Bête Noire

Started with Common People which immediately made me feel like the pilot episode and I knew I was in. Then came into this episode fully blind and without expectations and left obsessed!!!! So far it has a great level, better than seasons 5 and 6 at least. This one had a particular way to easily build up unbearable tension along with simple scenes, and ended up on a total chaos and a surreal ending sequence. Many people will surely find bad things, but I truly loved this episode. It comes back to that surreal fantasy approach that only Black Mirror could possibly achieve. Hyped for the USS Callister sequel now.

Episode 2 is named "Bête Noire" - that means a person or thing that you dislike very much or that annoys you. A very accurate title for the story about Maria (Siena Kelly) and Verity (Rosy McEwen) that takes place over a period of 5 working days. The main setting is the office of a food company and you get to know the background of the acquaintance of the two main characters. Maria is a miss know it all and does not approve of her new colleague Verity who seems to be well liked by their colleagues. Ironically, the character is named Verity and soon enough you will find out the truth about what happened in the past. Things quickly escalate and culminate in a b*tch fight.

As a viewer you can decide which side you want to take and who is the bully/villain and who is the victim.

If you like dystopian, more realistic story lines, then this episode might not be of your taste since it's more a fantasy story.

What I find striking is the short scenes/transitions with compelling organ music. In addition, the intentional use of the colors of the clothes of Maria and Verity might give a hint that Verity tries to mimic Maria.

What is the morale of the story: bullying leaves deep emotional scars that never heal.

Personally, I felt entertained and despite some violence it was definitely more fun to watch than prior episode 1 "Common People".

There was a real sense of anticipation as I watched this episode-it builds nicely, with believable characters set in a competitive work environment that feels grounded and relatable. While it does lack a bit of subtlety in how the antagonist is introduced, and the plot moves at a rapid pace, there are still enough "ooh" moments to keep you engaged along the way.

Unfortunately, the final act completely unravels. The ending feels rushed, undercooked, and veers dangerously into something almost Benny Hill-esque-if that's even a thing! It was such a jarring tonal shift after the promising set-up.

That said, the acting throughout is solid, and the performances deserved a more thoughtful resolution. It's hard not to wonder if the whole thing was hurried out to meet a deadline, because the climax feels like it skipped a few drafts. A strong start, but ultimately a frustrating finish that left me disappointed.

Bête Noire is an episode that builds up incredibly well to its final conclusion. While it is somewhat predictable in a few moments, it still manages to deliver a suspenseful and gripping experience from start to finish. The atmosphere is tense, the pacing is strong, and the ideas it explores are genuinely interesting - More interesting than any episode from last seasons Red Mirror Episodes.

My only real complaint is that the ending felt a bit silly compared to the stress and pressure the rest of the episode built up. Still, it seems fitting-the message being that unlimited power can eventually turn someone into exactly what they despise.

Overall, it was a fun and thought-provoking watch, my hoodie has bite marks all over it now. Definitely standing out above last season's average.

The episode does have a slower start but once it picks up the pace the plot starts to unfold brilliantly. Siena Kelly's dynamite performance of a person fighting for her sanity is just so good and its so fun to watch the pure hatred Rosy McEwen character has for her every time they share the scene together.

Sometimes it seemed like I was watching a real life workplace drama and the tension was high in every scene, every moment of despair, jealousy and malice just superbly acted.

Giving a title to each day of the week in the episode and then complementing it with a bizarre, horror movie like sound piece really solidified the main characters rapid descent into madness and was a nice touch.

The twist in the episode was really well done, felt fresh and unique, I really enjoyed this and hopefully more episodes in this season are like the first two.