Black Mirror Season 7 Episode 5 Ending Explained

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The seventh season of “Black Mirror” is gradually approaching its end, with the first four episodes exploring how technology has the power to invade your life and cause destruction. In contrast, the fifth episode titled “Eulogy” offers a unique twist, employing technology as a base to illustrate how memories, sorrow, and connection can surpass physical limitations.

In its early stages, Season 7 of the Netflix series “Black Mirror” was subtly intense. However, as the season unfolded, it grew progressively brutal. The fifth episode, however, serves as a testament to the positive uses of technology. Though funerals don’t necessarily require an immersive experience, the technology showcased in this episode provides a man with an opportunity to find closure about something that drastically altered his life. Here’s a recap of how Episode 5 concludes.

What Is Black Mirror Season 7 Episode 5 “Eulogy” About?

In his backyard, Philip (Paul Giamatti) receives a call concerning a lady named Carol Joyce. Initially, he claims ignorance about her, but upon hearing that her real name was Carol Hartman, he modifies his statement. She has passed away, and the caller from Eulogy Inc. invites him to contribute a memory for her memorial service. Since Philip couldn’t attend the ceremony in England, they deliver a memory collection kit via drone. He affixes the device to his face, and an artificial intelligence voice provides guidance as he recalls and uploads memories of Carol for the family’s virtual tribute.

At first, Philip found it hard to recall her or discuss any distinctive memories they shared together. The AI voice prompted him that if he had any pictures of her or their special moments, it would make things simpler for him. Fortunately, he did possess a few photos of her, but in most instances, her face was obscured. Nevertheless, with the help of an image-exploration system, Philip could revisit those times and share the events with the Guide.

Additionally, he encounters a human-like guide within the image itself. He shares his experiences with Carol, detailing how they formed a relationship, with everything appearing to be harmonious at first. However, as with most relationships, they faced difficulties. Despite presenting only three images initially, the AI guide suggested that these might not be appropriate for the memorial. Consequently, Phillip produced a collection of photographs depicting him and Carol. Regrettably, Carol’s face in each photo was either cropped or concealed using black marker due to their separation.

Although she adored playing the cello, Carol switched to keyboards when they established the band, as the cello didn’t harmonize well with their music. The AI guide questioned her decision to play the keyboard instead. Philip explained that the cello didn’t fit the band’s melodies. However, the group dissolved not long after due to a disagreement over Carol spending time with a man at the Halloween party and Emma’s persistent attempts to get too close to Philip.

How does Black Mirror Season 7 Episode 5 “Eulogy” end?

Despite the band having disbanded, Carol received an opportunity to play the cello in “The Phantom of the Opera” in the UK. She accepted this offer and found herself often conversing with Philip during that period. To keep him close, she’d send him postcards from her foreign travels, reminding him of the deep longing she felt for him. However, on his birthday, Philip had a brief encounter with Emma, which resulted in a one-night stand. Carol phoned Philip to congratulate him, but the situation escalated when Emma answered the call instead. This incident led to a heated argument between them, leaving their relationship hanging by a thread. Remarkably, they managed to salvage it, and Philip decided to travel to the UK to reunite with Carol. Both were thrilled at the prospect of meeting again, with Philip particularly eager as he had arranged a luxurious hotel stay and was planning a romantic dinner proposal.

In a different phrasing, here’s how the story could be told: The pair had an evening rendezvous, and according to Philip, Carol appeared somewhat changed due to some extra pounds. Despite this, it didn’t faze him because, in his eyes, she was stunning. On top of that, she declined a drink as well. Gathering the courage, he popped the question, but Carol remained unmoved and focused on the floor before departing from the restaurant. This left Philip enraged, leading him to finish an entire bottle before reaching their hotel room, only to discover that Carol had already checked out. Frustrated, he vented his anger by wrecking the room. Later in the conversation, the AI guide – resembling Carol’s daughter, Kelly Joyce – disclosed that she was pregnant during this encounter and shared a striking resemblance with the guide. Yes, it turned out that the AI guide was modeled after Carol’s child. She clarified that Philip wasn’t her father, instead, Brian was her biological dad, but she didn’t know where he could be found.

They went to their hotel room where they discovered a letter meant for Philip. Thinking it was real, he tried to pick it up, but Kelly explained that it was just an image, not something they could touch. Later on, when the mess from his room had been tidied by the maid, Philip spotted the same letter hidden inside one of the books. The letter revealed that Carol was pregnant and asked if he could still love her after this news. Since Philip hadn’t received the letter initially, he didn’t go to meet her as planned, leaving Carol to think he didn’t care. The story concludes with Philip traveling to the UK for Carol’s funeral, where he found Kelly playing the cello in actuality.

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2025-04-11 18:37