Netflix unveiled a standout episode in the latest season of Black Mirror, delivering one of the anthology’s most emotionally resonant stories to date.
Episode five of season seven, titled “Eulogy,” marks a significant departure from creator Charlie Brooker’s typically dystopian approach. Instead of exploring technology’s sinister potential, the episode offers a contemplative meditation on memory, loss, and connection — drawing comparisons to the acclaimed season three episode “San Junipero.”
Paul Giamatti stars as Phillip, a middle-aged man who receives news about an old flame’s death.
The narrative centers on an AI-powered immersive funeral experience that allows Phillip to literally step into old photographs, extracting and reliving memories they contain. What begins as reluctance transforms into a profound emotional journey as he reconnects with Carol, a free-spirited cellist he never stopped loving.
“Talking with her was easy,” Phillip confides to the AI avatar guiding him through his memories. “She was funny… she was like no one I’d ever known… Nothing else existed, just us. That’s all we needed. We made plans.”
The episode’s emotional weight builds as Giamatti’s character whispers: “Man, we were so young…”
[Spoiler Alert] As Phillip journeys deeper into his past, he’s forced to confront not only the relationship’s happiest moments but also its painful dissolution — providing insight into how and why things fell apart.
Unlike typical Black Mirror installments where technology serves as the antagonist, “Eulogy” positions AI as a compassionate guide helping Phillip navigate the landscape of his memories. The technology becomes a vessel for emotional processing rather than a threat.
The episode has sparked strong viewer reactions across social media. “Eulogy broke me in a very particular way I wasn’t expecting,” wrote one viewer on X, while another commented: “Truly incredible from every standard possible. I’ve been crying for the last 5 minutes… Heartbreak can’t even scrape the surface of what this has made me feel.”
Featuring Patsy Ferran alongside Giamatti, “Eulogy” stands as one of Black Mirror’s most affecting entries, exploring how grief lingers in unexpected places and how technology, despite its sophistication, can only simulate what has already been lost.
