The Mind-Bending Twists of Mazey Day in Black Mirror Season 6 Episode 4

The fourth episode of Black Mirror season 6, titled "Mazey Day," falls short of the show's usual standards and may be considered the weakest episode of the entire series. The episode starts off as an intriguing cat-and-mouse chase between a broke paparazzo and a celebrity who has gone into hiding after a hit-and-run. For most of the episode, the mystery surrounding the accident and the paparazzi's pursuit of the celebrity keep the audience engaged. However, the episode takes an unexpected and peculiar turn in its final act, which seems out of place in the Black Mirror universe.

“Mazey Day” falls short in comparison to the other episodes of season 6. It appears as though Charlie Brooker had two separate ideas about paparazzi and werewolves and hastily merged them without fully fleshing out either concept. While “Loch Henry” and “Beyond the Sea” had ample time to develop their characters and plotlines, “Mazey Day” rushes through its narrative, leaving its characters with no depth or personality. Zazie Beetz delivers a great performance as the sympathetic paparazzo, but her character's motivation is superficial at best - she needs money. Although she grapples with the ethics of her profession, it's a fleeting moment that doesn't leave a lasting impact. The episode's titular character, played by Clara Rugaard, is even more one-dimensional, with her only defining trait being that she's a troubled Hollywood starlet who turns into a werewolf.

Despite its shortcomings, “Mazey Day” does continue the season's theme of exploring outdated technologies. While Black Mirror typically imagines futuristic tech that doesn't exist yet, season 6 has touched on the societal impact of obsolete technology. After “Loch Henry” examined the power of videotape, “Mazey Day” focuses on the paparazzi, who were once the sole purveyors of celebrity images before smartphones made everyone a photographer. However, the episode doesn't offer any novel insights into the industry and merely reinforces the common perception that paparazzi are unscrupulous scavengers. Ultimately, “Mazey Day” doesn't offer much beyond what we already know.

An American Werewolf In Hollywood

The sudden werewolf twist in "Mazey Day" completely derails any potential for a strong episode of Black Mirror. Despite the lack of character development, the paparazzi's pursuit of Mazey at a celebrity wellness retreat is entertaining. However, the episode fails to deliver with a disappointing and nonsensical werewolf transformation. This twist adds nothing to the episode's themes and feels like a lazy attempt to shock the audience. It's a departure from Black Mirror's usual focus on technology and instead feels like a generic horror story. The werewolf transformation sequence may pay homage to An American Werewolf in London, but the CGI falls short of the practical effects that won Rick Baker an Oscar.

Unfortunately, "Mazey Day" will likely be remembered as the disappointing "werewolf episode," joining the ranks of lackluster Black Mirror offerings such as "The Waldo Moment." While the season featured well-crafted and endearing characters like Joan from "Joan is Awful" and Pia from "Loch Henry," Beetz's role as a werewolf-fighting paparazzo fell short. While Brooker should be commended for attempting to break away from the show's formula, this approach ultimately fails. Paparazzism could have been a biting satirical target and werewolves are a beloved horror trope, but "Mazey Day" falls short with a weak script and cheap thrills, despite the talents of Beetz and Rugaard and the rest of the impressive cast.