Every Episode of 'Black Mirror,' Ranked

Does 'Black Mirror' imitate life, or is life imitating 'Black Mirror'? From "San Junipero" to the latest Season 6 episodes, here's every episode, ranked.

"Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too," 'Black Mirror'
Netflix

Image via Netflix

"Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too," 'Black Mirror'

This article was originally published in June 2019.

If you’re terrified of the future and the increasingly invasive ways that technology degrades our lives and magnifies our problems, the science fiction television series Black Mirror, now streaming on Netflix, will do you no favors. This is a dark satire that’s rarely “ha-ha” funny, even when it jokes.

The show, created by Charlie Brooker, first aired on Channel 4 in the UK in 2011. But Netflix, seeing the viral hit potential, purchased the series in 2015, and Black Mirror has aired on the streaming service ever since Season 3.

The best Black Mirror episodes twist your guts into knots. The majority of episodes deal with the underbelly of humanity—corporate greed, sexual predation, extortion and blackmail, unfaithfulness—and filter those themes through some dystopian plot device. A man is forced to have sex with a pig on a live feed as the global community watches. A woman struggles to survive in a world where social media ratings determine social status. A young man is held hostage by a troll who records people’s sexual indecencies and crimes. 

It’s absurd stuff, bordering on obscenity. But it is connected to our reality, enough that we identify with what we see. And sometimes, when the show is especially meta and cruel, it indicts the viewer as complicit in the characters’ suffering. After a hiatus since Season 5 aired in June 2019, the series is ready to make its return with Season 6 this June.

The new season will continue to feature performances from top talent like Aaron Paul, Annie Murphy, Josh Hartnett, Kate Mara, Michael Cera, Myha’la Herrold, Rory Culkin, Salma Hayek Pinault, Zazie Beetz, and more. 

Since it’s been a while since we’ve had our minds blown by Booker’s show, it’s time for a refresher. Here is every episode of Black Mirror so far, ranked.

28. “The Waldo Moment” (Season 2, Episode 3)

"The Waldo Moment," 'Black Mirror'

27. “The National Anthem” (Season 1, Episode 1)

"The National Anthem," 'Black Mirror'

26. “Mazey Day” (Season 6, Episode 4)

25. “Arkangel” (Season 4, Episode 2)

black mirror episodes arkangel

24. “Shut Up and Dance” (Season 2, Episode 3)

"Shut Up and Dance," 'Black Mirror'

23. “Crocodile” (Season 4, Episode 3)

black mirror episodes crocodile

22. “Men Against Fire” (Season 3, Episode 5)

black mirror episodes men against fire

21. “Demon 79” (Season 6, Episode 5)

20. "Striking Vipers" (Season 5, Episode 1)

Black Mirror, Season 5: "Striking Vipers"

19. “Playtest” (Season 3, Episode 2)

black mirror episodes playtest

18. “Metalhead” (Season 4, Episode 5)

black mirror episodes metalhead

17. “Black Museum” (Season 4, Episode 6)

black mirror episodes black museum

16. "Bandersnatch" (Interactive Film)

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch

15. "Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too" (Season 5, Episode 3)

Black Mirror, Season 5: "Rachel Jack And Ashely Too"

14. “Joan Is Awful” (Season 6, Episode 1)

13. “Nosedive” (Season 3, Episode 1)

black mirror episodes nosedive

12. "Smithereens" (Season 5, Episode 2)

Black Mirror, Season 5: "Smithereens"

11. “Fifteen Million Merits” (Season 1, Episode 2)

"Five Million Merits," 'Black Mirror'

10. “Be Right Back” (Season 2, Episode 1)

"Be Right Back," 'Black Mirror'

9. “Hang the DJ” (Season 4, Episode 4)

black mirror episodes hang the dj

8. "Loch Henry" (Season 6, Episode 2)

7. “Hated in the Nation” (Season 3, Episode 6)

black mirror episodes hated in the nation

6. “Beyond the Sea” (Season 6, Episode 3)

5. “USS Callister” (Season 4, Episode 1)

black mirror episodes uss callister

4. “White Bear” (Season 2, Episode 2)

"White Bear," 'Black Mirror'

3. “White Christmas” (Special)

"White Christmas," 'Black Mirror'

2. “San Junipero” (Season 3, Episode 4)

black mirror episodes ranked san junipero

1. “The Entire History of You” (Season 1, Episode 3)

"The Entire History of You," 'Black Mirror'

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