Plaything

Yes, acting was great. Idea was fantastic. Some excitement which kept me glued, but only because I was intrigued by the whole idea, which by the end was sort of left empty and wasted. Some episodes are 1.5 hours long when they should be 45 minutes and then this one is 45 minutes when it should be 1-1.5 hours.

Also, the overly angry cop was a bit annoying. It feels like every line he had, he said it with a clenched mouth as if he was going to murder someone. Just relax for 2 seconds buddy. I don't know if that was done on purpose but I believe the director really made a mistake here with this actor.

What a great acting for this man. BUT, this episode felt like half-baked one... Honestly, I think it would can be much better...beside that, the casting is great, and the concept reminds me the good old black mirror... I truly recommend this episode but don't expect for a surprising end that will drop your jaw down. I have no doubt that the creators of the series could have made more out of this episode. Something there feels unfinished, it's hard to explain, maybe my expectations were too high. What is certain is that, as I wrote in the title, Peter is a true and true star. So, I'll hope that the other episodes will better than that.

This masterfully built episode channels the essence of good old Black Mirror - an unsettling return , forming cerebral and existential discomfort in all the right ways. The cinematography is true raw old school and the soundtrack elevates every frame, pulling from the pioneers of lush deconstructed electronica and meta-noise. There's a precision in the way it all breathes. Gribben is unapologetically chilling and Capaldi's performance is transfixing - the man unravels on screen in the most subliminal magnetic way.

Plaything isn't just a sci-fi trope, it's a well calculated descent into an existential mirror.

And some mirrors don't reflect you, they absorb you...

Peter Capaldi is consistently world class. This is another stellar performance to add to his already pretty heaving canon of work. Plus, a very memorable & scene-stealing cameo from the always captivating Will Poulter. For this alone, I'd say this one's worth a watch.

BUT...

It doesn't have an ending. Like, it just doesn't. I dunno if that's Brooker deliberately setting up another sequel episode a-la Callister, or just running out of steam/ideas (6 episodes is a pretty incredible return given the low standard and briefness of the last couple of seasons), but it was frustrating. Like a lot of entertainment right now.

Still delighted overall by the massive increase in quality in this season compared the the last - but overall, it's been very hit and miss.

Plaything is genuinely the greatest Black Mirror episode to come out in years. It's such an incredible concept executed extremely well in just a very short time. The actors have done an incredible job on this one, and so have the directors. They do an extremely good job building the world, and all the references are so fun to catch. The soundtrack is doing an exceptional job too.

The episode is even more fun if you've watched Bandersnatch, the interactive episode. Glad to see Colin Ritman again, in a completely brand new plot.

While the recent reviews seem to be harsh on this episode, it will age as one of the best Black Mirror episode to exist.