Not-so-dark Black Mirror

...so you can get better acquainted with one of my favourite series without worrying about nightmare triggers.

I get the urge to bring up episodes of Black Mirror in conversation a lot; often because they're fascinating commentary on current technology trends, but mostly because I love how you're not guaranteed a hollywood happy ending.

However, that lack of guardrails against diving into deeply bleak themes and/or visuals put off a lot of people. They'll tell me "oh I don't watch Black Mirror, it's too dark / violent / upsetting / horrific" based on just one episode. But it is an anthology of short stories so you would be missing out on so many gems if you judge the whole production by any single tale. There are only very loose connections between each episode (basically just easter eggs for diehard fans), otherwise you're in for a completely different tone and emotional journey every time.

So for those cautious souls that are intrigued by this hugely popular but perilous watching, this is my curated spoiler-free hints to the least heavy episodes ranked on a mood scale. There's plenty more than what's here but I think if you're into these then you should venture into the unknown yourself and trust that the thrill is just as rewarding as when there's a lighthearted ending.

⭐️ = my personal highlights

🌤️ Light / Uplifting

• San Junipero (S3E4) ⭐️
  A nostalgic, hopeful story with a unique setting.

• Hang the DJ (S4E4)
  
  A playful take on modern dating and compatibility.

• Joan Is Awful (S6E1) ⭐️
  A satirical, absurd comedy about streaming and surveillance.

🙂 Bittersweet / Reflective

• Loch Henry (S6E2)
  
  A moody exploration of storytelling in a quiet town.

• Common People (S7E1)
  
  A character-driven look at ordinary lives shaped by subtle technology.

😐 Mid-Tone / Social Satire & Personal Drama

• Nosedive (S3E1)
  
  A pastel-colored critique of social ratings.

• Striking Vipers (S5E1) ⭐️
  A thought-provoking look at relationships and identity in a virtual world.

• The Entire History of You (S1E3)
  
  A tense story about memory and obsession.

⚠️ The Darkest Episodes

These are generally regarded as the most disturbing or unsettling:

• White Bear (S2E2) thriller, dark
  
• Shut Up and Dance (S3E3) ⭐️ dark premise
  
• Playtest (S3E2) horror
  
• Crocodile (S4E3) grim
  
• Metalhead (S4E5) thriller, too real
  
• Smithereens (S5E2) bleak
  
• White Christmas (Special) ⭐️ tense
  
• Mazey Day (S6E4) tense, horror, silly?
  

I should probably update this list as I catch up on all the latest episodes, and new ones get released. 🤔