Eulogy (Black Mirror)

"Eulogy"
Black Mirror episode
Promotional poster
Episode no.	Series 7 Episode 5
Directed by	Chris Barrett Luke Taylor
Written by	Charlie Brooker Ella Road
Original air date	10 April 2025 (2025-04-10)
Running time	47 minutes
Guest appearances
Paul Giamatti as Phillip Patsy Ferran as The Guide Declan Mason as Young Philip Hazel Monaghan as Young Carol

"Eulogy" is the fifth episode in the seventh series of the British science fiction anthology television series Black Mirror. Written by Ella Road and series creator and showrunner Charlie Brooker and directed by Chris Barrett and Luke Taylor, it premiered on Netflix on 10 April 2025, with the rest of season seven.

In the episode, a lonely man revisits his memories and photographs of an old girlfriend who has recently passed away, in order to send his memories of her to her family. Through the experience, he learns more about her and the relationship. The episode has received critical acclaim, with many reviewers calling it the best episode of series 7, and one of the best episodes of Black Mirror of all time.

Plot

Phillip (Paul Giamatti) learns of the death of his ex-girlfriend, Carol, who he has not seen in decades, through tech company Eulogy. Eulogy requests Phillip's contribution via his memories through photos to help Carol's family create a memorial. Initially hesitant, he agrees to contribute and is sent a kit, conducted through the process by The Guide (Patsy Ferran). Via the kit's technology, he is able to virtually enter a photo and explore the location. All of Phillip's photos are unusable as he had defaced Carol in them following their breakup, as well as destroyed all letters she had written.

Nevertheless, Phillip and The Guide explore the photos, and it is revealed that their relationship was strained. Carol had temporarily moved to London to play cello at a West End production. When she called Phillip, she instead got the woman that Phillip had just slept with, learning of his infidelity. Months later, Phillip attempted to apologize by flying to London and surprise Carol with a marriage proposal at a fancy restaurant, but she left without a word once he presented her the engagement ring. The Guide reveals herself as a digital avatar of Carol's daughter Kelly, the result of a one-night stand Carol had after learning of Phillip's infidelity. She also informs him that Carol was pregnant when he proposed to her.

Phillip has an epiphany and discovers a disposable camera he bought on the London trip. There is only one picture, that of his hotel room that he had trashed after she walked out from dinner. He finds a folded letter from Carol in the trash, then exits the photo to find the unopened letter among other literature from the trip. In the letter, Carol admitted to Phillip her infidelity and her pregnancy but implored that she wanted Phillip to still be in her life. She asked to meet him at the stage door the next night if he would accept her apology and revive their relationship.

Distraught, Phillip searches through his desk to find and play a cassette tape recording of a piece she wrote, finally able to remember her face by revisiting a photo of him standing in a hallway, watching her happily play the piece on her cello. Phillip attends her funeral in London, walking in as Kelly plays cello during the ceremony.

Production

Brooker and Road were inspired by the docuseries The Beatles: Get Back which utilized technology to make video and audio of the Beatles more lively.

Reception

The episode received mostly positive reviews. Alec Bojalad of Den of Geek rated the episode a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.

External links

• "Eulogy" at IMDb