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All You Want To Know About 'Black Mirror' Season Four

By Kristy Puchko | TV Reviews | December 29, 2017 |

By Kristy Puchko | TV Reviews | December 29, 2017 |


Ring in the new year with Black Mirror! Netflix has just announced season four will premiere at the end of the month, which means the time has come to be terrified of tech all over again. We know you don’t want spoilers, but there’s some things you need to know to get the most out of Black Mirror’s fourth season.

Below, we have details on all six episodes, including what order you should watch them in.

“Arkangel”
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Cast: Rosemarie Dewitt (United States of Tara), Brenna Harding (A Place to Call Home), Owen Teague (Bloodline)
Director: Jodie Foster (Home For The Holidays)
Written by: Charlie Brooker

Rosemarie Dewitt stars as a single mom in a story of parenthood in an age of enhanced surveillance. With the feel of an indie drama, it almost feels like something that’d wow at Sundance, but with Black Mirror twist.

When to Watch: First. It’s a good kick off to this season’s recurring themes. What themes? That’s heavy spoilers territory.

“Hang the DJ”
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Cast: Georgina Campbell (Flowers, Broadchurch), Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders, Green Room), George Blagden (Versailles, Vikings)
Director: Tim Van Patten (The Sopranos, Game of Thrones)
Written by: Charlie Brooker

Online dating gets the Black Mirror treatment.

When to Watch: If you think of this season like a mixtape, trust us: this romance-driven ep will be a welcomed chaser to “Arkangel.”

“Crocodile”
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Cast: Andrea Riseborough (Battle of the Sexes , Bloodline), Andrew Gower (Outlander), Kiran Sonia Sawar (Murdered By My Father)
Director: John Hillcoat (Triple Nine, Lawless)
Written by: Charlie Brooker

This Iceland-set thriller follows an insurance claims investigator down a dark path, aided by a device that records memories of an event.

When to Watch: After the kids are in bed, when you have a strong drink handy. Continuity-wise, it doesn’t matter much.

“Metalhead”
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Cast: Maxine Peake (The Theory Of Everything, The Village), Jake Davies (The Missing, A Brilliant Young Mind), Clint Dyer (Hope Springs)
Director: David Slade (Hannibal, American Gods)
Written by: Charlie Brooker

Every season has a weak ep, and this is four’s. Shot in black and white, this is a nightmarish story about a struggle for survival. It’s tense, but lacks the Black Mirror’s signature for presenting compelling questions about ethics in the age of world-changing technology.

When to Watch It: While you’re cleaning house. Or skip it altogether. It’s inessential, and mediocre.

“USS Callister”
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Cast: Jesse Plemons (Fargo, Friday Night Lights), Cristin Milioti (The Wolf of Wall Street, Fargo), Jimmi Simpson (Westworld, House of Cards), Michaela Coel (Chewing Gum)
Director: Toby Haynes (Doctor Who, Sherlock)
Written by: Charlie Brooker & William Bridges

Be warned: this is the standout ep of season four. It’s feature length, and plays like Star Trek and Black Mirror had a marvelous and demented baby.

When to Watch: Right before “Black Museum.” After the journey of the rest of the season, revel in this, its best episode. Then venture into a compendium ep spiked with spoilers.

“Black Museum”
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Cast: Douglas Hodge (The Night Manager, Catastrophe), Letitia Wright (Humans, Ready Player One), Babs Olusanmokun (Roots, The Defenders)
Director: Colm McCarthy (The Girl with All the Gifts)
Written by: Charlie Brooker

Like “White Christmas,” this episode folds in several stories into a longer, juicier, more deranged episode. Set in the titular roadside attraction, “Black Museum” offers its visitor a look at the heinous crimes committed because of enhanced technology.

When To Watch: LAST! There are Easter Eggs to the previous eps, and if you watch this before those, you’ll get clues to how each episode ends. Don’t do that to yourself!

Black Mirror’s fourth season will hit Netflix on Friday, December 29.