Black Mirror (TV Series) Mazey Day (2023) User Reviews

Probably the worst episode of the series

[jpismyname · 5/10 · 19 June 2023]

I say this might be the worst because this is my lowest-rated episode. Mazey Day is an episode that makes me question if Black Mirror is already losing its edge. Again, like Loch Ness, Mazey Day doesn't have the "Black Mirror" vibes. It's just a horror suspense story. Unlike Loch Ness however, Mazey Day isn't that great. It's just a bit ridiculous, although I gotta admit the climax is a bit fun and the acting is also good.

This episode is about the life of paparazzi, and how they can affect lives, specifically celebrities. The story doesn't have technology commentary or any sci-fi elements or something that is typical of Black Mirror, which is disappointing because we waited like three years or something FOR THIS??

based off a single punch line - a particularly bad dad joke

[Rob-O-Cop · 6/10 · 29 June 2023]

It was actually pretty well executed. Credit for that and the actors were great. Wonderful to see Zazie Beetz since we lost Atlanta for no particular reason.

The story was kinda black mirror. Even though people keep saying it's not technology it was a comment on paparazzi. They did a great job on rendering them as heartless scum who have no empathy and will do anything for a shot that nets them cash but can kill.

The Paparazzi scenes were good, especially in the penultimate scene when they're just non stop pelting their target with shutter action.

And it all leads up to the punch line, "shoot me"...... cos a camera and a gun have the same action word.

It probably seemed clever when Charlie wrote it on paper but it made me groan like hearing a particularly bad dad joke when they delivered it. It was so obvious most comedians would have left it alone. But not Charlie.

I didn't hate this as much as other reviewers but it wasn't quite the genius level we've come to expect unfairly from Charlie, it was still better than most tv, but not up to the incredibly high standards we've set for this show.

The worst episode of the season

[yuliuzmaurricio · 4/10 · 15 June 2023]

A troubled Hollywood actress is hunted by invasive paparazzi after her disappearance while dealing with the aftermath of a hit-and-run incident The premise is interesting and it feels like that kind of story that is too dense at first, but could take off at any moment, in this case it's the opposite, the story never reaches its full potential, they just scratch the surface of the matter And when you think the story could be saved with some crazy plot twist like in white bear the final twist will only make you say what the hell just happened? I won't go into details of what happens at the end, see for yourselves and see what I mean, I would dare to say that this is even worse than Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too, a shame, because the idea of what he The episode tries to show it's there, the morbidity in the media and how far they can go, but it only manages to be a more simplified version of nightcrawler, only by removing the intelligent script and the good protagonist.

Not Black Mirror

[KTnarnia · 17 June 2023]

Black Mirror has always been a startling commentary on technology. This season has been drifting away from that and bordering on some kind of horror/fantasy. Why can't the writers pause and remember that San Junipero was their best episode and realize that we don't need to feel scared, we need to be mesmerized and surprised by new concepts surrounding technological advancements. And if those concepts happen to excite us or just freak us out, cool. But the goal doesn't need to simply be to freak us out. Loch Henry & Demon 79 had the same problem. While these kinds of episodes are entertaining on their own, they aren't Black Mirror.

This isn't black mirror, are they running out of ideas?

[carlos_a-728-701934 · 3/10 · 17 June 2023]

The main reason Black Mirror has been so successful is because it has captured an audience that likes the type of story telling of humans and technology evolving together, many times on the bad side, some good and a lot of them are open to each point of view. Most of the times very realistically.

This episode has NONE of that, it takes an inside look at the paparazzi world, not in a good light, and then goes off against it in the silliest way possible, with a werewolf 🤦🏻🤦🏻🤦🏻, so now Black Mirror is about fantasy, not technology or modern social media influence, if they continue this road you'll see vampires and witches like an episode of Charmed, I say you because I won't be watching that crap.

So the story is about a Paparazzi played very well by Zazie Beets, they're looking for this famous movie star that has gone off the radar, even though Zazie had left the business, she finds out there's a very reward for a picture of the actress so she starts looking for her, she does detective work and when she finds her another 3 paparazzi cling to her, eventually they find her and turns into a werewolf and kills all of them except for Zazie, all the while I was waiting for that typical black mirror twist, but no the twist was the actress was a werewolf, huuuge letdown, and premise destroyer, it's like "The twilight Zone" made an episode as a cheap soap opera 🤷🏻, I don't get what they were thinking.

