Black Mirror: Ranking Every Episode From Worst To Best
12. White Bear
A highlight of Season 2 (and easily the nastiest of that run), White Bear is essentially a single white-knuckle chase sequence that builds towards one of the best rug-pulls in the entire show. Following Victoria, who wakes up with amnesia, a strange symbol beaming out of her TV and a horde of people outside who are concerned with nothing but recording her on their phones (that "phone zombies" motif feels a little dated now, admittedly), the initial set up is as exciting and mysterious as anything the show has ever produced.
Fortunately it doesn't really let up from there, blending some brilliantly tense action set-pieces with the increased mystery surrounding this woman's past. The final twist defines the entire episode though, with it being revealed that this entire scenario has been purposefully orchestrated. Victoria is actually a criminal, party to the murder of a young child. Every day she's forced into this traumatic scenario as part of her sentencing, without any idea of why she's being punished and unable to escape the perpetual torment.
Like The National Anthem, White Bear taps into the voyeurism and pleasure society takes from seeing terrible people being punished, and the warped sense of "justice" that comes with this torment. It's as on-the-nose as Black Mirror has ever been, and the twist isn't for everyone, but it undoubtedly leaves a lasting impression.
[JB]