Black Mirror: Season 6 – Netflix Series Review

BLACK MIRROR Season 6 is finally on Netflix. We’ve been waiting since 2019 for new episodes, but has it been worth the wait? Yes. Yes, it absolutely has. Read our full Black Mirror season 6 review of all five episodes here!

BLACK MIRROR Season 6 on Netflix has been much anticipated. Since 2019, when season 5 was released, the show creator Charlies Brooker felt the world was crazy enough on its own.

In other words, he didn’t want to add more darkness with the pandemic, war, and everything else going on. And this sci-fi, horror, drama, mystery genre-hybrid anthology has always been quite dark. Season 6 is no exception though it uses many different styles and vibes.

We’ve watched all five Black Mirror season 6 episodes for this review. You can click the episode title below to go straight to a specific episode – all mini-reviews are spoiler free.

The season 6 episodes are:

• “Joan Is Awful” is episode 1
• “Loch Henry” is episode 2
• “Beyond the Sea” is episode 3
• “Mazey Day” is episode 4
• “Demon 79” is episode 5

Continue reading our Black Mirror season 6 review below. Find it on Netflix from June 15, 2023.

Joan Is Awful

An average woman is stunned to discover a global streaming platform has launched a prestige TV drama adaptation of her life — in which she is portrayed by Hollywood A-lister Salma Hayek Pinault.

Director: Ally Pankiw
Writer: Charlie Brooker
Starring: Annie Murphy, Salma Hayek Pinault, Michael Cera, Himesh Patel, Rob Delaney, Ben Barnes

Our mini Joan Is Awful Review: This episode is so very meta. Just when you think it can’t get crazier, we reach a new level of meta-craziness. Annie Murphy (Russian Doll) and Salma Hayek (Bliss) are amazing in this episode.

Actually, everyone in this episode is brilliant – as is the story. A classic Black Mirror opening!

Our rating: 5/5

Loch Henry

A young couple travel to a sleepy Scottish town to start work on a genteel nature documentary, but find themselves drawn to a juicy local story involving shocking events of the past.

Director: Sam Miller
Writer: Charlie Brooker
Starring: Samuel Blenkin, Myha’la Herrold, Daniel Portman, John Hannah, Monica Dolan

Our mini Loch Henry review: An episode that deals with true crime. Somewhat in the sense that Based on a True Story does. However, this is much darker. In fact, I’m not sure there are words to truly describe just the kind of darkness this episode evolves into.

Our rating: 4/5

Beyond the Sea

In an alternative 1969, two men on a perilous high-tech mission wrestle with the consequences of an unimaginable tragedy.

Director: John Crowley
Writer: Charlie Brooker
Starring: Aaron Paul, Josh Hartnett, Kate Mara, Auden Thornton, Rory Culkin

Our mini Beyond the Sea review: This story is sci-fi in the sense that it takes place in space and is in an alternative version of our world. A bit like Don’t Worry Darling. However, at the same time not at all.

Josh Hartnett (Penny Dreadful) and Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) play the two key characters, but Kate Mara (Class of ’09) has a key role as well. The same goes for Rory Culkin (Swarm) who absolutely steals the scenes he’s in!

Our rating: 4/5

Mazey Day

A troubled starlet is dogged by invasive paparazzi while dealing with the consequences of a hit-and-run incident.

Director: Uta Briesewitz
Writer: Charlie Brooker
Starring: Zazie Beetz, Clara Rugaard, Danny Ramirez

Our mini Mazey Day review: Genre fans are bound to love this episode which is one of the shortest in the season. It evolves in a somewhat slow and mysterious way, but the final act is full steam ahead. A cool detail is that the story takes place before smartphones came out.

Zazie Beetz (Wounds) plays the role of a paparazzi who is growing a conscience and not liking what the business has turned into. Danish up-and-coming actor Clara Rugaard (I Am Mother) is the troubled starlet trying to avoid the press.

Our rating: 4/5

Demon 79

Northern England, 1979. A meek sales assistant is told she must commit terrible acts to prevent disaster.

Director: Toby Haynes
Writer: Charlie Brooker and Bisha K. Ali
Starring: Anjana Vasan, Paapa Essiedu, Katherine Rose Morley, David Shields

Our mini Demon 79 review: As indicated by both the title and the official plot, the story plays out in England in 1979. Also, yes, a demon is a part of the storyline. A key part! As revealed by the plot, this episode is reminiscent of Knock at the Cabin. But not by much.

Anjana Vasan (who was amazing in the final season of Killing Eve) is perfect in the lead role. So is Paapa Essiedu (Men), though I can’t reveal anything about him without it being a spoiler. A perfect season 6 finale.

Our rating: 5/5