Film Review: Black Mirror Series Six, Redux
28th
September 2025, 01:29
It's time to resume this review of Black Mirror Series Six. And while I've been largely complimentary of this installment so far, things are about to get significantly less positive.
The fourth episode is Mazey Day, and really, it's just the name of one of the characters. Given the lack of creativity shown thus far with regard to episode titles, I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, much less disappointed.
Clara Rugaard as Mazey Day, an actress who later on becomes a werewolf. The portrayal was kind of bland, to be honest. Just not very compelling, though perhaps the blame can be laid at the feet of whoever wrote the script.
Danny Ramirez as Hector. Not really sure what the character's function was here. Just another warm body for the werewolf to savage?
Robbie Tann as Whitty, a sociopathic jerk who likes to run his mouth. Some of the stuff he says is cold and unnecessarily cruel but contains some uncomfortable truths.
James P. Rees as Duke, a sleazy shutterbug who tries to take upskirt pics of Sydney Alberti. Rees plays him as a mouthy dirtbag, and no tears are shed when the character eventually gets eaten.
Jack Bandeira has a dual-purpose character, Terry the talkative bartender. He's chatty (and blond, and blue-eyed, astonishingly good-looking, really) and provided Bo with a lot of plot-pertinent information. Later on, he also functions as a casualty in the diner, accidentally shot dead by the lawman, no less.
Kenneth Collard as Dr Dmitri Babich, a celeb doctor who's into alternative medicine. Didn't do much with a largely expository role.
Corey Johnson as Clay the police officer who is, quite amusingly, really into eating chicken. I do like it when characters ramble on about stuff that doesn't necessarily tie in to the plot. It feels relatable, somehow.
David Rysdahl is Bo's housemate Nathan. He's played as passive-aggressive and annoys the hell out of me. Which I suppose is pretty effective acting because it's a major plot point that Bo wants to pay Nathan her late share of the rent.
Charles Hagerty plays Justin Camley in an extremely short appearance, as a TV actor who gets caught having a tryst with a gay partner. He appeared all of a few seconds, but I thought the actor was worth mentioning because he made the character's desperation and frustration really shine through.
Patrick Toomey is Nick, the one who pays these shutterbugs to take incriminating photographs for his scandal reporting. Toomey plays this limited role with the appropriate amount of smarminess.
Lucía Pemán also makes a short appearance as actress Sydney Alberti, who has a sex tape leaked. The purpose of this character is pretty much just to have Whitty and Duke show off what douchebags they are.
Later on, it's a drawn-out tragedy when Bo gives Mazey a gun to kill herself with.
Whitty and Duke finding out about Cedarwood Spa Retreat by placing a tracker on Hector's bike. This is so character-appropriate!
The unnamed actor who players the security detail that slashes Bo's tyres is so suitably menacing and nonchalant at the same time. I heartily approve.
The episode ends with Bo taking a photograph after giving Mazey the means to off herself. It's what got her into this mess in the first place, and this is darkly poetic.
Bo finds out where Mazey is staying by accidentally running into a food delivery worker who just happened to deliver to that address. Seems a bit convenient, no? And Bo didn't even have to pay for the information, that's the best part.
It doesn't make sense that Bo wouldn't just take the 500 that Justin offered, for her photos. It's not the first time she's working for that cheap bastard Nick, so she has to know he's going to low-ball her.
Speaking of things that don't make sense, how does Cedarwood have this big-ass fence that can be defeated by digging under the fence, just like that? The soil is even conveniently loose!
This was not a tech episode, though a case could be made for it being centered around media. Still, this detracts from Black Mirror being less science fiction and more supernatural horror. I can't say I approve, really. Black Mirror has been around long enough to have its own identity. It's not like Black Mirror is in the stages of infancy, still trying to figure out what it is.
This next episode, Demon 79, leans into the whole supernatural path that Black Mirror seems to be veering into, and then gleefully goes full speed ahead.
Paapa Essiedu is Gaap. He's quirky and goofy, and so much fun on screen. Even more fun is his off-handed attitude towards murder, morality and all that jazz. Endearingly awkward demeanor aside, there are moments of vulnerability where Gaap confesses his insecurities to Niqa, and they bond.
Nicholas Burns as Keith Holligan. We first see Holligan as a balding loser who also happens to be a psychopathic murderer, but as the episode goes on, it's apparent that he's a tragically lonely man who also happens to be deeply disturbed. Burns made me feel -sorry- for this guy, dammit. Right up to the point he got his skull smashed in!
Shaun Dooley as Len Fisher, the police detective who investigates the murders. Comes off as jaded, cynical and couldn't be arsed. But when presented with a proper mystery, he's all kinds of shrewd and professional. Dooley let the human side show during that confrontation with Niqa, when Niqa asks him if he's a good man, and he says "I hope so, love".
