The highly anticipated sixth season of Black Mirror recently premiered on Netflix, treating viewers to five more episodes of this popular sci-fi anthology series. Black Mirror skillfully delves into the consequences of new technologies that humans increasingly interact with, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats as they contemplate the potential realities depicted on the screen.
This thought-provoking show utilizes science fiction in clever ways to explore themes like individualism, human connection, data privacy, and virtual reality. With creator Charlie Brooker meticulously crafting each season, audiences often endure a considerable wait for the next thrilling installment. So, here are 10 underrated shows that every Black Mirror fan should watch while waiting for the next season.
10 Orphan Black (2013-2017)
Orphan Black follows a woman named Sarah, who after witnessing a person who looks just like her commit suicide, decides to take over her life. This show is full of twists, but at its heart focuses on the relationships between the clones themselves. Tatiana Maslany shines as she takes on numerous different characters all involving their own unique personalities and even accents to the point that viewers forget that it is only one actor playing all the various roles. This is a must-watch for sci-fi for all Black Mirror fans, but particularly those who loved the season 2 episode "Be Right Back," which also focused on cloning.
9 Alice In Borderland (2020-)
Alice in Borderland tells the story of an avid gamer, Arisu, who finds himself in a dystopian version of Tokyo where he and his friends must compete in various types of games to survive. This show delivers compelling games that viewers try to work out with the players and delves deep into the relationships between the various people stuck in Borderland. Arisu uses his knowledge of video games to masterfully figure out how to survive each of the trials put in front of him, which is reminiscent of Black Mirror's videogame thriller "Playtest" and its reality competition episode "Fifteen Million Merits."
8 The OA (2016-2019)
The OA tells the story of Prairie Johnson, who returns home after being missing for seven years and can now see, despite being blind when she went missing. It is a deeply layered mystery about a young woman who is coping with the traumatic events in her past. Prairie finds herself captured, alongside others, who had gone through near-death experiences, as a way to test their ability to transcend dimensions. The OA took risks with storytelling and found interesting ways to dive into themes of grief, death, love, comion, and friendship, which echoes the unique narratives in Black Mirror.
7 Torchwood (2006-2011)
Torchwood is a spin-off of the show Doctor Who, following a team of alien hunters. The show contains a strong ensemble cast led by Captain Jack Harkness, who charms every member of the audience. While episodes hit or miss, season 3 of Torchwood, titled "Children of the Earth", is some of the most compelling sci-fi television ever made. It is dark and gritty, as the characters are forced into extreme circumstances that they have to solve. This is a must-watch season for sci-fi and Black Mirror lovers.
6 Maniac (2018)
Maniac is a Netflix limited series where its characters, through desperation to help their mental illnesses, a science experiment that sends them into new worlds and situations. Jonah Hill and Emma Stone deliver stellar performances that draw audiences into its narrative. It deals with themes about what it truly means to be happy, as it takes them to dreamlike worlds. This storytelling element of escaping reality to find enjoyment in new experiences has the essence of Black Mirror's "San Junipero."
5 Solos (2021)
Solos is an anthology miniseries where one character is isolated as they work with a particular technology. Each episode focuses on an innovation that failed to make the happy, as the series showcases how the human experience is all connected. Solos contains an all-star cast, such as Anne Hathaway, Morgan Freeman, and Helen Mirren whose acting performances shine as each episode is a monologue set in one space, focusing purely on the actor in the situation they are in. This is a must-watch anthology series for any lover of Black Mirror.
4 Russian Doll (2019-)
Russian Doll follows Nadia, a game developer, who finds herself trapped in a mysterious loop, where she is forced to live the same day after she dies at her birthday party. It is a dark comedy that focuses on self-discovery and confronting one's past trauma. This show is reminiscent of Black Mirror's interactive film "Bandersnatch," where viewers control the time loop through a choose-your-own-adventure story, and like what happens to Nadia in Russian Doll season 1, any mistake made sends the character to the start of their journey again.
3 Love, Death + Robots (2019-)
Love, Death + Robots is an anthology series of various animated stories that explore unique tales with sci-fi elements. Each short film is intricately crafted with the story and animation style being completely unique. There are stories of alternate histories, robots exploring a post-apocalyptic world, and even an intelligent bowl of yogurt. Love Death + Robots focuses on relationships between people and technology, which is similar to Black Mirror, and by being an anthology of short films it is easy to watch without a big time commitment.
2 Humans (2015-2018)
The show Humans is set in a parallel universe where technology is highly advanced and lifelike humaniods are must-have machines for any household. This series shows how the human population utilizes these humaniods to do the work they no longer want to do, as they are considered lower class. Presenting these humaniods in everyday homes leads viewers to have an unsettling feeling about this technology being present in their future. Like Black Mirror, Humans explores the implications of new technology in our everyday lives, and how it affects the human experience.
1 3% (2016-2020)
3% is set in the distant future where the majority of the population lives in poverty, however; there is an elite group that is chosen to live in a virtual paradise. Every year each 20-year-old has the opportunity to gain access to this paradise by taking a series of tests until the last 3% are left. The acting is brilliant and there are plenty of twists to keep viewers engaged as the characters navigate the different tests to make it to the utopia. This series is perfect for any Black Mirror fan, as viewers watch the characters fight to reach this paradise, but as they get closer to the prize, they begin to discover how corrupt it truly is.