When we finally unplug from the screens that are crucial to our lives, we often see a faint, distorted, reflection of ourselves in the blackness. The British show Black Mirror taps into this dangerous dependence we as humans have on technology, and the societal problems that come along with it, in a futuristic show that sometimes hits a little too close to home.

With it’s excellent writing and casting, the show executes this concept perfectly, with each episode featuring it’s own uniquely terrifying concept, some more far fetched than others, but they all share a similar ability to send shivers down your spine.

Whether the episode consists of blackmailing the Prime Minister to have sexual relations with a pig on live television, or a futuristic society where it’s civilians are dependent on the numbing television screens to distract them from their monotonous, slave-like existence, these episodes all seem somehow relatable to the world we live in.

As an updated version of The Twilight Zone, this show satirizes the many flaws of modern society through bone-chilling mini-stories, where even at the end when the screen turns off, one can’t help but wonder: Could this really happen?

Originally aired on Channel 4 in the UK in 2011, Black Mirror gained American recognition when the first 2 seasons were put on Netflix. Recently, Netflix has taken the legacy of Black Mirror into their own hands, as they have just produced and released 6 new episodes of the show directly onto their streaming services.

While many were initially concerned that these new episodes would not live up to the standards of the acclaimed past seasons, critic and audience proves that that is not the case.

“I was so impressed by the first two seasons of the show that I was not sure if the new episodes could live up to my expectations,” said senior Lauren Rosen. “But episodes like Nosedive and San Junipero were even better than I thought they could be.”

Under the continued leadership of show creator Charlie Brooker, Black Mirror pushes the show to the brink of reality, exploring culture and technology in unique and intricate settings.

The show makes assessments about our future through artful usage of present, future, and even past settings.

The episode “San Junipero” utilizes a plethora of different decades as settings, enriching its heartwarming, yet unsettling tale through intricate environments and aesthetics.

In contrast to the diverse settings of “San Junipero,” the season 3 episode Shut Up and Dance focuses on present day, exploring cyber-bullying and the reach of technology in a way that is just as terrifying as it is realistic.

Overall, season three of Black Mirror has been overwhelmingly satisfying. Netflix acquiring the show did not student its growth, but rather provided it with the audience and the resources necessary to expand its reach and range. The show defies expectations, as it ventures into unique storylines and churns out episodes that are each entirely separate, while still being unified by their high quality and consistent themes.