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How To Watch Black Mirror Series Five For The Happiest Ending

How To Watch Black Mirror Series Five For The Happiest Ending

Ease yourself back into this miserable world afterwards

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

We can all agree; Black Mirror is fantastic. It presents a strange, often unnerving, but almost universally accurate look at the direction that we are heading as a species, as well - often - how our relationship with technology is increasingly affecting our lives.

There is a problem though, it can be just a teensy bit bleak at times. Actually, sod that, at times it can be utterly soul crushing.

With that in mind, to coincide with the release of season five of Charlie Brooker's modern masterpiece, here is the order that you should watch the three new episodes in order to give yourself the warmest payoff at the end.

Charlie Brooker.
PA

So, it makes sense to start off with the bleakest of all the episodes. That is unquestionably 'Smithereens'.

Starring Andrew Scott and Topher Grace alongside a stellar performance from newbie Damson Idris, it is claustrophobic - there's only really two locations in the whole thing - as well as tense and sad.

It's a little bit on the nose when drawing a comparison with the addictive and compulsive nature of our use of social media websites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, but that's exactly why it hits home.

Andrew Scott in 'Smithereens'.
Netflix

If it doesn't touch a nerve with you, you can feel safe that you don't have a problem with social media. For the rest of us, it's unsettling to say the least.

Next up, you should probably move onto 'Striking Vipers'.

To start with, it's beautiful. It's a lot more stylised than the first episode and relies more heavily on CGI - slightly reminiscent of the more out-there episodes such as 'Hang the DJ'.

Anyway, it features Pom Klementieff, Anthony Mackie, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Nicole Beharie amongst others. It sits perfectly in the middle as whilst it doesn't have a happy ending, it won't leave you utterly bereft of joy either.

'Striking Vipers'.
Netflix

Which brings us to 'Rachel, Jack, and Andy Too'.

This is the last episode you should watch because - as far as Black Mirror ever goes - it has the happiest conclusion.

That doesn't mean that it doesn't deal with some important stuff. It's an interesting take on the relationship between music and tech that will have you thinking about the recent travails of artists like Ke$ha as well as the increasing - and worrying - trend of reanimating dead artists as holograms to churn one last tour out of them.

Miley Cyrus in the new series.
Netflix

Star Miley Cyrus recently told The Guardian: "I think it's an important story that needs to be told, such a realistic take on what it's like working in the music industry.

"It really portrays the overt exploitation of artists and that numbers usually eclipse the creative most of the time."

Despite that, it's got the fluffiest and most empowering ending of the lot, so you should probably ease your way out of Brooker's dystopian theme park with this instalment.

Trust us, you'll feel better for it.

Featured Image Credit: Netflix

Topics: TV and Film, UK Entertainment, US Entertainment