Black Mirror remains relevant as Netflix renews series for Season 8

Movieweb reports that Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror, which premiered on Channel 4 in 2011 and had seasons 3 through 7 produced by Netflix, continues to feel especially relevant.

The anthology has explored topics from grief and pop stardom to dating apps, and several AI-focused episodes now echo real-world debates. Season 2, Episode 1 "Be Right Back" follows Martha as she communicates with an AI version of her deceased partner; CNN reported in 2022 that Amazon discussed letting Alexa speak in the voice of someone who had died. Season 6, Episode 1 "Joan Is Awful" centers on a company called Streamberry airing a show about Joan Tait and using her image, anticipating controversies over AI recreations — BBC.com reported a 2023 plan to use AI to feature James Dean in a movie.

Season 4, Episode 2 "Arkangel" depicts a mother using a tablet and implant to monitor her daughter, highlighting privacy and consent concerns as parents increasingly track teenagers' phones. Netflix recently renewed Black Mirror for Season 8, and as Brooker told BBC.com in April 2025, "We can do stories that I wouldn't have thought of 10 years ago, and also, you don't need to explain some of the concepts to people because they've got it in their phone." What specific technology-driven storylines Season 8 will include remains to be seen.

Key Topics

Culture, Black Mirror, Charlie Brooker, Netflix, Ai, Alexa