While the majority of Black Mirror episodes lead to a disastrous end, there are a handful of stories within the series that offer a glimmer of hope with their happy endings. Black Mirror is an anthology series, presenting narratives that explore the intricate relationships between humans and technology, typically emphasizing the dark implications this technology can have on the human experience.
Creator Charlie Brooker has said that the show does not portray technology as inherently evil, but rather highlights the increased potential for negative consequences when humans gain access to more advanced forms of technology. While the somber endings of these stories effectively convey the dangers of misusing this advanced technology, they can often weigh heavily on the viewer's heart. However, there are a few episodes of Black Mirror that manage to conclude on a more positive note, illustrating that even within this bleak series, there is still room for optimism and hope.
7 USS Callister
The Black Mirror episode "USS Callister" pays homage to Star Trek, and utilizes the concept of transfer of conciseness. The story revolves around Robert Daly, the CTO of Callister Inc., who co-created a multiplayer space adventure game. Using his game, Daly s the DNA of his coworkers, allowing him to control and subject them to various forms of torment. The episode sheds light on toxic masculinity, portraying Daly's mistreatment of his coworkers and the workplace harassment that Nanette endures.
Nanette begins working at Daly's company and finds herself ed into the simulation. She teams up with her fellow crew mates to outsmart Daly, and their efforts result in rendering him physically trapped within the game, leaving him motionless in the real world. This episode takes a more optimistic turn than most Black Mirror stories, as the crew successfully escape Daly's torturous playground. Nanette, who experiences workplace harassment, finds redemption as the commander of the starship. The crew regains agency over themselves, and can now explore an infinite universe.
6 Black Museum
Black Mirror's "Black Museum" unfolds through a series of interconnected stories centered around transferred consciousness, ultimately converging into a satisfying conclusion. Nish pays a visit to a remote Black Museum, where the property owner, Rolo Haynes, explains the backstories of the Black Museum artifacts. Rolo, known for recruiting individuals to test experimental technologies, showcases his main attraction, which is a holographic version of Clayton Leigh, perpetually subjected to electric chair executions, with the ability to capture his agonizing image on a keychain.
The twist in the episode is that Nish is Clayton's daughter. She states that there was conflicting evidence in the trial, and seeks vengeance against Rolo. The episode concludes on a positive note as Nish liberates her father from torment and punishes Rolo for the experiments he used people for. The episode's underlying message revolves around the cruelty of the prison system and the importance to fight for justice, leaving this story to end on an uplifting note as the museum burns down in the distance.
5 Crocodile
The Black Mirror episode "Crocodile" tells the story of Mia, whose life takes a dark turn after a night of partying with her then-boyfriend, Rob. While driving home intoxicated, they hit a cyclist killing him instantly. Faced with the choice of reporting the incident to the police, Rob convinces Mia that it would be best for both of them to dispose of the body. Years later, Mia is married and has a child when she unexpectedly encounters Rob, who expresses his intention to turn himself in. Fearful of losing the life she has built, Mia tries to sway him but ultimately causes his death.
Mia's actions trigger a series of events where she resorts to killing anyone who could potentially expose her dark secret. However, an unexpected twist occurs when the police are able to extract memories from a pet guinea pig, who was present at the murders. As a result, law enforcement arrives at Mia's child's recital, leading to her arrest. While the ending may not be traditionally "happy" for Mia or the victims of her crimes, Mia having to face the consequences of her actions is a happy ending by Black Mirror standards.
4 Nosedive
"Nosedive" takes place in a society where everyone shares their activities and rates their interactions with one another, ultimately affecting everyone's socioeconomic status. Lacie is a 4.2 looking to move to a 4.5 to move to the apartment she wants, so she sets out to seek the approval of highly rated people on a trip to a childhood friend's wedding. However, Lacie encounters numerous obstacles along the way, leading to a drastic decline in her rating to 1.4.
She sneaks into the wedding and gets arrested. Ironically, her confinement becomes a sanctuary, where she and the man in the cell across from her are free to speak without worrying about being rated, as they happily hurl insults at each other. This episode serves as a critique of the societal pressure to present an idealized image in order to gain validation from others. It is a freeing and uplifting ending to this Black Mirror episode, as it allows Lacie to finally live her life on her own without the worry of public approval.
3 Joan is Awful
"Joan is Awful" from Black Mirror season 6 follows tech executive Joan Tait throughout her day. She fires an employee, meets her ex for dinner, and then when she goes home to her fiancé they find a show called "Joan is Awful". The show creates a distorted and dramatized retelling of her day, causing her relationships to strain. Joan teams up with Salma Hayek, whose image is being used to portray Joan in the program, to destroy the server that is stealing the narrative from her life.
When she does this the narrative reverts back to reality where the real Joan and the actress portraying her, Annie Murphy, are placed on house arrest. At the end of "Joan is Awful," Joan expresses a newfound sense of empowerment and control over her life. She mentions dating again and fulfilling her long-held aspiration of opening a coffee shop. She experiences a positive transformation, finally feeling like the main character in her own life, leaving viewers with a hopeful note at the conclusion of this episode.
2 Hang The DJ
In the Black Mirror episode "Hang the DJ" Frank and Amy use a device called "Coach" to find their perfect match. Coach pairs them with different partners for fixed durations of time when they ultimately receive their life partner on "pairing day." However, despite the matches they both experience, they feel no genuine connection except with each other.
In the end, the pair decides to defy the system and escape the simulated world together. As they enter the real world, they see each other for the first time, and the application says that they are a 99.8% match. Their connection is not forced or predetermined by an algorithm, but instead, they effortlessly fall in love, highlighting the triumph of genuine human connection in this world of new technology.
1 San Junipero
"San Junipero" is a highly acclaimed episode from the Black Mirror anthology series. It tells of a woman named Yorkie who meets the party girl Kelly in a nightclub, as the viewers watch the women fall for each other in different time periods. Kelly expresses to Yorkie that she is dying, where it is revealed that they are in a simulated reality where the deceased can live, and the elderly can visit. Kelly helps paralyzed Yorkie transition to San Junipero where she can live freely as herself.
Yorkie asks Kelly to stay with her, to which she objects as her husband and daughter were not able to be ed. However, in the end, Kelly decides she wants to remain in San Junipero permanently and reunites with Yorkie. This episode is praised for its endearing characters who finally can fully be themselves, and its profoundly touching ending, making it one of the happiest and most beloved installments in the history of Black Mirror.