I enjoyed it

[FilmBrat105 · 7/10 · 21 June 2023]

No, It's not anything like Black Mirror, but on it's own it's good. I think all the downvoting is because there's always a limited amount of episodes, so I'm sure the ones voting it 1/10 feel that a slot was wasted on this, which is fair. Even for the shortest episode of the batch, the pacing is slow, but I think the final 15 minutes really make up for it, and make the viewing worth it. The character arcs are a little boring, but I was most interested in Bo, and the last shot of her snapping a pic of the celebrity as she commits suicide was dark but also profound. She got what she went there for, and it's also evidence for what happened. She tried to be altruistic but she's a vulture just like the rest of them. I don't think anyone could have possibly predicted what would come of this episode or it's ending, and that alone passes for a Black Mirror episode for me. No, It's not in Scotland or the UK, a new futuristic technology isn't present, but if that's what people need to deem it a proper 'Black Mirror' episode, then said people are watching for the wrong reasons. That being said, the camera is technology, but it isn't advanced, and it causes the moral demise of the protagonist and the complete demise of the deuteragonist. Food for thought.

Probably the worst episode of the entire show

[sloncarvuca · 1/10 · 16 June 2023]

Season 6 had it's ups and downs but overall it was looking quite promising, stories were in my opinion way better than season 5 until I saw this episode. This episode didn't feel at all like I was watching the episode of black mirror. It had run time of 42 mintues and nothing really happened. There wasn't anything interesting, philosophical or mind-banding at all. I'm not gonna spoil it but the grand reveal or the twist felt so unoriginal, unispiring and just basic. Probably if it was any other show maybe it could've worked out but this was so basic, and was way beneath standards of Black Mirror. I'm not mad I'm just disappointed.

"shooting her with the gun, or shooting her with the camera"

[lamjacksbrokenheart · 7/10 · 17 June 2023]

This episode was fresh and exciting with a new essence of Black Mirror introduced. Black Mirror has always been about us; society. This episode, to me, was perfect for Black Mirror and it made sense completely. The episode was clearly about exploitation and greed. The ending was perfection, thinking that someone actually cared for mazey and wanted to help her, when in reality they just ended up doing exactly what everyone else would have done. I can admit that the episode went a different way then we all expected and to some may be stupid and not fitting for the story, but I think that that just made it more fun.

Just no!

[hasanmahbub1981 · 1/10 · 17 June 2023]

Is this a werewolf episode in Black Mirror? Why? What led to its creation? What ideas does it explore? What is new about it? Why was money, resources, and time invested in it? Undoubtedly, this episode stands out as the weakest in this season, as well as the entire Black Mirror series. What were they really thinking?

These questions arise when encountering an episode that seemingly deviates from the established Black Mirror style and themes. The inclusion of a werewolf narrative, a trope often associated with traditional horror, may puzzle devoted fans. Black Mirror has always been known for its thought-provoking and dystopian tales, examining the dark side of technology and society. So, why did they choose to venture into the territory of supernatural creatures?

I am totally fed up with this!

Nice try, but no cigar.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 6/10 · 18 June 2023]

Bo is a member of The Paparazzi looking for her next buck, news of actress Mazey Day's addiction sends her looking for the money shot.

I'm able to understand why this has such a low rating, I can I see why this isn't to everyone's taste, it is a mix of good and bad.

I spend most of it thinking it felt like a glimpse of the past, not the future, whenever I think of Paparazzi, I think of Diana, she's definitely been spoken about quite a lot, and many scenes here put me in mind, especially the moment of discovery, the element of the past as it were wasn't Black Mirror, but it was decent.

The twist, the insight into the future, it didn't work for me, there's coming out of left field, and then there's writing down a tonne of ideas, and picking one at random out of a hat, that's how this twist felt for me.

Mazey Day didn't work as a title, how about Revenge of The Paparazzi victims?

