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- Channel 4
- Jun 5, 2019
- Channel 4
- Jun 5, 2019
- Channel 4
- Jun 5, 2019
- Channel 4
- Jun 5, 2019
Where to Watch
Season Episodes
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7 Seasons
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 13 Critic Reviews
66
54% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
31% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
15% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 13 Critic Reviews
66
54% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
31% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
15% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
One offering is clearly lesser than the other two and one of the rare broad misses that the series sometimes delivers. Ah, but the other two episodes this season are exceptional, a timely reminder that Brooker remains restlessly creative and still enormously interested in the genre, having moved it beyond "tech paranoia" to the aforementioned more nuanced exploration of how technology changes our emotional and intimate connections with loved ones, family and friends.
The three instalments vary in mood, genre and just about everything else (as anthologies are designed to do) but they share a new air of calm authority. There’s an unhurriedness to each, a greater willingness to linger and develop moments that might have passed as a single beat in other seasons that perhaps bespeaks an increasing confidence of Black Mirror’s creators in their product. If so, it’s been well-earned.
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 208 User Ratings
5.9
46% Positive
95 Ratings
95 Ratings
30% Mixed
62 Ratings
62 Ratings
25% Negative
51 Ratings
51 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 208 User Ratings
5.9
46% Positive
95 Ratings
95 Ratings
30% Mixed
62 Ratings
62 Ratings
25% Negative
51 Ratings
51 Ratings
LOVED THIS SEASON! Probably my favorite so far as the acting talent is so strong, the cinematography has been stepped up and it's as entertaining as it is chilling whereas previous seasons have lacked much humor and fun. I thought the Miley Cyrus episode was amazing for mixing so many ideas and not taking them down a predictable route. I really hope they make more seasons like this as I think the super dour tone was getting boring.
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SEASON 5
The anthology trends glossier in its Netflix phase. The three episodes launching Wednesday juggle tones and genres. They’re all better than Bandersnatch. They’re experimental, and long. And they’re also a bit sentimental.
"Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too" is essentially a dystopian Disney Channel movie, or perhaps some "Very Special" episode of "Hannah Montana." ... "Striking Vipers" is better. ... The standout of the three, however, is "Smithereens." Like the most effective "Black Mirror" episodes, you're left on your own, following a story that offers no bearings, fewer clues. A gifted actor, Scott sells the episode in every scene, raging against an unseen enemy
“Smithereens”—is excellent not because of a clever twist but because of one of the best performances in the history of the show. And while the other two episodes have some good ideas, they don’t come together like the best of “Black Mirror.”
Die-hard fans will see whatever they want in Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones' new episodes, but they hardly reflect the series' best look.
Instead of manipulating our anxiety about technology—something Brooker often accomplished simply by activating viewers’ visceral disgust—the new episodes revel in the ridiculousness of our predicament, achieving a level of detachment that makes the show campy in the same way so many out-of-touch spectacles are campy.
Perkier and less disturbing than the last season, avoid buying into shouts that the show is derivative and instead enjoy the ride. Definitely worth your time.
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SEASON 5
Overall, a bad season and without a doubt the worst season of the show. Striking Vipers is painfully average. Smithereens is the best of the 3, but is way too overdrawn and gets boring quickly. Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too is the worst of the entire show and I don't think many people would argue against that. It starts off good, but turns into something so mediocre and poorly written that it kind of frustrates me. What a let down.
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SEASON 5
Easily the worst season of the series. Season 4 was pretty bad aside from U.S.S Calister. This season is just a new low however. Instead of giving thought provoking social or technological commentary; you are force fed pandering garbage.
While the first episode had a somewhat amusing twist. It essentially reached its climax figuratively and literally within the first 20 minutes. The next 40 had no development whatsoever. You are pretty much safe to watch up to that point and turn it off without missing anything. No message here, nothing to make you think. Amusing at best.
Episode two was perhaps the worst, a glorified phone PSA. Perhaps a minor reflection on the power of SurveillanceBook. This has been going on for YEARS. It is nothing new to anyone. Oh wow you should keep your eyes on the road while driving?!?! An extremely slow episode with an achingly predictable arch.
Episode three was about 5% tech and 95% teenage girl disney pandering nonsense. This could have been ripped from the show and been a direct to DVD disney movie and no one would ever know the difference despite the minor references to previous Black Mirror episodes. The song from 15 million merits, the memory grain commercial, etc.
The only credit I can give it is that the production value is good, the acting in all three episodes was superb, especially the protagonist of the second one. I suppose this is what you get with tons of money and bad writing?
I hope the show gets back on track and returns to a sci-fi modern day Twilight Zone. Here are some ideas, toy around with subjects like; propaganda, censorship, climate change, a future where there are completely divided internets between nations for thought and population control. How about an episode where everyone has a chip in their head and they have to watch their daily screen time of advertisements, and of course watch the latest episode of Pandergarbage on the worlds only channel/media platform? Otherwise they get thrown in jail and declared a threat to the state. Sponsored by Brawndo.
3/10 only because of good acting.
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SEASON 5
