Black Mirror—Season 2

black mirror season 2 poster episode guide
9.0 Overall Score
Story: 9/10
Acting: 9/10
Visuals: 9/10

Strong, creative series

Short seasons have you wanting more

black mirror season 2 episode 1 be right back hayley atwell domhnall gleeson

So…seen any good TV?

Technology has a cutting edge and discovering that could be dangerous.  Martha (Hayley Atwell) learns dead might not mean dead when her love Ash (Domhnall Gleeson) is taken suddenly while a woman (Lenora Crichlow) finds herself with amnesia and drawn into a dangerous game she doesn’t understand.  A cartoon character voiced by Jamie Salter (Daniel Rigby) makes a political splash, and two men (Jon Hamm and Rafe Spall) trade stories at a remote outpost on Christmas.  They have all stared into the black mirror.

Black Mirror—Season 2 (or Series 2) aired from February 11, 2013 to February 25, 2013 with a holiday special “White Christmas” airing December 16, 2014.  The series aired on the BBC’s Channel 4.  The series continued to receive critical acclaim.

black mirror season 2 episode 3 the waldo moment animated bear trump

No way a person just spouting out junk would become popular in an election…at least Waldo didn’t win…that would be completely unrealistic (sarcasm)

Black Mirror is the modern (and more adult) grandchild of the original Twilight Zone.  The series is edgy and (usually) unpredictable while offering gut-wrenching twists.  The second season continues this trend and (as the title implies) reflects a lot of what is going on in the world despite being a fantasy.

The first three entries in the series (which technically are Series 2) are solid.  “Be Right Back” is a nice twist on something like “The Monkey’s Paw” or even “Bobby” from the old Dead of Night horror movie where getting the return of a loved one isn’t always the best thing (though this is more psychological than horrific).  “White Bear” was a bit predictable, but it was still a fun, fast-moving romp.  “The Waldo Moment” is especially scary (and predictive) after the 2016 year of elections…it is ironic though while real life is scarier.

black mirror season 2 episode 2 white bear cellphones lenora crichlow

Paparazzi have gotten bad

“White Christmas” gained a lot of acclaim and is solid, but I also found it a bit wandering.  Running over an hour, the episode is building to the ending, but I felt parts with Oona Chaplin and Rasmus Hardiker were too long to be given as “examples” to build upon (and felt more like stories that they did not have enough substance to turn into a full episode)…it is solid, but I wanted to like it more.

The series is still sharp.  The visuals and editing really pump up the series and look big (which is ironic considering how long it took the BBC to get to this after years of hokey looking sci-fi series).  It is the slick realism that makes the show really pop and feel real.

Black Mirror is a great, modern anthology.  It has the potential to be funny, scary, and thought provoking all at the same time.  It can take you new places or it can feel ultra-real and reality bound.  Black Mirror had a third series released on Netflix in 2016.

Black Mirror—Season 2 Complete Episode Guide:

black mirror season 2 episode 1 be right back heyley atwell

“Be Right Back”

2.1       Be Right Back Airdate:  02/11/13

The sudden death of her husband Ash (Domhnall Gleeson) leaves expectant mother-to-be Martha (Hayley Atwell) reeling.  When she learns that a cloud-based recreation of Ash can be developed on her phone, Martha finds that her love might not be as dead as she thought.

black mirror season 2 episode 2 white bear lenora crichlow

“White Bear”

2.2       White Bear Airdate:  02/18/13

Waking up with no memory, a woman (Lenora Crichlow) suffering from memory flashes finds herself on the run from killers and people recording the event with cameras.  The woman finds an ally in a woman Jem (Tuppence Middleton) who says she knows what is happening and can stop the terror.

black mirror season 2 episode 3 the waldo moment debate bear

“The Waldo Moment”

2.3       The Waldo Moment Airdate:  02/25/13

Comedian Jamie Salter (Daniel Rigby) is making a name as the voice behind an animated bear named Waldo on a TV talk show.  As Waldo branches into the big leagues and political commentary by running for office, Jamie finds that Waldo’s message (or lack thereof) is something that people want…and Jamie could change the world.

black mirror season 2 episode 4 white christmas jon hamm oona chaplin

“White Christmas”

2.4       White Christmas Airdate:  12/16/14

Matt Trent (Jon Hamm) and Joe Potter (Rafe Spall) tell each other stories of how they ended up at the remote station on Christmas.  Matt tells how he served as an aid for a man named Harry (Rasmus Hardiker) seeking a girlfriend in a woman named Jennifer (Natalia Tena) and a woman who’s cookie Greta (Oona Chaplin) discovers that being a household assistant could mean an end to her life.  Joe reveals his relationship with Beth (Janet Montgomery) and his quest to regain his love and his unborn child when he is blocked by Beth…and the horror that resulted.

Related Links:

Black Mirror—Season 1 Review and Complete Episode Guide

Black Mirror—Season 3 Review and Complete Episode Guide

Black Mirror—Season 4 Review and Complete Episode Guide

Author: JPRoscoe View all posts by
Follow me on Twitter/Instagram/Letterboxd @JPRoscoe76! Loves all things pop-culture especially if it has a bit of a counter-culture twist. Plays video games (basically from the start when a neighbor brought home an Atari 2600), comic loving (for almost 30 years), and a true critic of movies. Enjoys the art house but also isn't afraid to let in one or two popular movies at the same time.

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