Netflix
Despite its usual overtly viral nature, the new (and shockingly short) season of Netflix’s sci-fi horror anthology series Black Mirror dropped to little fanfare this past week.
Featuring just three episodes, the fifth season of Black Mirror has ultimately been the worst reviewed season of the series, as it currently sits at just 63% on Rotten Tomatoes (comparatively, none of the previous four seasons went below an 84%).
But while the quality of episodes may not have lived up to fans lofty expectations, the reactions to them certainly did, as the internet once again proved why it has remained undefeated all these years.
WARNING: Spoilers for ‘Black Mirror’ season 5, episode 1 — “Striking Vipers” — will follow.
Starring Anthony Mackie of 8 Mile and Marvel Cinematic Universe fame (he plays Sam Wilson / Falcon), the first season of Black Mirror‘s fifth season generated quite the reaction from fans and critics alike.
The episode — less focused on “horror” and more focused on the nature of “love” — follows in the footsteps of previous emotional episodes such as Season 2’s “Be Right Back” and the Season 4 classic “San Junipero” as it delves into the ways technology can impact our interpersonal relationship.
It is no coincidence that these three episodes share such similarities, as they were all directed by the same person, Owen Harris. But while “Be Right Back” and “San Junipero” were home runs with both fans and critics alike, the same can not be said for “Striking Vipers”, as it currently sits at 77% on Rotten Tomatoes (which is the highest rated episode of the season, to be fair.)
Luckily, while Black Mirror may not have been at the peak of their powers for this most recent season, the fans certainly have been, as the memes about “Striking Vipers” have been nothing short of ingeniously hilarious.
*watches #StrikingVipers once*
Him: “Hey, I’m about to go play 2k with the boys.”
Her: “No you not.”
Him: “But-“
Her: pic.twitter.com/oJ31sAxKOj
— X (@XLNB) June 7, 2019
Me and my boys going on Xbox after watching the Striking Vipers Black Mirror episode. #BlackMirror pic.twitter.com/MicmDIe10H
— Dylan (@DylCli1) June 6, 2019
me getting ready to buy Striking Vipers X when it comes out #BlackMirror https://t.co/pubGCtIu1d
— alfi (@alfiraus) June 7, 2019
#BlackMirror Spoilers without context:
Striking Vipers pic.twitter.com/ghYGXqBWdL— David Campos (@David_C1215) June 7, 2019
#BlackMirror Spoilers without context:
Striking Vipers pic.twitter.com/ghYGXqBWdL— David Campos (@David_C1215) June 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/lukesaturn/status/1136853816458895362
danny: “So you know how karl and I play striking vipers right”#blackmirror
theo: pic.twitter.com/WTGisuUKka
— andres (@vrdres) June 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/lavinarchy/status/1137054385681457152
why did the writers of black mirror name seasons 5 first episode Striking Vipers and not Super Smash Bros
— carol from pta (@carolfrompta) June 8, 2019
Karl is online…#BlackMirror #StrikingVipers pic.twitter.com/Tpvk9SkGQF
— Kate the Great (@Kdkins88) June 8, 2019
The fifth season of the sci-fi horror anthology series ‘Black Mirror’ premiered on Netflix on Wednesday, June 5.