Black Mirror

:

Season 1
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Dec 4, 2011
Season #: 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 528 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 479 out of 528
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 528
  3. Negative: 32 out of 528

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User Reviews

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  1. zNeverSleep
    Jun 28, 2023
    8
    Watching Black Mirror S1 in mid-2023 is impressive for two reasons.

    Firstly, the technology depicted in the series is remarkably similar to what we have today. The dilemmas and subsequent reflections derived from them are highly relevant and up-to-date. If it weren't for the stereotypical future concepts we had in the past, it would be challenging to discern that this season was    Watching Black Mirror S1 in mid-2023 is impressive for two reasons.

    Firstly, the technology depicted in the series is remarkably similar to what we have today. The dilemmas and subsequent reflections derived from them are highly relevant and up-to-date. If it weren't for the stereotypical future concepts we had in the past, it would be challenging to discern that this season was produced in 2011. That's a tremendous compliment.

    "The National Anthem" made a valid point and has aged well. "Fifteen Million Merits" showcased good acting, and the scenario used to underpin the critique was intriguing. However, "The Entire History of You" was my favorite episode. I particularly enjoyed the concept of memories, privacy, and trust, and how the episode extrapolated those ideas beyond what we currently experience, such as constantly posting about our lives on Instagram like 24/7 (thank god I don't do that).

    I'm exited to revisit the other seasons.    … Expand
  2. Onlyclassicvg1
    Sep 18, 2022
    9
    Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone - tethered to nothing
  3. Bruterake
    Aug 18, 2021
    10
    É simplesmente absurdo ser tão bom sendo uma série da netflix 3 episódios e 3 10 pra cada um.
  4. mondainai
    Dec 9, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Here's how life could change in my city by the year 2030, from the World Economic Forum(Founded by former Nazi Klaus Schwab. Here is their idea of how you should live and my resposne.

    - A few things to consider about your dystopian future you think is an utopia. By the way, it already exits, it is call the slums. Where nobody has a posetion,

    1. You say you don’t own anything. Even your clothes. 1) Are you okay with sharing your underwear with strangers who might have scabies? 2) you say “your bicycle” but you cannot have that because you don’t get to own anything. Everytime you want to use it, you will need to register it on a cumbersome government run webpage, that doesn’t store your login info and if you by chance acutally get to use your bicycle, it wont be there because the person who rented it decided to leave it somewhere, because they didn’t feel like riding it back. There are no fines because you have no money to pay them. Sure they might revoke the users privilege, but he will just get one of his 30 relatives that recently immigrated, infact, they already have blocked off “your” bicycles community usage till Dec 12th 2027. How does that sound?
    2. “your” living room will be used for business meetings when you are not there. That is great. So women’s safety no longer seems to matter to you. So you arrive to find 12 men in your living room and you are the only woman, what do you do if there meeting goes over, take a nap in “your” bedroom while you wait? Hope they are all, law abiding citizens, but don’t worry, they don’t mind your female empowerment, they would never harm a woman for showing her hair in public, which is now what “your” living room is.
    3. The necessary “kitchen” equipment is delivered in minutes. No it isn’t. The driver who works for free, had better things to do. So you end up making dinner without knives or utensils. But is is okay, your friend brought his “spare” set but don’t tell anyone, he has sharp objects, he might be put on a list. “why keep a “pasta-maker” shoved in our cupboards? We can just order them when you need them” apparently this assumes there will be plenty at the whare house where these perfectly clean things will be kept.” It arrives, old, dirty, parts are missing, but hey, no problem, we live in Utopia, we will just make pasta by hand! Functioning sowing machines are soo over-rated too.
    4. “The Materials are flowing pretty quickly in our economy” Now we know the reason for the pasta maker, truns out they needed some of the spare partrs. Yep, materails flowing quicky!

    5. “Once in a while I get annoyed by the fact I have no real privacy.” I think annoyed is a nice word for horrified.

