Black Mirror: Ranking Every Episode From Worst To Best

10. Playtest

Playtest Black Mirror
Netflix

It's rare for a Black Mirror to be "fun", but while Season 3's Playtest isn't exactly a rollicking good time, it certainly enjoys revelling in its virtual reality set up. Browsing positions for oddjobs online, protagonist Cooper finds himself as the test subject for a new video game product, an augmented reality experience that's realised through a microchip implanted under the player's skin.

Obviously, the "game" malfunctions pretty much straight away, and the character's worst nightmares are brought to life before his very eyes. Through some genius horror-inspired sequences, Cooper is haunted by general human fears like spiders and serial killers, constantly unaware where the game ends and real life begins. Later though, these nightmares become much more personal, with Cooper questioning whether or not he's suffering from the same symptoms his father developed from dementia in his final years.

Trapping a character in their memories and dreams isn't exactly a new concept, but Black Mirror executed it so confidently, and with such energy (partly thanks to director Dan Trachtenberg), that in the end, the familiarity doesn't really matter.

[JB]

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NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.

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Josh has over 11 years of experience as a published writer, having worked nine of those years as a full-time content producer at WhatCulture. In that period he has created hundreds of articles, videos and podcast episodes for multiple WhatCulture channels, specialising in gaming, horror and film & TV. He now primarily works as a senior content producer and presenter on WhatCulture Gaming where he co-hosts the WhatCulture Gaming Podcast, a top 3 UK most listened to gaming podcast that he co-created in 2018. Over the years he has reviewed several high-profile gaming releases, covered industry events with on-site reporting, opined on breaking news, and even kicked off his interviewing career by chatting to childhood hero, Tommy Wiseau.