“Black Mirror” Season 6 Is a Mixed Bag: Here’s Our Episode Ranking

The ethics of the paparazzi is a frequent conversation among Hollywood’s biggest names. The fraught relationship between photographers and celebs has been well documented – and often dangerous (see Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s recent “near catastrophic” paparazzi encounter in NYC). In “Mazey Day,” Charlie Brooker’s feeling on the subject is clear in the first few minutes of the aughts-set episode: a pap scores images of a closeted actor with his male lover, and despite the star’s pleas, the photographer (Zazie Beetz) sells the images. The outing leads to the celebrity’s death by suicide. That tragic ending comes full circle by the conclusion of the episode, after a twist a little less centered in reality and more in mythology.

Superstar actor Mazey has vanished from the public eye, and Day’s character and other paparazzi have taken it upon themselves to track her down amid what seems to be a traumatized woman’s breakdown. When they finally have Mazey cornered, though, it’s clear she’s a danger to more than just herself.

While the twist was beyond unexpected – really, beyond – it muddies the episode’s overall warning against invasions of privacy. Absurdity takes over the plot and leaves that message – the haunting lessons “Black Mirror” is known for – with too soft of an impact. – Lindsay Kimble, entertainment content director

In “Joan Is Awful,” Murphy’s Joan finds out that Streamberry is creating a TV series based on the things she does in her life, including spilling the very private moments she’s never shared with anyone (and would never want anyone to find out about). The episode is mostly a dark comedy before the twist at the end, which will make your jaw drop, but isn’t quite at the level of upsetting and bizarre as “Black Mirror”‘s greatest episodes. Ultimately, it’s “Joan Is Awful” is a “Black Mirror” episode with – if not a totally happy ending – a pretty OK one. But it doesn’t have the level of daring and boldness that a “Black Mirror” episode typically has. – Victoria Edel, staff writer, celebrity and entertainment

In “Demon ’79,” Vasan stars as a shop girl in 1970s Britain, where she constantly has to deal with racism from her boss, coworkers, and pretty much everyone around her. In the basement, she accidentally wakes up and becomes bonded to a demon (played by Essiedu) who tells her she has to kill three people or the world will end. Things get more complicated as she and the demon argue and try to carry out their plan, and Vasan and Essiedu have great chemistry together. While not necessarily ground-breaking, “Demon ’79” is an enjoyable “Black Mirror” installment with a “Lucifer” vibe and just enough weirdness to keep you on your toes. – VE

“Loch Henry” follows Blenkin’s Davis and Herrod’s Pia as two film students who head to the fictional, isolated town of Loch Henry, where Davis is from. They plan to make a sweet little documentary, but when Pia learns about the town’s history, she doesn’t want to let it go. The once-bustling Loch Henry depended on tourists who wanted to experience its gorgeous corner of nature, but after the crimes of Iain Adair, it all dried up. Adair kidnapped and tortured tourists before eventually dying by suicide. Pia convinced Davis that they should make a documentary about that instead, but the path to the truth uncovers a lot of things they’d rather have never learned.

Ultimately, this episode has less technology-based trauma than most “Black Mirror” episodes, aiming for straight-up horror and despair. But “Loch Henry” is a strong critique of the true crime genre and the ways in which it twists the ethics of those who make and profit off of it. – VE

In “Beyond the Sea,” “Breaking Bad”‘s Aaron Paul and Josh Hartnett play Cliff and David, two 1969-era astronauts who – despite being on a lengthy six-year space mission – are mostly content with life, as they’re able to spend much of their time on Earth with their respective families through advanced technology that beams their consciousness into robot versions of themselves called “links.” Things take a turn, however, when a Manson Family-esque cult murders David’s family and destroys his android, leaving him emotionally destroyed and isolated in space.

Seeing David’s despair and crumbling mental state could wreak havoc on their two-person mission, Cliff offers to let David use his link to experience the real world again, which the traumatized widower gratefully accepts. However, Cliff’s act of kindness sets the men on a psychological crash course toward a tragic end. Cliff has everything in life that David lost – from a picturesque farmhouse to a loving wife, Lara (Mara), and kids – and David can’t stop himself from coveting all of it. When David oversteps the boundaries he and Cliff put in place in an unspeakable betrayal, Cliff revokes David’s access to his link.

While “Beyond the Sea” stops short of making any bold critiques about society at large, the twist in the final moments of this perfectly-paced hour of television makes it one of “Black Mirror”‘s all-time best episodes, as Cliff is forced to confront a terrifyingly sinister reality: Having lost everything, David is capable of anything, and yet – needing him to survive the next four years in space – Cliff’s life is entirely in his hands. – Noelle Devoe, senior editor, TV and film