    6. “All in all, it is a good life. Much better than the path we were on, where it became so clear that we could not continue with the same model of growth. We had all these terrible things happening: lifestyle diseases, climate change, the refugee crisis, environmental degradation, completely congested cities, water pollution, air pollution, social unrest and unemployment. We lost way too many people before we realised that we could do things differently.” If only idiods like me had realized that the dreams of a socialist utopia where simply a communist dystopian nightmare. Perhaps complete looney SFBs like me should have actually gone and lived in socialist squalors and pehaps we would have known how utterly naïve we were about enslaving humanity to bend our will.    … Expand
  5. Diptanshu
    May 25, 2020
    9
    Extraordinary Mind-blowing and amazing start of the series!music was amazing the intro was plain and simple.the stories as per anthology no tied ends throughout 3 episodes although unique plots at all 3 episodes.acting was amazing the 1st episodes presidents,the guy and girl in 2nd and the love triangle in 3rd they all were great.each and every episode was very dark and compelling with theExtraordinary Mind-blowing and amazing start of the series!music was amazing the intro was plain and simple.the stories as per anthology no tied ends throughout 3 episodes although unique plots at all 3 episodes.acting was amazing the 1st episodes presidents,the guy and girl in 2nd and the love triangle in 3rd they all were great.each and every episode was very dark and compelling with the quite amazing plots each episode has certain moments were we literally feel like if that thing happens to me how'ed i react and do,every situation and screenplay in all 3 were exceptional,1st episode was unique and mind-blowing right from the start,the kidnap and demand it was like this is prank or something but the inner feeling was like it was awesome situation.it was like a question to the inner feelings and image of president as somebody later say the act was masterpiece it was although the person and motives behind was left without explanation but that's the impressive term as damage was done,literally the You-tube thing and the people's and press they were like putting pressure,the dealing with situation of president felt intense the finger gift box and the mission of capture and the special effects failed attempts were brilliant the inner feeling of his wife and president while and after the pig thing it was very dark,it was very extraordinary situation and dark,the 2nd episode starting was fun the new environment and the computer like world with Merits as currency it was amazing the Advertisements in between was terribly awesome,the friendship and the singing thing was well done,after some time the place it felt like jail,then the audition and judges thing it was very dark and literally mind-blowing and self questioned situation then the revenge type speech which was great and truth-full then the game played by judges it felt brilliant and amazing.then the 3rd episode the memory capsule plot and the rewind sessions it was amazing,the relationship and all that complicated thing was amazingly done it was dark and heartbreaking at end,Overall every episode was very impressive and dark,great start to amazing series it was exceptional and Masterpiece!… Expand
  6. LucaCritics
    Mar 28, 2020
    8
    Black Mirror Season 1 Review: 8/10
    Great futuristic concept of the real world. Each episode is very interesting and although its near future the stories are very possible... very scary.
  7. Felindie
    Jul 15, 2019
    8
    The first episode is as disturbing as entertained, the second one is just good and the third one is a personal favorite.
  8. manningn15
    Jun 21, 2019
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This was a fantastic first season. Episode 1, The National Anthem, was very well written and had a great story and the acting was excellent especially from Rory Kinnear but it is my least favorite episode of season 1. I give episode 1, The National Anthem, a 6 out of 10. Episode 2, Fifteen Million Merits, had a terrific story and twist ending that I did not expect and was even funny at times and the acting was outstanding especially from Daniel Kaluuya as well as Paul Popplewell and Jessica Brown Findlay also I loved the incorporation of the song Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand). I liked Fifteen Million Merits better than The National Anthem but it is still not my favorite episode of the season. I give episode 2, Fifteen Million Merits, a 7 out of 10. Episode 3, The Entire History of You, is my favorite episode of season 1, it had terrific writing, a terrific story, and was funny and heartbreaking. The acting in The Entire History of You was stupendous especially from Toby Kebbell as well as Jodie Whittaker and Tom Cullen, also the score was great. I give episode 3, The Entire History of You, a 9 out of 10.… Expand
  9. Jamedris
    Apr 10, 2019
    10
    Amazing series fueled by development of modern society. Visions provided in this show are not so sci-fi when you think it through, let's just look at China... Some episodes are weaker than best ones, but I guarantee that you'll get hooked. Just skip the first episode if you can't stand it and watch an EXTRA Christmas episode! It's an ultimate mindf%^&*, a modern version of Gordian knot.Amazing series fueled by development of modern society. Visions provided in this show are not so sci-fi when you think it through, let's just look at China... Some episodes are weaker than best ones, but I guarantee that you'll get hooked. Just skip the first episode if you can't stand it and watch an EXTRA Christmas episode! It's an ultimate mindf%^&*, a modern version of Gordian knot. Beyond scale, amazing, awesome, no more words needed! +fav… Expand
  10. BrunoVn00
    Mar 31, 2019
    10
    This season is only three episodes long but those three episodes are all amazing. I can call the first one the "weakest" but that doesn't mean it's bad, it's just not as wonderful as the other two.
    Personally, "The Entire History of You" (ep.3) is the best episode of this season and one of my favorite episodes of this series overall.
    The Good: -It's competitively shot. All three    This season is only three episodes long but those three episodes are all amazing. I can call the first one the "weakest" but that doesn't mean it's bad, it's just not as wonderful as the other two.
    Personally, "The Entire History of You" (ep.3) is the best episode of this season and one of my favorite episodes of this series overall.

