Your weekend has been cleared, your Netflix account is up and running, and you've got your favourite snacks on standby. The Black Mirror season 3 binge-watch is ready to go.
Before you press play on Friday, when all six new episodes are available to stream, take a moment to get up to speed on Charlie Brooker's twisted, techy universe. If you haven't caught up with seasons 1 and 2, we'd highly recommend you get on that now. It would be cruel to deny yourself the queasy pleasure of that Jon Hamm episode.
All set? Now brief yourself on what season 3 has in store. Per usual, each episode is a standalone work, so there's no need to watch them in any particular order. To help you decide where to start, we've created a little primer so you can start with the plot that intrigues you most. Will it be the quirky "Nosedive"? The stomach-churning "Shut Up and Dance"? The dark and violent "Men Against Fire"? It's your call.
Brace yourself to be amused, disgusted, and bewildered in equal measure. We'll be recapping each episode individually, so keep checking back to get our take — provided you can still bear to be near a computer or smartphone, that is.
"Nosedive"
The Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Alice Eve, James Norton, Cherry Jones
The Plot: A futuristic society allows people to rate each other on a five-star system, with those in the high fours enjoying special privileges. Those with low rankings, meanwhile, are treated like outcasts. Lacie (Howard) gets the opportunity to boost her ranking by being an old frenemy's maid of honour, a situation that can only end in tears. Long story short: We'll think twice about lowballing our Uber driver going forward.
Fun Fact: The episode was co-written by Rashida Jones and Michael Schur ( Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks and Recreation).
Pictured: Bryce Dallas Howard
Photo: Laurie Sparham/Netflix.
"Playtest"
The Cast: Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, Wunmi Mosaku, Ken Yamamura
The Plot: Cooper (Russell) signs up to test out a top-secret game, which involves him confronting his greatest fears.
Fun Fact: Hannah John-Kamen, who plays Cooper's love interest, is a repeat Black Mirror star. She also appeared in 2011's "Fifteen Million Merits."
Pictured: Wunmi Mosaku with Wyatt Russell and Ken Yamamura
Photo: Laurie Sparham/Netflix.
"Shut Up and Dance"
The Cast: Alex Lawther, Jerome Flynn
The Plot: Kenny (Lawther) is blackmailed into performing a series of ominous tasks by hackers threatening to release video footage of him masturbating. This is an intense one, folks.
Fun Fact: You'll recognise co-star Jerome Flynn as Bronn from Game of Thrones.
Pictured: Jerome Flynn and Alex Lawther
Photo: Laurie Sparham/Netflix.
"San Junipero"
The Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mackenzie Davis
The Plot: Sparks fly when Kelly (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and Yorkie (Mackenzie Davis) meet in a San Junipero nightclub circa 1986. As their romance plays out, however, it soon becomes apparent that there's more to San Junipero than meets the eye.
Fun Fact: Director Owen Harris also helmed the haunting 2013 episode "Be Right Back."
Pictured: Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Mackenzie Davis
Photo: Laurie Sparham/Netflix.
"Men Against Fire"
The Cast: Malachi Kirby, Michael Kelly, Madeline Brewer, Sarah Snook
The Plot: Stripes (Kirby) and his fellow soldiers are tasked with eliminating "roaches." An encounter with a laser device causes Stripes' internal programming to experience glitches, prompting him to question his orders and whether or not the "roaches" are really the enemy.
Fun Fact: Consider this a mini Netflix reunion. Michael Kelly plays Doug Stamper on House of Cards, while Madeline Brewer was Tricia on Orange is the New Black.
Pictured: Malachi Kirby
Photo: Laurie Sparham/Netflix.
"Hated in the Nation"
The Cast: Kelly Macdonald, Faye Marsay
The Plot: Detective Karin Parke (MacDonald) explores the link between a series of murders and trolls on social media.
Fun Fact: Marsay is best known for playing The Waif on Game of Thrones.
Pictured: Faye Marsay (left) and Kelly Macdonald (right)
Photo: Laurie Sparham/Netflix.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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