Black Mirror Ranked: A Dystopian Satire That's Both Haunting and Schadenfreude-Inducing

In this razor-sharp satire of consumerist culture, George Orwell meets Simon Cowell in a way that's both haunting and schadenfreude-inducing. Written by Charlie Brooker and his wife Konnie Huq, who knows her material well after presenting the Xtra Factor on ITV2, Black Mirror is a thought-provoking anthology series that explores the darker side of technology.

The first episode, 'Fifteen Million Merits' (season one, episode two), introduces us to Nish, a Londoner who's being shown around a Midwestern museum of criminal paraphernalia by seedy curator Rolo Haynes. As they explore the triptych of stories, it becomes clear that each one is linked by its focus on technology gone wrong - and the consequences that follow.

From horrific to tragic, and cautionary, none of these stories outstay their welcome, but there's simply not enough time to develop most of the characters sufficiently to engage our hearts as well as our heads. This was the much-trailed Black Mirror portmanteau episode, and it displayed both the strengths and weaknesses of the format.

Now, with season six finally here, we're ranking every episode so far - from worst to best. And if you're feeling like life has got pretty dystopian recently, a dip back into its most haunting offerings may even offer some delicious schadenfreude. But, fingers crossed, it'll never get quite as dark as Black Mirror.

Overall, Black Mirror is a must-watch for anyone who's concerned about the impact of technology on our lives - and the consequences that follow when things go wrong. With its sharp satire and thought-provoking themes, it's a series that will leave you questioning the world we live in - and maybe even feeling a little bit better off for it.

Black mirror ranked