    The Good:
    -It's competitively shot. All three episodes don't even feel like a TV show, they feel like movies.
    -Amazing performances from the actors of all three episodes.
    -Great stories with a pretty nice script and creative concepts. The twists and turns are really good and I actually liked that all three have a sad and depressing ending, it would be very predictable having a happy ending.

    The Bad:
    -Honestly I don't feel there's something I didn't really like. Maybe the first episode was a little slow and boring at first but its unexpected ending was what really saved it.

    This is a high quality show that I absolutely recommend! Season 1 is just fantastic.    … Expand
  11. BulgarianCritic
    Nov 21, 2018
    7
    The season was pretty great.I liked the stories even though 2 of them were kinda boring.
  12. ErikTheCritic
    Oct 14, 2018
    9
    With realistic social commentary dealing with the dark side of technology, this show has some of the best storytelling ever put on TV.
  13. hornysoul
    Sep 21, 2018
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. "The National Anthem": Um episódio razoável. A sátira é tão audaciosa que me deixou boquiaberto, principalmente com aquele pobre porco.

    "Fifteen Million Merits": Este episódio, que funcionou de sátira aos programas de entretenimento, foi o melhor. Excelente trabalho por parte de Daniel Kaluuya (Bing).

    "The Entire History of You": O episódio tinha potencial para ser o melhor, mas este tipo de drama (relações ciumentas) não combinou bem com os elementos tecnológicos.    … Expand
  14. JeampieroCasani
    Sep 20, 2018
    10
    Sin duda algo que en verdad nunca antes había visto, y estoy muy satisfecho, me encanto todos los capitulos, de lo mejor para ver.
  15. mellonhead
    Jul 29, 2018
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. What a great first season. Each episode was great in its own right and could easily be argued as the best of the season -- that's how consistent each one was in quality.
    9.5/10; A

    The National Anthem: We start out with quite a bang indeed -- the premise being that the prime minister needs to f--k a pig, on live television, to free the princess. The whole buildup of the episode is brilliant -- the suspense - the tension - the politics -- and it climaxes to an all too realistic conclusion, with some amazing final scenes that don't have much dialogue, but tell everything. Wonderful direction, story, execution, acting - just an amazing pilot.
    9.5-10/10; A

