Summary
Season 7 ofBlack Mirroris once again back with thought-provoking stories that dive deep into the relationship between humans and technology. Since its inception, the series has been known for pushing boundaries by blending science fiction with dark realism in a way that feels terrifyingly close to the world around us. Although most episodes in this long-running anthology series focus on the negative side of technology, there are some episodes where emotions overshadow the technology and provide a wholesome experience.
The fifth episode ofBlack MirrorSeason 7, titled “Eulogy,“is all about that wholesome experience. There’s a time in everyone’s life when people look at their past and think about what their lives could have been if they had been attentive. “Eulogy"is about those moments, and how lives can be changed in a whisker. Moreover, it is about how cutting-edge technology could take people back in the past and give them closure about something that had been haunting them for years. For a change, this episode doesn’t feature the usual narrative that “everything comes at a price,” instead, it surrounds viewers with moments of guilt, longing, and love.
Black Mirror Season 7’s Eulogy is all about remembering the past
The episode chronicles the journey of a man namedPhillip (played by Paul Giamatti)working in his garden when he receives a phone call from a lady named Carol Joyce. Initially, Phillip tells the caller that he doesn’t know anyone named Carol Joyce, but his expression changes when the caller says that her real name was Carol Hartman. Phillip gets the news of her demise, and the caller tells him that the family is holding a memorial service in England. Phillip knew he couldn’t go there, but the caller told him that he was calling from a company called Eulogy, which is helping the Joyce family to have an immersive memorial experience. As a result, they were contacting names from Carol’s old papers and seeing if they could contribute to the memorial by telling them a good memory they shared with Carol. The caller said they’d be sending a kit to him soon, and he could just start the process.
All he needs to do is stick the gadget on the side of his face and think about the time he spent with Carol. The gadget features a woman’s voice, an AI-driven Guide that would assist him in collecting those memories and uploading them for the memorial. But the real problem is that Phillip doesn’t remember much about Carol, and it seems like he has thrown her out of his life permanently.
Imagine being able to walk into a paragraph and not just view it, but actually step inside it, feel the air, hear the sounds, and relive the past. That’s the bold idea of this thought-provoking, yet emotional episode. Even though, in the beginning, viewers are not given too many details about his past, they can see the weight he carries, the kind of emotional burden that doesn’t need to be said out loud. Theintroduction to the photo-walking systemis extraordinary because, at first, it feels like a gimmick, but when he steps into a photo, everything shifts. Everything changes, and so does he.
Eulogy features Paul Giamatti’s epic performance, along with an emotional storyline
“Eulogy"might easily be one of the most emotional episodes in the history ofBlack Mirror, and handles this complex concept with sensitivity. Moreover, the makers don’t rush into the narrative and allow viewers to feel the silence and backstory between memories. The moments inside the photos are not flashy or overly sentimental. They feel real because it tells you about a man meeting a woman for the first time and how that particular moment helped them become something more than just friends. The lighting, the stillness, and the familiarity of it all create an emotional atmosphere without trying too hard.The visuals are striking, and the contrast between the present and the world inside the photos has been handled masterfully. The real world has colder tones, while inside the pictures, everything looks warmer and more receptive. It’s a visual metaphor that never feels forced.
But the most powerful aspect of the episode is not just the sci-fi concept, but the emotional truth behind it. As the episode progresses, it becomes evident that the technology is not trying to harm Phillip; it just wants him to remember a certain part of his life and makes him wonder that he might have lost someone very important by not staying vigilant. The episode taps into that shared human longing without ever becoming preachy. It’s about memory, grief, love, and most of all, connection. The writing is the real star here, which is smart and deeply human. The AI guide, though calm and patient, sometimes feels intrusive and pushes Phillip to share a story he may not want to remember. It serves as an extraordinary metaphor for how people sometimes avoid emotional truths until something or someone forces them to confront those moments.
Giamatti does a phenomenal job of embodying Phillip’s character with precision and emotional depth. The Academy Award-nominated actor brings a quiet intensity to his portrayal, making Phillip’s internal conflict feel painfully real. His portrayal is nuanced and restrained, allowing the audience to feel the weight of what’s unspoken. There’s no doubt that Giamatti is one of the greatest actors of this generation, and his performance in this episode serves as further proof. He elevates the episode,turningEulogyinto a quiet, affecting meditationon memory, guilt, and the pain of forgetting. Meanwhile, Patsy Ferran as The Guide is equally brilliant.
All in all,“Eulogy"is the best episode of the season so far, and by far, the most introspective one. It beautifully explores the themes of people dealing with loss, memory, and regret in a world that is rapidly changing because of technological advancements. Additionally, it strikes a perfect balance with how humans can make mistakes and bear the burden of those mistakes for the rest of their lives because they never get any closure. With Giamatti’s impeccable performance and a hauntingly believable narrative, this episode goes down as one of the remarkable titles in theBlack Mirroruniverse.
