Black Mirror Season 6 review: The series forays into the horror genre with captivating tales

3.5/5

Story: The first episode, titled Joan is Awful, follows the story of a woman named Joan whose life is turned upside down when she discovers that a major streaming service has turned her life into a TV show for the whole world to see, without her apparent knowledge.

Loch Henry, the second episode, is set in a quaint but mysterious town in Scotland. The plot revolves around a young couple, Davis and Pia, who visit the former’s home town to shoot a documentary. But they decide to abandon their original pitch for the documentary in favour of the town’s dark past involving a serial killer

Set in an alternate history of 1969, the third episode, Beyond the Sea, follows astronauts Cliff and David who are on a two-man research mission in outer space. Through advanced technology, they are able to transfer their consciousness to their cyborg doppelgängers back home so that they can live with loved ones. But a horrifying tragedy back on Earth changes their dynamic and tests their limits.

When a popular actress is involved in a hit-and-run and disappears from the public, a desperate paparazzi photographer named Bo decides to find the actress and photograph her for an eye-watering reward. But Bo’s investigation reveals more than what she bargained for. The fourth episode is titled Mazey Day, and it is a fantasy horror story.

The final episode, Demon 79, is set in 1979 England and tells the story of a timid sales assistant named Needa, who stumbles on a mysterious ancient artefact that summons a demon from another realm. The demon informs Needa that she must commit three murders for the next three days to prevent the apocalypse.

Review: Charlie Brooker’s sci-fi dystopian anthology series set new standards and redefined the genre when it premiered its first season in 2011. It has often focused on the perils of mankind’s over-reliance on technology, serving as a social commentary or satire of contemporary society. Season 6 has broadened the horizons of the series as it dips its toes into the horror genre. While some of the episodes still retain their trademark sci-fi dystopian themes, the latest season also features true crime, fantasy horror, and the occult.

The episodes featuring science fiction such as Joan is Awful and Beyond the Sea, emphasise the lack of one’s agency over their image rights in the digital age. These episodes scrutinise how, in an era when a person’s digital footprint is just a few clicks away, social media can be misused by corporations and other individuals for their vested interests. And quite interestingly it also takes aim at Netflix itself in its first episode Joan is Awful.

Emmy Award-winning Schitt’s Creek star Annie Murphy and Hollywood legend Salma Hayek essay compelling performances in Joan is Awful. But the standout performances were from Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul and Black Hawk Down’s Josh Hartnett in Beyond the Sea. The episode also offers one of the most thought-provoking yet harrowing and gut-wrenching stories of season 6.

The rest of the episodes belong to the horror genre. Loch Henry is an ode to classic true crime stories and it’s gripping from start to finish. Unlike conventional Black Mirror stories, Loch Henry offers very little in terms of being a satire but makes for engrossing television nevertheless. And the weakest episode of the sixth season is arguably Mazey Day. While the episode is certainly teeming with suspense and intrigue, the climactic twists lack the depth and nuance to make it a convincing genre-bending tale.

The final episode Demon 79 is an excellent blend of horror, satire, and dark humour. It also represents what the future could look like for the series if it were to continue exploring the horror genre. Lead stars Anjana Vasan and Paapa Essiedu excel in their roles, and almost share a similar dynamic to Light Yagami and Ryuk’s relationship in the hit manga/anime Death Note. Of course, Vasan’s character Needa is not a narcissistic sociopath with a God complex like Light Yagami.

Verdict: The sixth season of the anthology series is a departure from its conventional format as the series ventures into the horror genre. Season six offers a great mix of stories ranging from dystopian sci-fi, and true crime, to fantasy horror. While it may not have achieved the high standards the series set in previous seasons, it certainly delivers compelling stories yet again.