Every Black Mirror Episode Ranked Worst To Best

23. Striking Vipers

As noted in the introduction, Black Mirror is divisive. For some, Striking Vipers is one of the best episodes in years, as well as the crowning achievement of the otherwise lackluster fifth season. For others, it's a tired old mess with little to say.

Both opinions are justifiable. The virtual reality setting is both visually appealing and overdone; the relationships between its lead characters (Anthony Mackie and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is equal parts compelling and oddly stilted; and the finale is at once sweet and glaringly unsatisfying.

Striking Vipers is a weird beast to say the least, and though it has decent performances from its two leads - as well as fellow MCU regular Pom Klementieff - it just ends up feeling rather lifeless, forgettable and empty when compared to other stories in the show.