viewing child pornography, all set to Radiohead’s Exit Music, is one of the most chilling and disturbing pieces of television ever.

S3E4: San Junipero

San Junipero is a simulated reality beach resort town that the elderly and deceased can inhabit appearing as their younger selves and follows the relationship of Yorkie and Kelly. The episode deserves the praise it received for its 80s aesthetic and positive ending.

S3E5: Men Against Fire

Soldiers hunt ‘roaches’, who are revealed to be an ethnic group whose appearances are distorted using an AR implant to help the soldiers kill without mercy. Stripe’s choice between imprisonment and memory wipe upon learning the truth resembles the red pill and blue pill decision from The Matrix and sees him choose ignorant bliss.

S3E6: Hated in the Nation

A tech company has created robotic bees to prevent extinction, but the bees are hacked to kill nominated victims on social media. The police investigation and race to stop future murders is exciting, culminating in the mass murder of every nominator, and the ending in which the detective tracks down the perpetrator is a nice twist.

S4E1: USS Callister

Robert Daly is the overlooked architect of an online video game, but at home, he has created a private version where he enslaves digital clones of his co-workers on a spaceship of which he is the captain. The Star Trek-themed sci-fi set piece is impressive and the crew’s fight to free themselves makes for a truly thrilling action adventure.

S4E2: Arkangel

Overprotective parent Marie uses an excessive tracking system on her daughter Sara. The episode serves to prove the negative effects of helicopter parenting, something exaggerated in the violent ending which is partly caused by the system itself.

S4E3: Crocodile

Fifteen years after covering up a hit-and-run, Mia commits a series of linked murders to cover her tracks. Filmed in Iceland, the Nordic noir influence adds to the tone and the bizarre method using the guinea pig is genius.

S4E4: Hang the DJ

Frank and Amy are paired by a dating device that matches people for different amounts of time and experience an instant connection, though fail to connect with subsequent matches. Similarities can be made to real-life dating apps and the episode questions their effectiveness as the couple rebel against the system as if showing love cannot be calculated by an algorithm but is revealed to be one of many simulations to determine real world compatibility.

S4E5: Metalhead

Maxine attempts to survive while being hunted by robotic dogs in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The episode is filmed in black and white and features minimal dialogue; no background is provided and the reveal of teddy bears in the box at the end is unexplained.

S4E6: Black Museum

Nish visits the remote Black Museum where its owner Rolo guides her through its disturbing exhibits. The stories of each artefact are interesting, there is growing intrigue over Rolo’s declining health and the plot twist of Nish’s identity and actions is thrilling.

S5E1: Striking Vipers

Danny and Karl play a VR video game, but things become complicated when their avatars have sex in the game, putting a strain on Danny’s marriage. The episode is a truly unique vehicle for questioning one’s sexuality.

S5E2: Smithereens

Chris kidnaps an intern from a social media company. The reason he does this outlines the addictiveness of social media, while the standoff makes for tense viewing throughout.

S5E3: Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too

Rachel is gifted Ashley Too, an AI robot based on her favourite pop singer Ashley O, to the annoyance of her older sister Jack, but the trio have to work together to save the real artist. The episode provides social commentary on AI, the increase of holographic performances of deceased musicians and controlling management in the music industry.

Rarely does a show create such a chilling atmosphere and leave such a horrifying impact. When a device is switched off, its screen is just a black mirror.