Nick Shields as politician Michael Smart. He's played as charming and intelligent, and a good orator, with the catchphrase "So don't just pray for a good future, vote for one!" That scene where he just about snake-charms Vicky into voting for him, was fantastic. I could have done with more of him in this episode, he was brilliant as an antagonist. Totally brought that dangerous energy to his game.
Katherine Rose Morley is Vicky the salesgirl. Morley plays her with acid-tongued bitchiness and absolutely no redeeming qualities, so it's easy to root for Niqa to make her the next victim.
Emily Fairn as Suzie, Fisher's assistant. Mostly got distracted by her nose, I'm sorry to say.
Nick Holder as Posset's manager, Mr Duncan. Wow, what an ass. Holder plays him as a doofus who skirts around being overtly racist but ultimately lets his true colors slip through in the presence of Michael Smart. That was great, because it kept me guessing who was going to be the next sacrifice, and hoping it might be him.
Joshua James as Chris Holligan. He probably wasn't meant to be a comedic character, but that awkward fight scene with Niqa was hysterical.
Joe Evans as Tim Simons, a creep who molests his young daughter. There's nothing overtly detestable or likeable about the guy, otherwise. The character doesn't spend much time on screen, so it's up to Gaap to tell us his sins.
Hayley Considine as Jean Simons. She's played as an oblivous wife and mother.
Lillie Mae Law as Laura Simons. She's quiet and sullen, and looks like a seriously disturbed child, possibly from being molested repeatedly by dear old dad.
Steve Garti as Bob the bartender. While the character isn't exactly played like an out-an-out racist, he's more like the dismissive "they all look the same to me" guy. Kind of like me, if I'm being honest.
Vickie Binnis plays Julie the barmaid, but this seems like a thankless role if all she really does is provide some exposition.
All in all, it has a very low-budget horror movie vibe, along with jarring sound effects, which I totally enjoyed.
Reappearance of the symbol from White Bear and Bandersnatch. I just about screamed when Nida found this talisman. This is rapidly turning out to be another Black Mirror staple.
Niqa's flights of fancy where she imagines herself violently killing annoying co-workers and customers, were tremendous fun to watch.
The subplot of National Front and Niqa being a potential target, really added to the narrative tension.
The entire subplot of Keith Hooligan's death, from his ham-fisted attempts to seduce Niqa, to his resigned acceptance of his fate, was just so yikes. Loved it!
We get to see one of those metal dogs again! Though this time it's in the form of a flash-forward and it's so brief, you blink and you miss it.
The car chase which ended in Niqa taking the hammer to Smart and ultimately getting caught by Fisher, was a thrilling plot point for me. This was so well done, on multiple levels. The music, the night lighting, the acting... good shit.
I loved the ending, where Niqa and Gaap actually choose to hang out with each other for eternity. It's so sweet, honestly.
And even that final conflagration. It's a downer ending sure, but done so gracefully.
Generally, the writing, and the dialogue. It feels like a lot of love and care was put into characterization.
Are we supposed to believe only a few minutes passed between braining Keith Hollligan and then that entire fight sequence between Niqa and Chris?
Tags
See also
The fourth episode is Mazey Day, and really, it's just the name of one of the characters. Given the lack of creativity shown thus far with regard to episode titles, I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, much less disappointed.
The Premise
The story is set in Los Angeles, USA, and centers around a freelance photographer. She and some others violate the privacy of a celebrity, Mazey Day, only to find a nasty surprise waiting for them.The Characters
Zazie Beetz is her bubbly engaging self as Bo, a photographer who has an attack of conscience. I've always found her immensely watchable in films like Deadpool 2, Joker and Bullet Train. This time, she gets to show off some acting chops by portraying Bo as someone who's desperate for work, but not willing to compromise her ethics all the way. She's also probably the most obvious shutterbug around, having been caught twice in this episode while trying to be sneaky. I found myself wondering how this character survives this profession!Clara Rugaard as Mazey Day, an actress who later on becomes a werewolf. The portrayal was kind of bland, to be honest. Just not very compelling, though perhaps the blame can be laid at the feet of whoever wrote the script.
Danny Ramirez as Hector. Not really sure what the character's function was here. Just another warm body for the werewolf to savage?
Robbie Tann as Whitty, a sociopathic jerk who likes to run his mouth. Some of the stuff he says is cold and unnecessarily cruel but contains some uncomfortable truths.
James P. Rees as Duke, a sleazy shutterbug who tries to take upskirt pics of Sydney Alberti. Rees plays him as a mouthy dirtbag, and no tears are shed when the character eventually gets eaten.
Jack Bandeira has a dual-purpose character, Terry the talkative bartender. He's chatty (and blond, and blue-eyed, astonishingly good-looking, really) and provided Bo with a lot of plot-pertinent information. Later on, he also functions as a casualty in the diner, accidentally shot dead by the lawman, no less.
