Plaything

I watched Common People after seeing lots of rankings claiming it was the best example of "Oldschool Black Mirror". The same rankings put "Playthings" episode last.

Common People was pretty thought provoking, but as an episode it was super dull. It's about as Black Mirror as Nosedive, which was where the problems really began. This show lost so much quality from that season.

Playthings, on the other hand, felt dark and edgy, the British way. Back when this show was good. When it made you feel existentially uncomfortable.

Please Charlie Brooker, stop catering to Americans and go back to making dark episodes like this please. The nation will forever thank you for it.

Peter Capaldi is consistently world class. This is another stellar performance to add to his already pretty heaving canon of work. Plus, a very memorable & scene-stealing cameo from the always captivating Will Poulter. For this alone, I'd say this one's worth a watch.

BUT...

It doesn't have an ending. Like, it just doesn't. I dunno if that's Brooker deliberately setting up another sequel episode a-la Callister, or just running out of steam/ideas (6 episodes is a pretty incredible return given the low standard and briefness of the last couple of seasons), but it was frustrating. Like a lot of entertainment right now.

Still delighted overall by the massive increase in quality in this season compared the the last - but overall, it's been very hit and miss.

Cameron Walker is arrested and explains his remarkable story to The Police.

This was old school Black Mirror, if you're a die hard fan of the early years, this one will definitely appeal to you.

Dark and macabre, as far away from the likes of Joan is awful and Mazey Day as you can imagine, bleak themes, violence, psychosis, this one

It's weird in every possible way, the opening, the storyline, Capaldi's appearance, bizarre isn't the word, but I'd suggest it's a good and effective episode. Bandersnatch vibes perhaps.

One thing that's clear, series seven is offering up some very different styles, not two episodes have been alike so far.

One thing is clear, Capaldi is a fabulous actor, he's capable of elevating a decent script into something more. Lewis Grabben, excellent also.

Weird, but effective.

7/10.

This masterfully built episode channels the essence of good old Black Mirror - an unsettling return , forming cerebral and existential discomfort in all the right ways. The cinematography is true raw old school and the soundtrack elevates every frame, pulling from the pioneers of lush deconstructed electronica and meta-noise. There's a precision in the way it all breathes. Gribben is unapologetically chilling and Capaldi's performance is transfixing - the man unravels on screen in the most subliminal magnetic way.

Plaything isn't just a sci-fi trope, it's a well calculated descent into an existential mirror.

And some mirrors don't reflect you, they absorb you...

Yes, acting was great. Idea was fantastic. Some excitement which kept me glued, but only because I was intrigued by the whole idea, which by the end was sort of left empty and wasted. Some episodes are 1.5 hours long when they should be 45 minutes and then this one is 45 minutes when it should be 1-1.5 hours.

Also, the overly angry cop was a bit annoying. It feels like every line he had, he said it with a clenched mouth as if he was going to murder someone. Just relax for 2 seconds buddy. I don't know if that was done on purpose but I believe the director really made a mistake here with this actor.