    Fifteen Million Merits: I entered this episode not knowing Black Mirror is a show of standalone episodes, so I was in for quite the surprise. Regardless, I came out satisfied (well as much as you can be with such a disappointing ending) and convinced that this one was somehow even better than that debut. It builds up a lot more slowly, and inconspicuously, in a very different universe, though the motives of the characters and the story (though a tad bit more unrealistic than the premise) are just as relatable, believable, and terrifyingly realistic. The buildup is much quieter and captures a dull, depressing life, which proves necessary as the viewer has a much better understanding of why the characters behave the way they do. What this episode does is make the viewers about as hopeless as the characters themselves, present a glimmer of hope - which, of course, the characters go all in for (giving the viewer - and the characters - a false sense of cautious optimism), before crushing that hope like a compressed soda can in a trash compactor, and concluding (yet again in devastating fashion) in the most human way.
    9.5-10/10; A

    The Entire History of You: The season finishes off in yet another completely different universe, but by the end, asks almost rhetorically how far off this future really is. It addresses technology and privacy (on multiple levels), in a world where everyone has a chip in their eye that records everything a person does. They can play back any memory they want, whenever (and even delete memories!). Seems handy, eh? (well unless you get caught up in some shady business -- hats off to the Heisenbergs and Jenningses) Well, that is, until you want to see your partner's memories, or you start to get into arguments over memories and invading their privacy becomes your argument -- or just plain old trust issues -- that's when things could get out of hand and murky. But it can all be avoided with boundaries and civil behavior, right? Not when it's Black Mirror, no. A typical dispute - one partner wants to know about the other partner's ex - escalates out of control, as whatever benefits or false sense of security created by the technology is stripped away and everything falls apart. The great, albeit oft-messy and somewhat over-the-top, episode concludes with the protagonist making the most freeing decision possible and revealing a peek into his true self.
    9/10; A-    … Expand
  16. MiguelGordiano
    May 28, 2018
    10
    The definition of "MIND BLOWING" was successfully updated.
    Black Mirror expands our horizons on the future of technology: would humans lose their very humanity because of it?
  17. bmsamani
    May 26, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have never appreciated sci fi until I watched this show. It dives into how humans would genuinely react to the inventions created by the writers, it doesn't just brush over it. It also gets at a thousand different issues; each episode is worthy of hours and hours of discussion about the themes it portrayed. For example, in episode one it gets at the impersonal nature of technology. The people watched the broadcast with minimal guilt because they felt removed from the situation, and they felt anonymous. It also got at the many faults of the media and the restraints of the entire industry. The one thing that this show is not is shallow. The themes it portrays aren't always obvious and apparent, and some people confuse that with lack-of-depth. That is another thing that is amazing about this show. It does not throw an opinion or a stance in your face, it shows you potential real life consequences and lets you create your own opinion having seen the scenario play out.… Expand
  18. stevenf49
    May 25, 2018
    9
    Overall quality of the shows is Excellent. Keep it coming season after season ! We want more!!!
  19. partyfavor
    Apr 25, 2018
    8
    Clever and brilliant show. Although like most series nowadays, it still got its ups and downs. Some episodes are topnotch while some are just outright garbage. Still overall, the Twilight Zone-esque approach of this show and its witty undertones makes it still one of the best series for me.
  20. Juan474
    Feb 7, 2018
    10
    Think of this show as the dark version of "The Twilight Zone". Includes a lot of profanity and sexual content but is always necessary and fits in well with the show. Very well thought out, very very creative. 10 out of 10 from mw.
  21. Kasenue
    Jan 7, 2018
    10
    Finally this series arrived on Netflix Germany and I was hooked!
    Granted, series 1 ep. 1 was weak but it only got better to the point where it just blew my mind.
    The stories are mostly set in a dystopian world that is dominated or badly influenced by modern technology. What makes "Black mirror" so great is the attention to detail and inter/intrapersonal relationships and how the main    Finally this series arrived on Netflix Germany and I was hooked!
    Granted, series 1 ep. 1 was weak but it only got better to the point where it just blew my mind.
    The stories are mostly set in a dystopian world that is dominated or badly influenced by modern technology. What makes "Black mirror" so great is the attention to detail and inter/intrapersonal relationships and how the main character would feel and experience its brave new world.

