The British drama series ”Black Mirror“, which rose to fame for its unsettling atmosphere and dystopian script, returned for its seventh season on April 10, 2025. It received a critic’s rating of 83 and a general audience rating of 80 on Rotten Tomatoes. Similar to previous seasons, the seventh season presents six independent stories exploring themes such as artificial intelligence, identity, and the wealth gap, reflecting people’s growing anxieties in a more realistic way. But for me, the most memorable episode of this season was ‘Eulogy’. As a rare example of a heartwarming theme in the series, I think this episode was the highlight.
The episode “Elegy” primarily tells the story of Phillip, who uses high-tech gadgets to recall his past with his ex-girlfriend and resolves a long-standing misunderstanding. Unlike other episodes, this one avoids creating a disturbing atmosphere and a fast-paced plot, instead emphasizing the core of the story and unfolding it at a gentle, soothing pace. The episode revolves around the themes of misunderstanding and regret, creating a more restrained and contemplative atmosphere through the protagonist’s reflections and personal memories. This approach allows viewers to focus more on the characters and the story itself, rather than on visual spectacle.
I believe the strength of this episode of Eulogy lies in its gently unfolding narrative and the actors’ immersive performances. Film critic Evangelista stated that Paul Giamatti’s performance alone is outstanding and captivating. This episode firmly focuses on the characters, using their perspectives and fragmented memories to advance the plot, making the story more personal and allowing the audience to empathize with the characters. This makes the episode easier to follow and gives it a more natural flow. Even though the pacing is slow, it enhances the characters’ personalities and the narrative’s direction. Returning to the character portrayal itself, I personally believe that the actor’s performance of Phillip was brilliant. He truly brought out the selfishness inherent in the character and the tenderness he dared not admit. Film critic Linda highly praised this episode, calling it one of the best among the few heartwarming and touching episodes of Black Mirror.
Despite this, Eulogy’s focused narrative style also makes the work somewhat limited. The story is relatively simple, an art film with technological elements. Because it revolves around only one main character, the plot progresses somewhat slowly. Film critic Harrison stated that this episode’s perspective is relatively narrow; we hardly see the potentially more distorted world beyond the narrative. For viewers who enjoy art films, the plot may be a bit monotonous, while Black Mirror fans might prefer a more visually impactful and critical series. Compared to other Black Mirror episodes, Eulogy creates a calmer atmosphere, but this also means it lacks the tension and suspense unique to the series.
I think the charm of this episode of Eulogy lies in the fact that even though you know it’s a sentimental, artistic piece, you still want to keep watching. The plot doesn’t have many major twists; most of the episode revolves around quiet moments and thought-provoking themes. Film critic McRobert called it undoubtedly the quietest episode of season seven, while also most sincerely presenting the fragility and complexity of human nature. Here, technology isn’t entirely negative. In other episodes of the Black Mirror series, technology is more of a warning, whether it’s artificial intelligence or the surveillance crisis, which have all become reality instead of just predictions. However, in this episode, technology helps Phillip clear up misunderstandings and regain his memories. So I think that’s what truly captivated me about this episode.
Overall, ”Elegy“ focuses more on the story itself and character development. Through the protagonist’s experiences, it confronts his painful memories and resolves misunderstandings. Directors Chris Barrett and Luke Taylor deliver nuanced and detailed character portrayals. While the show lacks visual spectacle and may not appeal to viewers who prefer a faster pace or more dramatic narrative, it offers a more artistic viewing experience. Its gentle story provokes deep thought. Although online opinions on the content and character development are mixed—some arguing that the plot isn’t moving because the protagonist’s personality is too realistic and selfish—I believe the series aims to explore a key theme: regret. I consider it a good work.If I were to rate it, I would give it a 7.5 out of 10.
Shoujie Wang 
Yinan Zhou 
SUN Yinchen