The Darker Mirror

Black Mirror – the aptly named mirror to our conscience as we stumble along the path of an increasingly uncertain digital future – is in Season 7 – and this season does not disappoint. While Eulogy and The Reverie both have romantic resurrection overtones, with Reverie being particularly a standout on account of meshing what we would colloquially call deepfake with deep emotional quotient, Bete Noire lifts workplace rivalry to a whole new multidimensional level. Common People I found merely depressing – yet another story of the consequences of unaffordability. Plaything is about empathy – perhaps a bit too much of – with digital creatures, and the USS Callister sequel lifts gameplay to a mindbending, creative-destructive saga. A far better season than the somewhat forgettable Season 6. I love how the series evolves with contemporary scientific progress and keeps our deepest fears, well, contemporary

17.5/20

Whose side are you on

George (Michael Fassbender) and Kathryn (Cate Blanchett) are a loving couple.. or are they.. a top secret program called Severus has a leak.. and George needs to investigate five suspects from his very own colleagues including his wife. With great screenplay and intrigue reminiscent of John Le Carre (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and a tense buildup to a meaningfully unpredictable ending, Black Bag is one of the better movies in a wan 2025. Directed by Steven Soderbergh (Sex Lies and Videotape, Contagion, Presence, Oceans 11 series, Erin Brokovitch and many more..)

16/20