Is Black Mirror's 'Hang The DJ' Better Than 'San Junipero'?

3 January 2018, 12:44 | Updated: 3 January 2018, 12:53

Which episode of Black Mirror is actually the best?

Hello. We need to talk about Black Mirror. Well, one episode in particular... And that episode is 'Hang The DJ'.

'Hang The DJ' has been hailed as one of the best episodes in Black Mirror season four and as this season's 'San Junipero'. But because 'San Junipero' is considered the one of - if not the greatest - episode of Black Mirror EVER, the people of the internet are about to start a civil war over the claims that 'Hang The DJ' is better.

So we're asking that question: Is 'Hang The DJ' better than 'San Junipero'?

Both episodes are two of the very small handful of Black Mirror episodes that have a happy ending. Both episodes focus on relationships and finding your soulmate in the advanced technological world - albeit very different worlds and with very different outcomes.

'San Junipero' tells the story of Kelly and Yorkie who strike up a relationship after meeting in the simulated town of San Junipero where elderly people are transported for five hours a week and where the deceased live permanently. When Kelly finds Yorkie in the real world, it turns out she has been surviving on life-support for 40 years. They unite IRL, marry and Yorkie soon passes away. Years later, Kelly passes and is uploaded to San Junipero forever where she reunites with Yorkie.

The episode was visually stunning, perfectly acted and even won two Emmys. The episode also had a major impact on the LGBTQ+ community as it was a rare on-screen gem that promised and delivered a happy ending for a queer couple despite their setbacks.

'Hang The DJ' follows Amy and Frank, two users of the Coach Dating App. The meet on a date and find out their relationship will only last 12 hours. As the episode progresses, both Amy and Frank have a handful of meaningless relationships before being matched again. Long story short, things go wrong and their would-be long-term relationship ends prematurely. In the end, they decide to rebel and be together. When they escape, it turns out that they'd been part of a much larger simulation. They end up finding each other in the real world with a 99.8% compatibility rate.

While it hasn't had the chance to win any awards yet, so many people are obsessed with the episode because the chemistry between the two characters and how grounded in our own reality and dating existence it is, even before the plot twist. It ends up as a real life love story as opposed to one that ends in a simulation.

But literally no one on the internet can decide which one is better than the other. Some people are absolutely adamant that 'San Junipero' remains the superior Black Mirror love story... it was the original, after all.

Others are claiming that 'Hang The DJ' has surpassed 'San Junipero' as the best love story in Black Mirror.

At the end of the day, both episodes CAN exist side by side and we can all enjoy them instead of pitting one against each other... they're completely different! But if we had to make a decision? Spending eternity on the beach with your soulmate in the '80s where Tr*mp isn't President sounds kind of iconic to us.

What do you think? Is 'Hang The DJ' better than 'San Junipero'?