No issue with the acting or production values, it looked great,amazing special effects, Zazie Beetz and Clara Rugaard both did a good job.

It didn't quite work, but not all bad.

6/10.

What in the

[timvitulic · 1/10 · 15 June 2023]

Ahhh where do I begin... First I would like to say Im a huge fan of the show and have rewatched certain episodes many times over. Mind-bending stories like White Christmas, Shut up and dance and many more really stuck in my head for a while. Therefore I was really hyped about season six, especially after such a long wait. But... and here is the but.. This episode is one of, if not the worst one I have seen not just on this show but almost any show I ever watched.

The plot is almost nonexistent, certain scenes have no sense of direction and the story as a whole is so bland and not Black mirror like at all. At times it felt like I was watching Twilight or some Nickelodeon mixed with Tarantino real life anime. Im genuinely in shock this even has a rating above 2. The scene where she just turns into a wolf and randomly starts attacking people was so out of place I checked if Im even watching the right show.

The episode serves absolutely no purpose and I still do not know what is the message that the director tried to send out?!

So to sum it all up, because I don't want to waste even more time reviewing this garbage here is a simple sentence:

"Don't waste your time, do not watch."

Solid episode - avoiding a formula is the point

[cdigiglio-1 · 8/10 · 25 June 2023]

People complaining that this episode (and this season) aren't "Black Mirror" enough are missing the point. Booker has stated in interviews that after toying with ChatGPT he realized how formulaic the previous content had become, and that he wanted the new content to break the mold.

Black Mirror is, at its core, a reflection on society and our tendency to give in to our worst impulses. Yes, typically that has involved technology, but it doesn't have to.

In this case, the focus is on our obsession with celebrities and the extreme measures often taken to peer into their private lives. This episode felt strongly influenced by the treatment of Britney Spears in the 90s and early 2000s, which is the same timeframe as this episode.

I do agree that the first half of the episode is a bit slow, but the last 15 minutes redeems it.

If anything, Booker's self awareness and willingness to take risks, while still driving home the core "Black Mirror" message that we should all strive to suck less, is refreshing. Give this episode a chance.

So it isn't tech focused - so what?

[nicked2101 · 7/10 · 26 June 2023]

People are giving this bad reviews on the basis that it doesn't "feel like" a black mirror episode. Well neither did the very first episode, The National Anthem, so big whoop.

This is a solid piece of television, with an interesting story and a good twist to keep it interesting. The writers are telling us the stories that they want to write - don't judge the episode on what you wanted to see, but rather what they put in front of you.

If people genuinely think this is a 1 or 2 rated episode based on the story and the performances of the actors (which are all excellent, by the way), then I genuinely don't know why they bother turning on the TV.

A new low for a series already in the ditch

[Stephan_fr · 2/10 · 18 June 2023]

Call me a cynic, but I'm rather sure that as of season 5 there is an entire new team behind the show and it's black mirror in name only.

The entire season 6 has been what has felt like a student re-creation of the anthology with less pay off at each episode.

We are now entering negative returns. The acting is over the top, the plot is three lines long, the script must fit on an A4 page and it's dragged down for 40 minutes of nothing.

If this was a standalone movie it would be rated zero.

Ok, it's official black mirror is dead. Ironically since this episode ends with someone begging to end their life, maybe that was self-referential, too.

Prefer realistic episodes

[fskea · 5/10 · 16 June 2023]

Firstly the characters in this episode are hard to connect with.

I thought we'd like Bo and she'd get a redemption arc after the first celebrity commits suicide and she's out of the game. But she's drawn back in for 30k which is understandable.

Mazey is a mess which works well until rehab hits and she's a wolf? I mean come on. Obviously Black Mirror has unbelievable stories which are usually related to techonology that doesn't exist so this was presented differently and was honestly disappointing.

Had she been in rehab and they took photos of her dying should have been the outcome. Anything to make money.

Not a bad episode! Just doesn't fit in with the rest of the show.

[vrnoseeta · 7/10 · 21 June 2023]

Basically, this episode would fit in much better in the Twilight Zone universe than in the Black Mirror universe. When you watch it, keep an open mind and think of the Twilight Zone instead.

