Black Mirror: Striking Vipers (5/5) – Netflix Review [Season 5]

Striking Vipers is a new Black Mirror episode from Season 5. This is the strongest and best episode of the Sci-Fi Horror series this time around. Read our Striking Vipers review here and watch it on Netflix now!

The Striking Vipers episode of Black Mirror season 5 is by far the strongest one of the season. This is perfect Black Mirror and everything I could have wished for. I may not be entirely onboard for elements of the storyline that includes infidelity, though.

And yet, the storyline of the Black Mirror Striking Vipers episode is just brilliant. The characters draw you in and you honestly feel with and for them. It’s one of those stories that force you to consider what you would do.

Also, it’s directed by Owen Harris, who directed my all-time favorite episode of Black Mirror. More on that later!

Read more in our full review of the Black Mirror episode Striking Vipers below.

The perfect cast of Striking Vipers

There are many reasons why I loved this episode. Unfortunately, I can’t really get into this without spoiling it for you. However, one big reason is the awesome cast with black or Asian actors in all the main roles.

Striking Vipers stars Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson from Captain America) as the main protagonist. He definitely delivers a stellar performance even though he is pretty damn depressing to look at for much of the episode!

Equally strong are the actors working with him, Nicole Beharie (Sleepy Hollow) and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Jordan Peele’s Us and the new Candyman).

Also, in the Striking Vipers episode as “game avatars”, we have Ludi Lin (Aquaman and Power Rangers) and Pom Klementieff from Guardians of the Galaxy and the Oldboy remake.

Watch the Black Mirror episode Striking Vipers on Netflix now!

Honestly, it should come as no surprise to anyone (least of all myself), that this turned out to be my favorite episode of Season 5.

After all, this episode was directed by Owen Harris who directed my all-time favorite episode of Black Mirror. Yes, it was (as I may have mentioned a few times before) the brilliant San Junipero episode of Season 3.

However, to be honest, I did not know that Owen Harris had directed this Season 5 episode until the day after watching it. I simply hadn’t been paying attention to these details at first.

Overall, this is the episode to watch more than once from Season 5 of Black Mirror. So maybe save it for last to avoid setting the bar too high for the other two episodes!

Striking Vipers was released on Netflix on June 5, 2019, as part of Season 5 of Black Mirror.

Details

Director: Owen Harris
Cast: Anthony Mackie, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Nicole Beharie, Ludi Lin, Pom Klementieff

Plot

Two estranged college friends reunite in later life, triggering a series of events that couldalter their lives forever.