‘Black Mirror’s “Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too” Episode Holds Up

Although most fans didn’t enjoy one Black Mirror episode, it holds up well today, and we can appreciate its dark and thoughtful storyline. Ever since viewers first watched the series premiere “The National Anthem,” which was released in 2011 and examines politics, everyone has been eager to see what relevant stories Black Mirror will explore next. And everyone tends to agree on the most interesting episodes of the series. From the brutal holiday tale “White Christmas” to the popular “USS Callister” with its complex take on virtual reality and gaming, we’re still thinking about many episodes years after they first came out.

The best sci-fi should make you uncomfortable sometimes and make you think about how its themes make sense in today’s world. For that reason, sitting down to a new season of Black Mirror can be a tough exercise, as it’s not exactly a cheerful binge-watch. However, there’s one episode that feels even more meaningful today than it did when it was first released.

“Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too” Is an Unpopular ‘Black Mirror’ Episode

Netflix

Black Mirror Season 5 only has three episodes: “Striking Vipers,” “Smithereens,” and “Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too.” It’s possible to find something to appreciate about all three episodes, which are fairly dark and explore topics like loss, therapy, and virtual reality. However, most fans don’t like Season 5, Episode 3, “Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too.” When the episode came out on Netflix in June 2019, viewers and critics had negative opinions of it. Some felt it just wasn’t that interesting. Others said it didn’t dive enough into its major themes or add anything to the discussion of holograms, AI, and using an artist’s image after they’ve passed away.

It’s true that when compared to other Black Mirror episodes, “Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too” feels distinct. However, while many have said it has a more light-hearted vibe than the rest of the show, that’s arguably not the case. Sure, you don’t feel the massive sense of foreboding that you do when watching an episode like “Arkangel,” which tears a mother and daughter apart.

Still, the main characters, Rachel (Angourie Rice), her older sister Jack (Madison Davenport), and Rachel’s favorite pop singer, Ashley O (Miley Cyrus), are all pretty miserable. (Okay, very, very miserable.) Rachel and Jack don’t really talk now that their mother has died, their father ignores them in favor of inventing a brutal mousetrap, and Ashley O has no friends or real family, only millions of fans. It’s not considered an underrated Black Mirror episode, and many don’t even talk about it anymore. So, while most would say they dislike this episode, it does seem as tragic as other entries in the series, and there’s actually a lot to discuss.

Why ‘Black Mirror’ Season 5, Episode 3, “Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too” Holds Up

One reason why Black Mirror‘s “Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too” has aged so well? Miley Cyrus. Now in her early 30s, the star has been through it all. She starred on Disney’s Hannah Montana, has released commercial pop music, and also made her very different 2015 album, Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz (which she put on SoundCloud first). So, when she plays a pop singer struggling with her mental health, you believe her. Most pop stars can likely relate to Ashley O’s plight of wanting to write music that she actually likes instead of what a label or her team push on her.

The episode explores fame, creativity, power, family, grief, and wanting to find people who understand. Although Black Mirror Season 5 isn’t a fan favorite, this episode has some relatable moments. Anyone who has moved to a new place for school, work, or a partner can see how much Rachel and Jack want to find belonging and happiness. When you watch Rachel approach the Ashley Too doll with so much joy, you understand why she’s so obsessed with it.

Yes, it’s not a flawless episode. It’s one hour and seven minutes, which is arguably at least 15 to 20 minutes too long, and the final stretch of Jack and Rachel trying to help Ashley O is a bit boring. However, even if viewers weren’t huge fans when it came out in 2019, it’s much more compelling now. Given the many conversations about art, AI, and creativity, the episode is a particularly notable look at how the world needs to support artists more now than ever. And when it’s revealed that Ashley O hasn’t been taking her medication, that opens up discussions about the need for support surrounding finding the right medication and dose while balancing unpleasant side effects. (Of course, you would hope someone is working with a caring, compassionate doctor rather than an aunt who is scheming to make money off their pop star niece.)

Sure, “Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too” is an extreme example of what would actually happen, as the best Black Mirror episodes are. It’s one of the most exciting anthology TV series because of how it talks about how technology can lead to pain and suffering. The episode may conclude with the three main characters in a good place, and Ashley O embracing her “real” image of a punk singer performing for a small crowd at a bar. But are they really happy? The answer is likely no. Rachel never figures out who she is without relying on the comfort and distraction of a celebrity, and Ashley O can’t forget her years of suffering. At the very least, it’s a beautiful story about sisters finding their way back to each other after grief, and that can’t be discounted.

The episode might not be as popular as “U.S.S. Callister,” and maybe Black Mirror Season 8 will feature a handful of episodes that fans love even more than what came before them. Still, “Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too” has some high points, and if you rewatch it, you just might like it more than you originally did.