Netflix knew exactly what it was doing when it decided to take over Black Mirror. Fans responded wonderfully, and its extended third season (with twice the episodes) didn't present any major negative points to speak of. Filming for the fourth season is complete, and although we have some previews to hold us over, it's a good idea to cover the Black Mirror universe from the beginning, with the challenge of placing a handful of episodes above the rest.
Only thirteen episodes represent this fabulous television series that has been on the air for almost six years. Its first two seasons followed the classic British structure of short broadcasts finished in a couple of weeks, while a Christmas special served as a 'bridge' to keep connected during a three-and-a-half-year hiatus. Luckily, Black Mirror found a new home on Netflix, and the good news is that its latest season managed to maintain the mantra of quality over quantity, even after doubling the number of episodes. In fact, the original commission from Netflix in September 2015 named twelve episodes, but it was finally decided (I think correctly) to split the content in half.
As seen in both videos, Netflix shared the names of all the chapters for the fourth season, and the trailer for the first one, 'Crocodile'. The promise of Black Mirror remains intact: Explore our obsession with technology, and sink the knife into aspects like privacy and anonymity from angles ranging from drama to pure hard sci-fi. Now... a fundamental advantage that Black Mirror possesses is its flexibility. You can start watching it at any point without weird results in its plot, although there are small references and subtle details that suggest a secondary connection between certain episodes. Even so, our personal recommendation is and will be to watch it whole from the beginning. Thirteen episodes is the perfect number for a weekend marathon, but if for some reason there's no time and the idea is to make a 'concentrated' Black Mirror... I think we can try that too. Let's see:
The National Anthem
The series opener. This episode sends a clear message to the audience: Gloves off. It will be shocking, scandalous, challenging, and if necessary, disgusting. There's no better way to prove it than with a story in which the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom must have sex with a pig on live national television to guarantee the release of a member of the royal family. It even had a real-life equivalent (google 'Piggate').
The Entire History of You
Closing of the first season. Let's not fool ourselves: It's one of the oldest stories in the world, but Black Mirror manages to optimize and amplify its effect with the exact dose of technology. If audio, video, and social media can fracture the human mind today, a system that allows us to relive every moment of our lives, destroying self-esteem and feeding suspicions, condemns us to the most perverse madness. (Editor's note: Here works Jodie Whittaker, who will be the next Doctor in the new season of Doctor Who)
White Bear
Season 2, episode 2. A woman with total amnesia, a group of hunters chasing her, unexpected allies, and the world obsessed with recording every step. A kind of MacGuffin feeds the backstory, but this is Black Mirror, and if there's a warning we can share, it's be careful where you place your sympathy. Originally conceived as a zombie story, I think it turned out much better this way.
San Junípero
For most, it was the best episode of the third season, and not a few believe it's the best story in Black Mirror, making its presence on this short list inevitable. Simulated realities combine with the fear of love, life, and death, and its response was so positive that besides winning two Emmy awards, fans keep asking for a sequel. According to its creator Charlie Brooker, 'there are no plans' in that regard, but anything can change...
Yes, I admit that some non-negligible gems were left out. 'Be Right Back', the Christmas special 'White Christmas', 'Playtest', 'Shut Up and Dance', 'Hated in the Nation'... it's hard. Let this list serve as the 'entry' to Black Mirror, and let the other nine episodes serve as dinner and dessert. If you haven't seen any yet, don't worry, there's still time.
