Black Mirror is one of those shows that is not afraid to feature some pretty awful characters. The anthology series features different stories that explore the amazing and terrifying potential of technology. As a result, the characters tend to fall into one of two categories- either they are using technology for their own immoral means or they are having horrible things done to them.
In the case of the latter group, it’s hard not to feel immense sympathy for the characters. These people are subjected to horrible things by other evil people, or they are trying to help themselves, only for things to go horribly wrong. These are the most sympathetic characters on Black Mirror.
Cooper (Playtest)
In “Playtest”, Cooper is an American traveling abroad and looking for adventure. We get the sense that he is trying to escape some unpleasantness back home as he keeps ignoring phone calls from his mother.
Cooper volunteers to test a new virtual reality video game but soon finds himself trapped in a terrifying mindset where he doesn’t know reality from the game. As it turns out, this was all in his head as the VR headset malfunctioned. Though the malfunction killed Cooper instantly in the real world, his mind turned his death into a drawn-out torture. All because he didn’t answer his mom’s calls.
Stripe (Men Against Fire)
Stripe is a soldier deployed to an unknown country where the army is tasked with wiping out the mutant-like creatures that have overrun the place. He is a loyal and brave soldier who puts his life on the line in what he thinks is a worthwhile fight for good.
However, Stripe soon discovers that he and the other soldiers have been implanted with a device that makes them see the impoverished people of the country as mutants. He is disgusted to learn that he has been killing innocent people this entire time and his mission was not noble at all.
Sara (Arkangel)
“Arkangel” explores the struggles of using technology to help you parent your children as well as the dangers of censoring the real world from children. After a mother almost loses her daughter, Sara, she implants a device that will allow her to track her daughter at any time.
However, the device also allows the mother to censor things from Sara, including violence and sex. This leads to Sara developing a damaged perception of reality and having her life controlled by her mother. Though she acts out violently in the end, her reaction to having her life interfered with in such a way is horrific.
Yorkie (San Junipero)
“San Junipero” presents a virtual reality that allows senior citizens to visit an idyllic party town known as San Junipero to live as young people again. It is here that Yorkie meets Kelly and they fall for each other.
We later learn that in reality Yorkie has been paralyzed since her early 20s and San Junipero is allowing her to experience things like dancing, drinking and making love for the first time. Yorkie also came from a time when her homosexuality was not accepted by her family and her relationship with Kelly allows her to finally explore those feelings. Luckily, Yorkie gets one of the few happy endings on the show.
Bing (Five Million Merits)
“Five Million Merits” introduces a futuristic society in which people work to earn merits which they use as money to buy things, including the opportunity to become famous. Bing falls in love with a girl and uses his merits to help her pursue her dream of becoming a singer. However, those in charge quickly corrupt her and force her into a life in pornography.
After working so hard to give a selfless gift to someone he cares about, Bing truly understands the corruption of this society. He works his way to getting on live television and threatens to kill himself to send a message. Sadly, he too falls victim to the corruption.
Martha (Be Right Back)
“Be Right Back” explores the devastation of losing a loved one and how you would do anything to have that person back in your life. After losing her husband, Martha learns about a new technology where an A.I. can assume the identity of the deceased and communicate with her.
While it starts as text messaging, Martha becomes more drawn into having her husband back and goes to further and further extremes. It is a desperation that is very relatable to anyone who has experienced such loss and her realization that she is not really getting him back is heartbreaking.
Nanette (USS Callister)
In “USS Callister”, Robert is a brilliant but shy video game designer who secretly holds a dark secret for getting back at those he feels have wronged him. Stealing DNA from his coworkers, Robert inserts versions of them into his game where he rules over them as a terrifying god-like being.
Nanette is the new sweet co-worker whose only crime was getting creeped out by Robert. She is also trapped inside the game where she tries to rally the others into finding a way to escape. Her determination and the horrible situation in which she finds herself in makes her a very easy character to root for.
Chris (Smithereens)
In “Smithereens”, Chris is a seemingly quiet and caring taxi driver, who suddenly kidnaps an employee of the world’s largest social media company. Holding the man at gunpoint, Chris demands to speak to the creator of the company.
While such behavior certainly doesn’t seem sympathetic, it becomes clear that Chris is just a man devastated by guilt. He is not looking to hurt anyone but himself, he just wants people to hear him and know his pain.
Shazia (Crocodile)
In “Crocodile”, Shazia is an insurance investigator who uses advanced technology to read the memories of people who may have witnessed a crime or accident. After visiting a potential witness, Shazia finds herself in danger after seeing the memories of the woman committing a murder.
Shazia was only trying to do her job to provide for her family. But as a result of seeing this murder, Shazia is killed and then the murdered kills Shazia’s husband and child in an attempt to cover her tracks. It is one of the darkest episodes of Black Mirror.
Clayton (Black Museum)
Clayton is a man convicted of murder and sentenced to death despite the fact that he claims to be innocent. Knowing his appeals will not work, Clayton decides to sell away a digital imprint of himself to a museum curator in exchange for some money to leave his family.
Not only is Clayton executed for a crime he does not appear to have committed, but his digital imprint is used to keep a part of him alive to be imprisoned and tortured for years to come. The incredible injustice he faces is pretty appalling, even if he does get saved in the end.
