Netflix Anthology Review: Black Mirror (Season 7)

I had put off watching Black Mirror Season 7 for a long time, as Season 6 had failed to impress me. But on a friend’s recommendation, I decided to give it a shot. I’m happy to report that most of the episodes, except the last one, lived up to my expectations.

What’s It About?

Story 1 – Common People:
A devoted husband, unwilling to lose his terminally ill wife, uses a high-end new technology to keep her alive. At first, it seems like a miracle. But as with most modern tech, things soon spiral out of control. The couple is forced to confront the harsh reality of love, loss, and the consequences of clinging to the impossible.

Story 2 – Bête Noire:
An ambitious professional’s life is thrown into disarray when a former schoolmate unexpectedly joins her workplace. What begins as unease quickly escalates as unusual events unfold around her, sending her mental state into a downward spiral.

Story 3 – Hotel Reverie:
A popular actress, bored of dull roles, signs on to a high-tech film project that aims to recreate a classic movie using immersive technology. She steps into a world where she must play out scenes with virtual versions of the original cast. But the line between fiction and reality begins to fade, and the production eventually takes a dark and unexpected turn.

Story 4 – Plaything:
A socially isolated man is arrested for murder. During interrogation, he reveals his obsession with a computer game involving digital creatures. The more he cares for these forms, the more they grow. And the more they demand from him.

Story 5 – Eulogy:
A man is tasked with writing a eulogy for an old lover with the help of a photo-based immersive memory technology that lets him relive past shared moments with her. Some are joyful, others painful, and some reveal truths he wasn’t prepared to face.

Story 6 – USS Callister: Into Infinity:
A stranded crew battles for survival in an endless virtual universe. They are trapped in a multiplayer simulation, and they must outsmart other players to escape the loop and find freedom.

Thoughts

Though I enjoyed every episode in Black Mirror Season 7, my favourite was Plaything. The technology shown in the story is both fascinating and disturbing. The sing-song tune of the little digital forms adds just the right touch of eeriness. The lead actor delivers a convincing performance as the eccentric character ready to go above and beyond for his virtual friends.

The season as a whole highlights how technology can go wrong in unexpected ways. It drives home the point that in the pursuit of something “better,” we often overlook the risks that come with it.

I didn’t find the final episode particularly interesting. Probably because outer space-themed plots don’t usually appeal to me.

Overall, I would say Black Mirror Season 7 is worth a watch. All six episodes, each about an hour long, are streaming on Netflix.

Hindi Movie Review: Aap Jaisa Koi

A socially awkward 42-year-old Sanskrit professor from Jamshedpur meets a free-spirited 32-year-old Bengali French teacher through an arranged marriage setup. He’s orthodox, she’s liberal. This description may feel like the movie is based on a war of languages (keeping up with the trend). But it’s not. At its core, Aap Jaisa Koi delves into the multifaceted nature of relationships. It brings a fresh and nuanced take on modern love, tradition, and society’s double standards.

I’ve often wondered why our romantic cinema sticks to the same old formulas when dynamics within relationships and individuals involved are far more complex. Our movie industry usually focuses on the stereotypical boy-meets-girl story, where the characters fall in love, and then external forces play the villain. There are no other angles to the story. In real life, the friction often lies within the relationship itself – compatibility issues, cultural/morality issues, and more. Such issues are often subtle at first but end up being harder to fix. They aren’t dramatic but quietly playing in the background and are dismissed as unimportant. But each day, it chips away at a part of your soul. Some deal with it openly, whereas others act ignorant to maintain harmony in the household.

There are a lot of relationship angles left unexplored in Indian cinema. Someday, I’d love to see a romantic story about two divorcees giving love a second chance. That dynamic carries a quiet vulnerability: the fear of repeating past pain, the hesitation of stepping into something that once broke you. It’s raw, real, and deeply human. However, just like how society stigmatizes divorcees, I think our Indian cinema stigmatizes them too. India is not a country devoid of divorcees, yet they are rarely shown in cinema.

Unlike many Indian films, K-dramas explore these internal dynamics with depth and nuance. That’s why Aap Jaisa Koi felt refreshing. It brings a romance that’s familiar in setting but different in treatment. It spends extra time focusing on emotions and character development. The dialogues are so warm and real, they might just bring tears to your eyes. A few lines had that effect on me. Not because they were sad, but because they were crafted with such thoughtfulness. It felt like poetry. If you’re a non-Indian reader who enjoys K-dramas for their focus on emotions, give this one a shot. I think you’ll genuinely enjoy it.

Aside from the crackling chemistry, the movie has some dreamy music. Mila Tujhe is my favourite of the lot. In a romantic drama, music plays a crucial role. It should be tender, laced with hope, longing, and desire, not melancholy, to heighten emotions and pull you in completely. That’s exactly what the Aap Jaisa Koi soundtrack does. The couple’s chemistry draws you in, and the music wraps around it, making the experience all the more immersive.

