Netflix has one of the eeriest shows on television with Black Mirror. The anthology series consists of episodes that delve into all kinds of twisted ways that technology can backfire on those who use it. No two episodes are ever the same, and it's difficult to predict just what we're going to get from a new batch of episodes. Now, creator Charlie Brooker has answered the big question of whether all these anthology episodes are actually more connected than we thought, saying this:
My answer to that has changed, actually. It always used to be that it's just a bit of fun. But then sometimes we've done some things where we did explicitly refer to other episodes. I think the rule is that when a character says something that explicitly refers to something else, it's canonical. Also, they follow the same dream universe. That's the other thing that I tend to say. There's a line in 'Hated in the Nation' where someone refers to a crime that happened in 'White Bear.'
Black Mirror includes Easter eggs in many of its episodes that give fans an excuse to re-watch time and time again to try and get everything out of the stories. There have been nods in some episodes to events that happened in others, but we couldn't say for sure that such nods were a sign that the episodes were all connected. They could have simply been included for fans to pick up on. Charlie Brooker's comments to THR indicate that those nods might be much more than standalone Easter eggs.
Judging by Charlie Brooker's comments, his view of the greater Black Mirror universe has evolved over time. While the episodes may not have been intended to connect back in the beginning, the show has gotten more complex as time has passed. With Season 4 set to debut on Netflix later this year, it's quite possible that we'll see more overt connections between episodes sooner rather than later. We'll probably have to pay pretty close attention (and/or stay tuned to social media) to catch any Easter eggs, but they're almost certainly on the way.
Netflix recently released a first look at the upcoming fourth season, and it gives the impression that the new episodes will all be pretty different from each other. In one, we'll have Jesse Plemons channeling his inner Captain Kirk for a Star Trek-esque story. In another, the action seems to be taking place in black and white. Only time will tell if and how these plots are somehow connected to each other. An official premiere date for Season 4, which will consist of six episodes, has not yet been released, although the trailer promises that it's "coming soon." Hopefully that means that we'll get Black Mirror Season 4 sooner rather than later.
If you haven't checked out Black Mirror just yet, all 13 episodes of the first three seasons are currently available on Netflix. Take a look at our 2017 Netflix premiere schedule for your other streaming options, and don't forget to drop by our fall TV premiere guide for what will hit the airwaves in the not-too-distant future.