Kenneth Collard as Dr Dmitri Babich, a celeb doctor who's into alternative medicine. Didn't do much with a largely expository role.
Corey Johnson as Clay the police officer who is, quite amusingly, really into eating chicken. I do like it when characters ramble on about stuff that doesn't necessarily tie in to the plot. It feels relatable, somehow.
David Rysdahl is Bo's housemate Nathan. He's played as passive-aggressive and annoys the hell out of me. Which I suppose is pretty effective acting because it's a major plot point that Bo wants to pay Nathan her late share of the rent.
Charles Hagerty plays Justin Camley in an extremely short appearance, as a TV actor who gets caught having a tryst with a gay partner. He appeared all of a few seconds, but I thought the actor was worth mentioning because he made the character's desperation and frustration really shine through.
Patrick Toomey is Nick, the one who pays these shutterbugs to take incriminating photographs for his scandal reporting. Toomey plays this limited role with the appropriate amount of smarminess.
Lucía Pemán also makes a short appearance as actress Sydney Alberti, who has a sex tape leaked. The purpose of this character is pretty much just to have Whitty and Duke show off what douchebags they are.
The Mood
It's a dusty atmosphere in the sunlight, but soon switches to a dim, dark color palette as the story begins taking place in the night. And soon enough, it turns into a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse with a ravaging beast. Basic monster movie fare, really.Later on, it's a drawn-out tragedy when Bo gives Mazey a gun to kill herself with.
What I liked
I groaned and cheered in equal measure when Whitty met his grisly end after refusing to escape while he could, and continue to take pictures of a still-transforming Mazey. The trope of passion for his craft outweighing common sense was strong here, but also because the character was such a jerk, watching him get wrecked was cathartic.Whitty and Duke finding out about Cedarwood Spa Retreat by placing a tracker on Hector's bike. This is so character-appropriate!
The unnamed actor who players the security detail that slashes Bo's tyres is so suitably menacing and nonchalant at the same time. I heartily approve.
The episode ends with Bo taking a photograph after giving Mazey the means to off herself. It's what got her into this mess in the first place, and this is darkly poetic.
What I didn't
The showrunners might not have meant to draw attention to this tattoo under Bo's navel, but draw attention they did and now I want to know why. It's never addressed. I'm a Chinese man and I know the character for "snake" when I see it. Question is, what significance does this have? Or was this to tell us that Bo, like too many non-Chinese educated people, have an unfortunate habit of inking words on their skin in languages they can't even read?Bo finds out where Mazey is staying by accidentally running into a food delivery worker who just happened to deliver to that address. Seems a bit convenient, no? And Bo didn't even have to pay for the information, that's the best part.
It doesn't make sense that Bo wouldn't just take the 500 that Justin offered, for her photos. It's not the first time she's working for that cheap bastard Nick, so she has to know he's going to low-ball her.
Speaking of things that don't make sense, how does Cedarwood have this big-ass fence that can be defeated by digging under the fence, just like that? The soil is even conveniently loose!
This was not a tech episode, though a case could be made for it being centered around media. Still, this detracts from Black Mirror being less science fiction and more supernatural horror. I can't say I approve, really. Black Mirror has been around long enough to have its own identity. It's not like Black Mirror is in the stages of infancy, still trying to figure out what it is.
Conclusion
This episode had decent scares, a decent plot and an OK ending. It, however, doesn't really seem to qualify as a Black Mirror episode due to the supernatural elements involved.My Rating
6 / 10This next episode, Demon 79, leans into the whole supernatural path that Black Mirror seems to be veering into, and then gleefully goes full speed ahead.
The Premise
Shop assistant Niqa discovers a bone talisman and enters a pact with a demon, Gaap, in which she has to deliver three human sacrifices. Failure to do so will bring about the end of the world. It's pretty simple, and really revolves around her attacks of conscience.The Characters
Anjana Vasan takes on the role of Niqa Huq, and really makes a meal of it here. Niqa has a dreary soul-wearing job and Vasan really makes you feel it. When she gets driven to murder later on, I could totally believe it.Paapa Essiedu is Gaap. He's quirky and goofy, and so much fun on screen. Even more fun is his off-handed attitude towards murder, morality and all that jazz. Endearingly awkward demeanor aside, there are moments of vulnerability where Gaap confesses his insecurities to Niqa, and they bond.
Nicholas Burns as Keith Holligan. We first see Holligan as a balding loser who also happens to be a psychopathic murderer, but as the episode goes on, it's apparent that he's a tragically lonely man who also happens to be deeply disturbed. Burns made me feel -sorry- for this guy, dammit. Right up to the point he got his skull smashed in!
