5 Episodes to Watch First if You Never Experienced Black Mirror Before
These five will get you hooked on the show.
Dystopia isn't a genre for everyone — some viewers find it unconvincing and ridiculous, while others are too terrified by the stark resemblance it bears to reality. But if you're willing to give it a try, Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror is your go-to show (that is, if you're one of the few people who haven't seen it already).
The British-American anthology series explores the vices of the modern world, focusing on how advanced technology affects everyday life and people's relationships. Much in line with the show's title, the Black Mirror universe is darker, more depressing than ours, making it the best dystopian show in the current television landscape.
Here are five Black Mirror episodes that'll give you the best taste of the show, ranked by their IMDb score.
The National Anthem (S1E1, 7.7)
The premiering episode of Black Mirror is the perfect introduction to the show. A fictional British princess is taken hostage by some malefactors who demand a perversely uncanny ransom — the Prime Minister has to copulate with a pig live on national TV. Sounds weird and intriguing, right?
USS Callister (S4E1, 8.3)
The Season 4 episode brims with the classic sci-fi vibes, which many viewers enjoy. Robert Daly, captain of a large spaceship, is loved by his crew, but things begin to change when a newcomer starts questioning the reality of everything around them. The episode deals with the issues of toxic masculinity, digital abuse, and many more.
Shut Up and Dance (S3E3, 8.4)
The episode follows Kenny, a typical teenage underdog who prefers the online world to the real one. Kenny's life turns upside down when he gets blackmailed by hackers who have gotten hold of a very sensitive video featuring the boy. The story sounds familiar to many people and reinforces fears of insecurity on the Internet, but the final twist is sure to surprise.
The Entire History of You (S1E3, 8.5)
As many other Black Mirror episodes, 'The Entire History of You' questions the benefits that rapid digitalization brings to the world and humanity. The story is set in a near future where people have microchips implanted in them to record everything they experience or do. The episode raises the questions of privacy and personal freedom, suggesting that some details in our lives are worth forgetting.
White Christmas (S2E4, 9.1)
The 2014 Christmas special is centered on three parallel narratives that grow intertwined as the story unfolds. Sharing a Christmas meal in a faraway place in the frozen wilderness, the two protagonists tell each other about how their lives were affected by technology, and their stories lead to a surprising revelation in the finale.