The concept is an interesting one that reminds me of Nope and capturing the spectacle, and the supernatural element is FUN! It's just that Black Mirror has not been a supernatural show and so when the *thing* happens your immediate reaction is something along the lines of "whaaat is going on?!?!" When you step back and look at the episode by itself, it's fun and entertaining with a great twist that I certainly didn't expect! It's not the greatest episode of Black Mirror (or Twilight Zone, for that matter) but in my opinion, it's worth more than the ratings it's getting, and is worth the watch.

Shark = jumped, and the show may never recover

[Jeremy_Urquhart · 4/10 · 15 June 2023]

The fourth episode of Black Mirror's most recent season starts innocuously enough, at least once you adjust to the fact it's set in the 2000s. It's an episode that looks at celebrity culture and the paparazzi, and while it doesn't say anything particularly insightful about those things, it's serviceable. Nothing about its initial approach to such a premise is particularly terrible, and I was more or less going along with it. The fact it's a manageable 40 minutes - easily the shortest of these new episodes - kept me engaged well enough, because it doesn't waste too much time.

Then the last 15 minutes happens. It has the most out of left field twist I think of the show's entire run. It is so silly. I can't justify it or even understand it in my mind. It's tempting to slap this episode with a lower rating, but I almost admire the fact that it goes where it goes, even if the place it goes is stupid and there doesn't seem to be a good thematic reason for why it does end up there. But the brazenness... I can't help but have a tiny bit of admiration for that misguided, foolish brazenness. But I won't get ahead of myself. I don't admire it that much. This is, at the end of the day, a deeply stupid episode of TV. It's a shark-jumper, without a doubt.

What has happened to this show, honestly? This is a low, and is only partially redeemed because of the novelty factor offered by the twist, and the fact this episode is mercifully short (not even particularly short, though - just the length that most Black Mirror episodes should aim to be).

It seems shockingly different from the rest but it isn't

[rollsonfire · 7/10 · 10 July 2023]

I registered that people online are kinda shocked by this episode. And I don't blame them, on the first glance it looks silly and so much different from the rest of the tv show. It doesn't contain sci-fi elements, no futuristic technology, no familiar twists. But it doesn't matter from which genre BM draws - its resources were always old B-rated F&SF shows and films and there is no real reason why it can't be even horror for once. From the beginning of the show (even the pilot wasn't sci-fi) it centred around our media reality and human communication albeit with very dark vision - of things to come but also about how things already are. Mazey Day is very true towards this basic premise of BM and tells another story critical towards media. Twelve years after the first episode aired the world has changed, technology has changed and it doesn't make sense to be technophobic and accelerationistic anymore. Mazey Day nevertheless talks about technology albeit it's "just" photography and press - but whole tv show is changing direction from technodystopia towards more abstract, core premise of itself. There is good chance that show will not exhaust itself because of it and when audience gets used to it it can find new visions. Especially visions for the future, because in those 12 years world has changed and I think Charles Brooker wants to find vision of future where we are not totally screwed and we have at least some agenda and control of our fate. If we are able to confront - let's say - those werewolves inside of us.

Not a black mirror story at all. Creepshow at best.

[armandogpa · 1/10 · 18 June 2023]

This is the second episode in the entire show that has nothing to do with future technologies, the first one was the 6x02.

We have been waiting four long years for this season and in the second one we get a bad story about serial killers and in this episode we get another bad story about paparazzies and... werewolves???

So very much dissapointed.

Those two episodes were like taken from the creepshow series, they don't deserve to be named "black mirror" at all.

And the story is stupid at best.

So a werewolfwoman hollywood star becomes sad because she hit and run over a guy?

Seriously?

That is her first victim?

No victims because of her hability of transforming into a wolf during the nights with full Moon?

No armed guards protecting her and warching over her in the cabin?

No doctors armed with tranquilizers guns in order to make her night more bareable?

Doesn't she have money to locke herself in a bunker made of steel during that nights?

Yes, I understand that then this story couldn't exist but if you have been writing a supposed good story for four years you don't come up with a story an 8 year old boy could disarm.

Who are we to decide what is or isn't a Black Mirror episode?

