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Every episode of 'Black Mirror' ranked, and it's pretty bleak

With season 4 of "Black Mirror" about to hit Netflix, which of Charlie Brooker's grim visions hit you the hardest?

Richard Trenholm Former Movie and TV Senior Editor
Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.
Expertise Films, TV, Movies, Television, Technology
Richard Trenholm
2 min read
Channel 4

We live in troubled times -- and things are going to get bleaker when the new series of "Black Mirror" hits Netflix .

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A rare moment of hope for the future in season 3's award-winning "San Junipero".

Laurie Sparham/Netflix

To celebrate season 4 of the show, steel yourself for a reminder of previous entries in the tech-obsessed anthology. Well, maybe celebrate is the wrong word. The horribly compelling show is known for its dire warnings and gut-punch twists as it remorselessly peels back the grim implications of technology enabling our worst human impulses.

Spare a thought then for our chums at sister site GameSpot, who waded into the three seasons to rank the episodes. We hope they had plenty of ice cream, funny memes and puppies on standby for when they were done. Check out the video below to see what they came up with, the poor fools.

Created by acerbic writer and critic Charlie Brooker, "Black Mirror" began on the UK's Channel 4 in 2011. US audiences belatedly discovered the gripping show on Netflix, which then snapped up the rights and produced an excellent third season in 2016.

The first three seasons and 2014 Christmas special are all available on the streaming service now. Which episode hit you hardest? The vision of relationships recorded in "The Entire History of You", starring new Doctor Who Jodie Whittaker? The spooky reincarnation of a loved one in "Be Right Back", featuring Hayley Atwell and Domhnall Gleeson?

Were you chilled by the scathing indictment of social media obsession "Nosedive", starring Bryce Dallas Howard and Alice Eve? Or do you yearn for the heartrending retro-themed bright spot "San Junipero", with  Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Mackenzie Davis?

"Black Mirror" season 4 comes to Netflix soon, though the exact date hasn't yet been announced. The new season will include episodes directed by Jodie Foster and David Hillcoat, and will star the likes of Andrea RiseboroughMaxine PeakeJesse Plemons and Jimmi Simpson.  

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