Black Mirror’s Most Devastating Episode Ever: Eulogy Leaves Viewers Shattered
The seventh season of Charlie Brooker’s dystopian anthology series, Black Mirror, has arrived on Netflix, and with it, a new episode that has left viewers emotionally drained. According to a report from the BBC, episode five, Eulogy, has been hailed as the most heartbreaking episode of the season, with many viewers taking to social media to express their emotional reactions.
Since its debut in 2011, Black Mirror has presented 34 stories about the dark side of technology, exploring how computer systems and digital gadgets might distort, warp, and even end life for humans. While some episodes have been shocking and twist-filled, others have captured the multi-layered nuances of human existence. Eulogy, co-written by Brooker and Ella Road, is one such episode that has resonated with viewers on a deeper level.
The episode features a captivating performance from Paul Giamatti as Phillip, an older man who is asked if he’ll use a digital chip to access his memories to create a eulogy for the funeral of Carol Royce, a girlfriend who broke his heart in his 20s. The technology set-up is just one impressive strand of this episode, as the special effects featured allow Phillip to "jump" into old photos, exploring the recreated scene around him. However, it’s the world-building outside of these merged live-action and CGI scenes that is truly affecting.
As reported by the BBC, viewers have been "shattered" by Eulogy, with many taking to social media to express their emotional reactions. "Eulogy broke me in a very particular way I wasn’t expecting," one viewer wrote on X, while another said it was "an utterly heartbreaking yet fantastic piece of television… just beautifully painful". The critics agree, with Stylist’s Kayleigh Dray saying, "Eulogy shattered me, and I can’t stop thinking about it," and Ben Rosenstock from Vulture adding that it was the "most heartbreaking episode of the season".
Brooker revealed that the loss of his own father had made the subject even more poignant for him. In an interview with Vulture, he explained that Eulogy is meant to be a companion piece to Be Right Back and The Entire History of You, and examines the blinding, subjective nature of hindsight. "We were talking about memory and photography, and how an individual’s take on memory might deceive them in terms of who they feel is the villain in their life," he said.
The episode’s focus on nostalgia and regret has resonated with viewers, with many praising Giamatti’s powerful performance. As reported by the BBC, Jake Kleinman from Huffington Post said, "It might even be the best Black Mirror episode in years." Even the most cynical of Black Mirror fans would have to agree that this might be the most heartfelt episode yet.
In conclusion, Eulogy is a standout episode in the seventh season of Black Mirror, and its emotional impact has left viewers shattered. As the BBC reports, it’s an episode that will stay with viewers long after the credits roll, and its exploration of memory, nostalgia, and regret is a testament to the series’ ability to capture the complexities of human existence.
Black Mirror season seven is available on Netflix.