[rnrtjbgpq · 7/10 · 1 August 2023]

It seems like people want every episode to be a knock against technology. There must be some variety somewhere over the running course of the show. It can't all be a rage against social media, likes, government monitoring, AI, and futuristic inventions. Get over yourselves and appreciate each episode (or not) based on its own merits. This episode, while somewhat entertaining, lacked much beyond the twist at the end. This episode was a knock against the world of paparazzi and the damage they cause. I think the ending could've been a more subtle demise of the paparazzi instead of the direction that the writers chose.

Supernatural, NOT a Sci-Fi episode

[emmanuel-sargon · 1/10 · 17 June 2023]

The plot focuses on a seemingly ordinary actress who turns into a werewolf and the ensuing chaos that follows. However, this shift towards supernatural elements feels forced and out of place within the established universe of the show.

Additionally, the absence of the show's trademark technological dystopia is a notable letdown. Black Mirror has thrived on exploring the dark side of advancements in technology and its impact on society. By introducing a supernatural element like werewolves, the episode abandons its unique selling point and robs viewers of the intriguing social commentary that the series has excelled at in the past.

It's entertaining, even if it's not the usual Black Mirror

[center_of_the_sun · 8/10 · 17 June 2023]

I can see why this episode has a lower score, the reason is this: it doesn't fit the Black Mirror theme too much in a way that I won't explain because it might spoil the episode.

But if you take the story for what it is, you will actually find it very interesting and entertaining. I think what happened here is the producers are experimenting with adding something different to Black Mirror. In the past, some people complained the show is a bit too one-dimensional regarding its theme. Well, now they added something different and people don't like this either. You can't please everyone.

I think that if they make 1-3 episodes like this, that are pretty different from the usual ones (depending on the season size, of course), it will enhance the show, as long as the rest of the episodes are in their usual Black Mirror style.

All I can say is, I would definitely watch more like these. Only fault I found is that the episode is a bit short, but at least it doesn't overstay its welcome. This episode won't make you think very deeply or anything, it's just an entertaining episode.

Not a typical Black Mirror episode but entertaining nevertheless

[grantss · 7/10 · 17 June 2023]

Bo is a freelance photographer who takes paparazzi snaps for a living. She grows disenchanted with her profession and leaves it, only to drawn back in by a lucrative offer. A large amount of money is on offer for any pictures of a young film star who has gone to ground after her behaviour became highly erratic.

A bit of a departure for Black Mirror. Not a futuristic drama but something more dark. It's not exactly a first: Loch Henry, only two episodes earlier, is far more a horror-thriller than a usual Black Mirror episode.

Despite this departure from the usual Black Mirror format, the episode is quite intriguing and entertaining. There's also some interesting themes being explored, which is in keeping with the usual content of the series.

The end of black mirror

[faridaemad266 · 1/10 · 17 June 2023]

What happened to this show?

Not the black mirror i used to love... Very disapointing, especially this stupid episode, it's like a movie project created by 15yro teenagers.

No story, no plot, no depth, no ideas, NOTHING I was waiting for this season for a long time and now i regret it... If you're a high schooler who enjoys watching nonsense thriller/horror movies then go ahead and watch this episode, but if you're a fan of the original black mirror episodes (before season 6) Then i suggest you skip this episode and pretend that it was never produced Charlie brooker please bring back the old black mirror i beg you.

All the flash and the frenzy, none of the Black Mirror...

[jodiepearton · 4/10 · 15 June 2023]

After reading other reviews many describe this as "thrilling" and I would like to refute this. I appreciate delving into the darkness of what is celebrity culture and exploring the consequences of our continuous pursuit of obsession and fame. The concept of this episode is to explore the dehumanising nature of fame. This is shown well with young Mazey being the victim of relentless paparazzi and the show does a good of depicting her deteriorating state but not for the reasons you may think...

Brooker makes an attempt at social contemporary by blending the supernatural with intrusive paparazzi rather than making a real stamp and taking the opportunity to showcase psychological toll on these individuals caused by the media.

This one will definitely challenge the dedicated fan base that appreciate Brooker's unique social commentary blended with dystopian storytelling. If one is expecting a technology-focused narrative they may be disappointed and I'm not sure this will engage and resonate with the typical audience.