Black Mirror season 7 episodes ranked from Eulogy to Plaything and Bete Noire

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Black Mirror season 7

Netflix has just dropped the seventh season of Black Mirror, featuring six new cautionary tales about the perils of advancing technology.

The latest instalment of the dystopian anthology series offers a diverse range of genres, ensuring a rich tapestry of narratives.

Each episode stands alone but subtly connects to the wider Black Mirror universe.

Season seven is a mixed bag, with some episodes standing out more than others, reports the Mirror US.

The much-anticipated sequel to the 2017 hit episode USS Callister does not disappoint.

Clocking in at a feature-length 90 minutes, brace yourself for an epic journey filled with unexpected twists and turns worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster.

USS Callister: Into Infinity delivers all the drama and humour of its predecessor, topped off with a classic Black Mirror twist.

The cast once again deliver stellar performances, and there are plenty of nods to pop culture favourites from Castaway and Severance to Westworld and Inside Out.

It's safe to say this is the standout episode of season seven.

Hotel Reverie serves as the spiritual successor to Black Mirror's Emmy-winning episode San Junipero, offering a heartwarming lesbian love story.

This episode pays homage to the Golden Age of Hollywood and iconic black-and-white films including Casablanca and Brief Encounter.

Black Mirror, known for its dystopian narratives and twisted endings, surprisingly shines the most in its romantic episodes. Hotel Reverie now joins the ranks of fan favourites like San Junipero and Hang the DJ.

Common People is a quintessential Black Mirror episode, complete with a bleak ending that follows 40 minutes of grim viewing.

This episode feels eerily prophetic, much like other Black Mirror classics such as The National Anthem and The Waldo Moment. It satirises everything from failing healthcare systems and greedy pharmaceutical companies to the rising costs of streaming subscriptions and the monetisation of online content. It even delves into the topic of euthanasia.

While it's an episode you might only be able to stomach once, it certainly warrants repeat viewings. It's a brilliant piece of dystopian fiction that will leave you thinking long after the credits roll.

It seems Netflix has made a pact with Black Mirror creator and gaming enthusiast Charlie Brooker to include at least one video game-related story each season. Following the likes of Playtest, Striking Vipers, Bandersnatch, and Metalhead, we now have Plaything.

A spin-off from the interactive film Bandersnatch, Plaything plunges viewers into the world of 90s gaming. It features cameos from Tuckersoft's head honcho Mohan Thakur (played by Asim Chaudhry) and game developer Colin Ritman (Will Poulter).

Plaything boasts a stellar cast including Peter Capaldi and James Nelson Joyce, but it falls short in terms of length and substance.

Perhaps it's merely a tribute to the era's video games and the rapid growth of the gaming industry at that time, but Plaything had so much untapped potential.

Imagine if Nicholas Sparks penned an episode of Black Mirror - that's Eulogy for you.

Another story infused with romance, Eulogy channels The Notebook as a man revisits a past love affair and realises too late what he lost.

A simple yet touching tale featuring a standout performance from Paul Giamatti.

While slightly on the silly side, Bête Noire is a fun watch that won't leave viewers traumatised. It's a palate cleanser after the intensity of Common People.

Not surprisingly, on Netflix's episode running order, it follows directly after Common People to provide some light relief.

Although Bête Noire isn't particularly profound, it aligns well with season seven's theme of infinite technological power leading to corruption. Verity Greene (Siena Kelly) bears similarities to Robert Daly (Jesse Plemons) in this episode.

Black Mirror season 7 is streaming on Netflix now