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A new season of Black Mirror is back on the screens with a five-episode run four years after season 5 premiered. With 28 episodes across six seasons, Black Mirror has become a staple in households, keeping viewers affixed right from its first season, released in 2011, to the latest season 6 now available on Netflix. The Charlie Brooker-created sci-fi anthology series based on The Twilight Zone follows several non-dependent characters, with each episode bringing on its unique storyline and cast members.
The linking factor in the respective episodes remains the twisted endings, a deeper dive into the darkest possible outcome of a particular technology or scientific advancement, and of course, the likeness of Netflix in the mystery Streamberry streamer.
What Is Black Mirror Season 6 About?
Black Mirror explores various genres like crime fiction, psychological horror, black comedy, war, romance, and even political satire. All these notably aim at changing one’s view about technology in a not-so-great way. The sixth season isn’t so different. Although it leans less on blown-out-of-proportion gory technology glitches and more toward the downside of streamers, tabloids, and basically the multi-dimension.
Then there’s the disturbing season 6 episode titled Demon 79, which doesn’t quite fit in. Unlike previous episodes, which surely have a link to technology, season 6, episode 5 somewhat focuses entirely on the dark realm, or in this case, occultism. Besides this slight glitch or outlier, Black Mirror season 6 is much like its predecessors, with new faces depicting the technology-overrun lives of each new lead character introduced per episode.
Black Mirror Season 6 Release Date and How To Watch
Black Mirror was renewed for a new season in May 2022, about three years after the fifth season aired. During the long hiatus, a lot changed within the production, with Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones’ decision to start their own production company Brooker and Bones, topping the list. After all the talks and documentation, Netflix bought into the new company in the U.K. and got the official green light to resume production.
On April 26, 2023, Netflix dropped the first teaser for the Black Mirror new season, marking the official announcement of its return. An official trailer followed on May 31. They also confirmed the release date of Black Mirror season 6 as June 15 on Netflix.
All five episodes of the dystopian sci-fi anthology dropped on the platform on Thursday, June 15, at 3 a.m. ET, and are available to stream.
Who Is in the Cast of Black Mirror Season 6?
The Black Mirror season 6 cast and character guide are as complicated as any anthology series could get. But one can hardly miss three standout guest stars, including Salma Hayek, who played the fictional life of Joan on Joan Is Awful (episode 1), Aaron Paul as Cliff the astronaut on Beyond the Sea (episode 3), and Zazie Beetz, who plays the protagonist Bo on episode 4 (Mazey Day).
Aside from these three actors who did justice to their respective episodes, Netflix infused other screen favorites in the cast lineup. On Joan Is Awful, Salma Hayek Pinault, Annie Murphy, Himesh Patel, Ben Barnes, Michael Cera, and Rob Delaney joined forces to bring the episode to life.
Samuel Blenkin from The Witcher’s Myha’la Herrold (Industry) starred as Davis and Pia in the second episode, Loch Henry. John Hannah, Daniel Portman, and Monica Dolan also appeared in the movie.
Episode 3, Beyond the Sea, starred Aaron Paul and Josh Hartnett as Cliff and David, two astronauts on a mission in outer space. Joining them in the Black Mirror season 6 episode are three other cast members, Kate Mara, Auden Thornton, and Rory Culkin.
In the fourth episode, Mazey Day, Netflix introduced Atlanta’s Zazie Beetz as paparazzi photographer Bo. The episode also featured Danny Ramirez and Clara Rugaard. Anjana Vasan, Paapa Essiedu, David Shields, and Katherine Rose joined the cast lineup of the fifth episode titled Demon 79.
Netflix Black Mirror Episodes Review
With an overall score of 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, Black Mirror season 6 had an impressive reception. The critically acclaimed series showcased five episodes, each with its own unique storyline and characters. In episode one, the life of Joan, an average woman, is turned upside down when she discovers a TV drama on Streamberry that is an adaptation of her real life, with A-lister Salma Hayek portraying her.
The Ally Pankiw-directed episode is perhaps one episode on season 6 that does justice to the name Black Mirror. Finding out one’s reality was just a TV image of the actual person all along is surely a bitter pill to swallow.
Loch Henry, which follows a young couple visiting a Scottish town to work on a documentary film about nature, had an unexpected twist. While viewers definitely didn’t see that coming, the episode set the premise for the final blow with random remarks from Pia or Davis’ mom, which eventually add up in the end. Despite the bland beginning, the explosive end makes it worth every second.
Episode 3, set in an alternative 1969 universe, played on empathy while reenacting the sci-fi element. Yet, the consequences of Cliff and David blowing their perilous mission seemed a little extra even for drama, making it a struggle for viewers to relate. Nonetheless, it screamed Black Mirror in every way.
The synopsis of Black Mirror season 6 episode 4 reads, “A troubled starlet is dogged by invasive paparazzi while dealing with consequences of a hit-and-run incident.” In a world overrun with unscrupulous paparazzi with no boundaries, Mazey Day had a surreal effect on viewers, knowing it just might be their life. What could be scarier? Perhaps a demonized episode, which Netflix dutifully offered in Demon 79 (episode 5).
Will There Be a Season 7?
The possibility of a Black Mirror season 7 happening is very high, given Netflix’s stake in the series. Additionally, the latest season saw massive success with great reviews. Most viewers were left thirsting for more, especially with the last episode of season 6 ushering in a whole new Black Mirror approach. By implication, the series has opened doors to exploring non-technology paranoia-oriented storylines. Imagine the numerous possibilities open to exploring should there be a Black Mirror season 7. Hopefully, there wouldn’t be a four-year wait this time.