from tech-fueled heartbreak to long-awaited sequels, we’re ranking every episode in black mirror season 7 from least effective to unforgettable.
Black Mirror is officially back and Season 7 wastes no time dragging viewers straight into its signature blend of tech-driven dread, emotional gut-punches, and eerie what-ifs. From a direct sequel to the fan-favorite “USS Callister” to a surprisingly tender virtual love story starring Issa Rae, Netflix’s latest drop includes six wildly varied episodes. And yes, Paul Giamatti delivers exactly the kind of tragic brilliance you’d expect. Whether you’re binging it all in one go or cautiously dipping in, here’s how each episode stacks up—ranked from weakest to strongest.
6. “Playthings” (Season 7, Episode 4)
A spiritual cousin to Bandersnatch, this episode brings back Will Poulter’s Colin Ritman—but only for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo. The rest is a quirky, dark take on a Tamagotchi-like game gone sinister. Unfortunately, it never quite levels up to the sharpness of previous game-centric entries. And Peter Capaldi, saddled with a bad wig and a thin role, deserved far better.
5. “Běte Noire” (Season 7, Episode 2)
A creepy and cerebral entry with a killer concept: what if someone could rewrite reality—just for you? When a confectioner learns her childhood bully victim has joined her company, things spiral into paranoia via a twisted take on the Mandela Effect. The build-up is brilliant, but the payoff stumbles with a rushed ending that undercuts the tension.
4. “USS Callister: Into Infinity” (Season 7, Episode 6)
The first-ever direct sequel in Black Mirror history, this continuation of the beloved “USS Callister” picks up ten months later in the Infinity game. The returning cast—Cristin Milioti and Jimmi Simpson—are excellent, but the episode doesn’t quite reach the soaring heights of the original. A solid sequel that feels fun but, ultimately, unnecessary.
3. “Eulogy” (Season 7, Episode 5)
You knew Paul Giamatti was going to bring the heat—and he delivers. This emotionally raw episode follows a man offered the chance to relive a past relationship through AI-reconstructed memories after learning of an ex’s death. “Eulogy” walks a fine line between tragedy and catharsis, with Paul Giamatti‘s character growing increasingly unsympathetic yet deeply human.
2. “Hotel Reverie” (Season 7, Episode 3)
Issa Rae shines in a tender, sci-fi romance that has major “San Junipero” energy. Playing an actress sent into a simulated film to revive a classic, she meets Emma Corrin’s Dorothy—and sparks fly. As the tech malfunctions and time stretches, love blooms in the code. Romantic, nostalgic, and smart, this one lingers like a dream.
1. “Common People” (Season 7, Episode 1)
The season opens with a soul-crushing bang. Rashida Jones and Chris O’Dowd play a couple trapped in a dystopian subscription service designed to keep comatose loved ones “alive.” As the tech becomes increasingly exploitative and their financial situation deteriorates, so does their emotional stability. Brutal, brilliant, and deeply Black Mirror, this episode doesn’t pull punches—and that’s what makes it the best of the season.