    Well thought out plots, characters, settings and really good storytelling. Definitely woth seeing!    … Expand
  22. rodericrinehart
    Jan 2, 2018
    9
    Only giving it a 9 because of episode one. The other episodes are all perfect 10s and this show is one of my favorites of all time. I love the pessimistic take on a trend in our modern, digital, tech-heavy lives. It's like Philip K Dick + William Gibson + The Twilight Zone.
  23. ssainvil
    Dec 31, 2017
    10
    hello from sunny Miami Florida. I really enjoy all the episodes. seasons 1-3 are all inspiring and provoking. I'm not sure why there are 10 negative reviews. in all that I've seen; the episodes are awesome and thought provoking. I hope they continue to renew it's seasons.
  24. Drevia54
    Nov 27, 2017
    9
    A very good series that puts ideas in place on the possible drift of new technologies. Do not stop at the first episodes because with the seasons, they are better and better.
  25. Cashmoney900000
    Apr 12, 2017
    10
    The series is fantastic, I purchased Netflix because of this. I watch Philip Defranco on YouTube and he kept talking about it so I gave it a shot. SON! The first episode in my opinion is the only one I didn't really care for theme wise, but I understood its purpose with how it plays into society. But the rest of them were great. I recommend it.
  26. icp24seven
    Mar 7, 2017
    10
    Only 3 episodes but all 3 of them are excellent! I swear that episode 3 is the inevitable future lifestyle that the technology driven society we live in is creating as we speak. Gives me chills just thinking about it.
  27. alejandro970
    Feb 19, 2017
    8
    Effective British TV mini serie with some taste of the Twilight Zone. Some chapters has not the same quality but the effort is wortwhile. One of best choices of Netflix.
  28. eagleeyeviking
    Jan 18, 2017
    9
    Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror: Series 1 offers a trilogy of terrifying sci-fi stories that are each shocking in their own ways. The episodes realistically deal with issues that are timely and important. The writing is sharp, directing solid and acting terrific.
  29. Rickyrider35
    Jan 2, 2017
    7
    A series of intriguing and often extremely compelling concepts that, unfortunately, place believable characters into streaks of unbelievable scenarios. The social commentary is there, transpired through thought-provoking ideas and vignettes that should reflect an image of society not so distant from our own, but more often than not, these stray too far from believable pathways, even forA series of intriguing and often extremely compelling concepts that, unfortunately, place believable characters into streaks of unbelievable scenarios. The social commentary is there, transpired through thought-provoking ideas and vignettes that should reflect an image of society not so distant from our own, but more often than not, these stray too far from believable pathways, even for our flawed civilisation. Thus, Black Mirror's first season definitely is an interesting and peculiar experiment that is even enjoyable to watch as a bleak, 'what-if' sci-fi series, but it does little to thrust its viewers towards self-reflective and dissident views that question the morality of the advancements in technology, as its writers certainly hoped it would. Although the plots get progressively better to ultimately cap the season with a more unpredictable and engaging narrative in the third episode, the series' writers still have much to learn if they wish to make their product stand up to the premise.… Expand
  30. jackalsk
    Dec 27, 2016
    10
    This is the best series ever in its category.
    However, do not watch if you like empty and nonsenced american crap with plenty of explosions and no need to think, you will get bored. This one is the exact opposit. Its intelligent, detailed, funny, creepy and with strong message to think about.
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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
89

Universal acclaim - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Lili Loofbourow
    Jun 16, 2023
    70
    The new season (critics got all five episodes) is responsive to the moment, but it pivots in ways that challenge some core features of the series as we’ve known it. It’s lighter, for one thing, and more than a little tongue-in-cheek.
    Read full review
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Melissa Maerz
    Nov 26, 2013
    100
    Every so often a British drama comes along that's so brilliant, you must ride a TARDIS to London just to watch. The cult-favorite sci-fi series Black Mirror is one of those shows.
    Read full review
  3. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Emily VanDerWerff
    Nov 26, 2013
    100
    The obvious comparison point is The Twilight Zone; that Black Mirror is a worthy successor is the highest praise that can be paid.
    Read full review
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