Shaun Dooley as Len Fisher, the police detective who investigates the murders. Comes off as jaded, cynical and couldn't be arsed. But when presented with a proper mystery, he's all kinds of shrewd and professional. Dooley let the human side show during that confrontation with Niqa, when Niqa asks him if he's a good man, and he says "I hope so, love".
Nick Shields as politician Michael Smart. He's played as charming and intelligent, and a good orator, with the catchphrase "So don't just pray for a good future, vote for one!" That scene where he just about snake-charms Vicky into voting for him, was fantastic. I could have done with more of him in this episode, he was brilliant as an antagonist. Totally brought that dangerous energy to his game.
Katherine Rose Morley is Vicky the salesgirl. Morley plays her with acid-tongued bitchiness and absolutely no redeeming qualities, so it's easy to root for Niqa to make her the next victim.
Emily Fairn as Suzie, Fisher's assistant. Mostly got distracted by her nose, I'm sorry to say.
Nick Holder as Posset's manager, Mr Duncan. Wow, what an ass. Holder plays him as a doofus who skirts around being overtly racist but ultimately lets his true colors slip through in the presence of Michael Smart. That was great, because it kept me guessing who was going to be the next sacrifice, and hoping it might be him.
Joshua James as Chris Holligan. He probably wasn't meant to be a comedic character, but that awkward fight scene with Niqa was hysterical.
Joe Evans as Tim Simons, a creep who molests his young daughter. There's nothing overtly detestable or likeable about the guy, otherwise. The character doesn't spend much time on screen, so it's up to Gaap to tell us his sins.
Hayley Considine as Jean Simons. She's played as an oblivous wife and mother.
Lillie Mae Law as Laura Simons. She's quiet and sullen, and looks like a seriously disturbed child, possibly from being molested repeatedly by dear old dad.
Steve Garti as Bob the bartender. While the character isn't exactly played like an out-an-out racist, he's more like the dismissive "they all look the same to me" guy. Kind of like me, if I'm being honest.
Vickie Binnis plays Julie the barmaid, but this seems like a thankless role if all she really does is provide some exposition.
The Mood
The atmosphere is dreary, a cacophany of dirty rooms, dusty streets and hazy skies. We're made to sit through the drudgery of Niqa's life, and things don't improve much after meeting Gaap.All in all, it has a very low-budget horror movie vibe, along with jarring sound effects, which I totally enjoyed.
What I liked
Vibe between Niqa and Gaap. It's heartwarming, that's what it is. Niqa has multiple breakdowns, and Gaap is supportive in his ham-fisted way.Reappearance of the symbol from White Bear and Bandersnatch. I just about screamed when Nida found this talisman. This is rapidly turning out to be another Black Mirror staple.
Niqa's flights of fancy where she imagines herself violently killing annoying co-workers and customers, were tremendous fun to watch.
The subplot of National Front and Niqa being a potential target, really added to the narrative tension.
The entire subplot of Keith Hooligan's death, from his ham-fisted attempts to seduce Niqa, to his resigned acceptance of his fate, was just so yikes. Loved it!
We get to see one of those metal dogs again! Though this time it's in the form of a flash-forward and it's so brief, you blink and you miss it.
The car chase which ended in Niqa taking the hammer to Smart and ultimately getting caught by Fisher, was a thrilling plot point for me. This was so well done, on multiple levels. The music, the night lighting, the acting... good shit.
I loved the ending, where Niqa and Gaap actually choose to hang out with each other for eternity. It's so sweet, honestly.
And even that final conflagration. It's a downer ending sure, but done so gracefully.
Generally, the writing, and the dialogue. It feels like a lot of love and care was put into characterization.
What I didn't
This episode was all about the supernatural. If I'm tuning in to Black Mirror, I wanna see a Black Mirror episode, dammit. That means computers, phones and shit.Are we supposed to believe only a few minutes passed between braining Keith Hollligan and then that entire fight sequence between Niqa and Chris?
Conclusion
Demon 79 had so much going for it - engaging characters, nice story, rich visuals. Unfortunately, it just didn't fit into the Black Mirror universe. Where's the tech angle? Where's the media angle? Nada. Zilch. Not that I didn't enjoy it, mind you. Just based on its own merits, Demon 79 was intensely watchable.My Rating
8 / 10Final Thoughts on Black Mirror Series Six
Series Six is a big fat disappointment, and that's me being charitable. Too many episodes don't fit the mold of a Black Mirror offering, and that hurts the entire series as a whole. Which really is a pity considering standouts in this series such as Joan Is Awful and Beyond the Sea. It feels like the showrunners are just going through the motions at this point, and running out of ideas for the Black Mirror concept. Demon 79, for example, seems like a nice piece of work but with very little to mark it as a Black Mirror episode.Look in the mirror, Series Six!