Fatima Sana Shaikh is an actress I’d love to see more of. Whether she’s playing a traditional hijabi in Modern Love: Mumbai or a fiery Bengali in Aap Jaisa Koi, she brings authenticity to every role. There’s so much untapped potential in her, and it’s time filmmakers gave her the space she truly deserves. Her character in Aap Jaisa Koi is a feminist, yet deeply rooted in tradition. She looks ethereal in beautiful, traditional sarees. In Bollywood, modern women are often stereotyped as party-goers in Western clothes, but this film takes a different route. It reminds us that modernity is a mindset, not a dress code. You can be progressive and still stay connected to your culture. Meanwhile, many who dress trendy are found to be regressive in their thoughts. Clothes are not a true indicator of someone’s personality. To know a person, you need to know their thoughts.

Madhavan, as always, does full justice to a role that’s equal parts comical and endearing. His comic timing is spot on, and he effortlessly switches expressions, reminding us once again of his natural screen presence.

Aap Jaisa Koi is a feel-good romance that stays with you. I enjoyed it. The movie is streaming on Netflix.

Korean Drama Spotlight: Family By Choice

A good romantic comedy or family drama is hard to come by these days. Sometimes, I feel we really need more light-hearted stories on screen. Something to make us laugh and unwind. What I watch often influences my mood. I’m sure I’m not the only one. If it’s a tense or serious film or YouTube video, I tend to become irritable or withdrawn. But when I watch a well-made romcom, I feel lighter, more cheerful, and life suddenly seems brighter. So why don’t we see more of this feel-good content anymore? In that sense, Family By Choice stands out. It’s exactly the kind of uplifting drama we need right now.

What’s It About?

Family By Choice tells the story of three individuals, a girl and two boys, brought together by unexpected circumstances to live under one roof. The girl’s father takes the boys in and raises them as his own. Over time, they develop a strong bond that transcends blood. It’s a touching reminder that love isn’t always defined by family ties. Sometimes, those closest to you feel distant, while strangers become your true support. This is the heart of Family By Choice.

Thoughts

Family By Choice is everything I look for in a feel-good series. It’s not perfect, but it struck a chord with me. The bond between the three main characters is simply adorable. What stood out most was how each of them retained their core personality traits even as they grew up. One boy remains the quiet, poker-faced introvert. The other continues to mask his pain behind a cheerful smile. The girl stays fiery, hyper, and full of energy. That kind of character consistency is rare in dramas and movies. Usually, we see drastic changes as the characters grow up, which is understandable, since life tends to shape our personalities. However, here, it was refreshing to see their core traits remain unchanged.

All three characters are incredibly funny and share great on-screen chemistry. I especially liked how the female lead is written. She’s strong yet not over-the-top, modern yet grounded, a layered character you rarely encounter on-screen. Jung Chae-yeon is absolutely adorable. This was my first time watching her in a drama, and I was genuinely impressed by her performance. Hwang In-Youp and Bae Hyun-Sung are brilliant too. They bring charm and depth to their roles. Special mention to the child actors. They were brilliant.

Though we often talk about a parent’s unconditional love, the series explores the painful reality that not every parent needs to be the same. Some can be emotionally toxic and too consumed by their own needs to truly see their children. In such cases, it raises an important question. Should a child continue the relationship for the sake of duty, or is creating distance necessary for mental well-being? The series handles this theme with great sensitivity.

Family By Choice is streaming on Viki. The series has 16 episodes, with each episode lasting roughly an hour.

Netflix Drama Spotlight: Sirens

Although Sirens is presented as an American dark comedy, I didn’t find anything particularly funny in it. I’m a new fan of Meghann Fahy, so she was the main reason I chose to watch this series. I wasn’t disappointed.

What’s It About?

Sirens centers on three women, each unique in their own way, yet a common factor connects them all. This factor becomes more apparent as the story progresses. You may love or hate the characters, but our inherent nature compels us to judge them for who they are. It forms a subtle yet significant crux of the story.

Thoughts

Sirens was as gripping as I want a drama to be. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am drawn to series with well-defined female characters, and this was no exception. Though Meghann Fahy is now being typecast in a specific type of role, she does full justice to it. Julianne Moore is breathtaking; no one else could have played the part of the beautiful yet intimidating persona. Milly Alcock as Simone is brilliant and likely has the most substantial role of the three, as she gets to reveal many layers of her character.

What struck me the most about the series is that no female character is entirely black or white. They are layers of gray, doing their best to survive in a world that has not been kind to them. The final scene might make you uncomfortable, but it represents the very essence of life, where nothing is predictable. You do what you have to do to confront your demons. This may seem selfish, but it is also essential for survival.

Sirens is a feminist movie at its core, and its profound messaging about how women are often blamed is woven in subtly without overt activism. You notice it and feel uncomfortable, but you never get the impression that the message is being forced upon you. This is the kind of messaging that is most effective – one that isn’t obvious but still makes a lasting impact. Human nature is such that we don’t listen when we are shouted or screamed at; we listen when we are subtly guided to notice discriminatory issues on our own.

Sirens is streaming on Netflix. The series has 5 episodes, with each episode lasting roughly an hour.