San Junipero
Updated: 12/11/2025, 1:18:41 PM Wikipedia source
"San Junipero" is the fourth episode in the third series of the British science fiction anthology television series Black Mirror. Written by series creator and showrunner Charlie Brooker and directed by Owen Harris, it premiered on Netflix on 21 October 2016, with the rest of series three. The episode is set in a beach resort town named San Junipero, where the introverted Yorkie (Mackenzie Davis) meets the more outgoing Kelly (Gugu Mbatha-Raw). The town is part of a simulated reality the elderly can inhabit, even after death. "San Junipero" was the first episode written for series three of Black Mirror; initial drafts were based on nostalgia therapy and designed as a 1980s period piece. The first script was about a heterosexual couple and had an unhappy ending, and the final version was about a lesbian couple and had a happy ending, atypical of other Black Mirror episodes. Filming took place in London and Cape Town across several weeks. The soundtrack interweaves 1980s songs with an original score by Clint Mansell. The episode received critical acclaim, with particular praise for Mbatha-Raw's and Davis's performances, its plot twist, its visual style, and its uplifting tone, which is atypical for the series. It had higher critical ratings than the show's other episodes, while some critics considered it one of the best television episodes of 2016. In addition to several other accolades, "San Junipero" won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Television Movie and Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special.
Infobox
Episode no.
Series 3Episode 4
Directed by
Owen Harris
Written by
Charlie Brooker
Featured music
"Heaven Is a Place on Earth"by Belinda Carlisle "C'est la Vie"by Robbie Nevil "Girlfriend in a Coma"by The Smiths "Living in a Box"by Living in a Box
Cinematography by
Gustav Danielsson
Editing by
Nicolas Chaudeurge
Original release date
21 October 2016 (2016-10-21)
Running time
61 minutes
Tables
mw- List of awards and nominations received by "San Junipero" · Reception › Awards
2017
2017
Year
2017
Award
Art Directors Guild Awards
Category
Excellence in Production Design for a Television Movie or Limited Series
Recipients
Joel Collins, James Foster and Nicholas Palmer (Also nominated for "Nosedive" and "Playtest".)
Result
Nominated
BAFTA Television Craft Awards
BAFTA Television Craft Awards
Year
BAFTA Television Craft Awards
Award
Best Make Up and Hair Design
Category
Tanya Lodge
Recipients
Won
Best Costume Design
Best Costume Design
Year
Best Costume Design
Award
Susie Coulthard
Category
Won
Cinema Audio Society Awards
Cinema Audio Society Awards
Year
Cinema Audio Society Awards
Award
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Movies and Mini-Series
Category
Adrian Bell, Martin Jensen, Philip Clements and Rory de Carteret
Recipients
Nominated
Diversity in Media Awards
Diversity in Media Awards
Year
Diversity in Media Awards
Award
TV Moment of the Year
Category
"San Junipero"
Recipients
Nominated
GLAAD Media Awards
GLAAD Media Awards
Year
GLAAD Media Awards
Award
Outstanding Individual Episode (in a series without a regular LGBT character)
Category
"San Junipero"
Recipients
Won
IGN Awards
IGN Awards
Year
IGN Awards
Award
Best TV Episode
Category
"San Junipero"
Recipients
Won
Hugo Awards
Hugo Awards
Year
Hugo Awards
Award
Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form
Category
Charlie Brooker, Owen Harris
Recipients
Nominated
Online Film and Television Association Awards
Online Film and Television Association Awards
Year
Online Film and Television Association Awards
Award
Best Motion Picture
Category
"San Junipero"
Recipients
Won
Best Production Design in a Non-Series
Best Production Design in a Non-Series
Year
Best Production Design in a Non-Series
Award
"San Junipero"
Category
Nominated
Best Costume Design in a Non-Series
Best Costume Design in a Non-Series
Year
Best Costume Design in a Non-Series
Award
"San Junipero"
Category
Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards
Primetime Emmy Awards
Year
Primetime Emmy Awards
Award
Outstanding Television Movie
Category
Charlie Brooker, Annabel Jones and Laurie Borg
Recipients
Won
Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special
Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special
Year
Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special
Award
Charlie Brooker
Category
Won
2018
2018
Year
2018
Award
Broadcast Awards
Category
Best Single Drama
Recipients
"San Junipero"
Result
Won
| Year | Award | Category | Recipients | Result | Ref. |
| 2017 | Art Directors Guild Awards | Excellence in Production Design for a Television Movie or Limited Series | Joel Collins, James Foster and Nicholas Palmer (Also nominated for "Nosedive" and "Playtest".) | Nominated | |
| BAFTA Television Craft Awards | Best Make Up and Hair Design | Tanya Lodge | Won | ||
| Best Costume Design | Susie Coulthard | Won | |||
| Cinema Audio Society Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Movies and Mini-Series | Adrian Bell, Martin Jensen, Philip Clements and Rory de Carteret | Nominated | ||
| Diversity in Media Awards | TV Moment of the Year | "San Junipero" | Nominated | ||
| GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Individual Episode (in a series without a regular LGBT character) | "San Junipero" | Won | ||
| IGN Awards | Best TV Episode | "San Junipero" | Won | ||
| Hugo Awards | Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form | Charlie Brooker, Owen Harris | Nominated | ||
| Online Film and Television Association Awards | Best Motion Picture | "San Junipero" | Won | ||
| Best Production Design in a Non-Series | "San Junipero" | Nominated | |||
| Best Costume Design in a Non-Series | "San Junipero" | Nominated | |||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Television Movie | Charlie Brooker, Annabel Jones and Laurie Borg | Won | ||
| Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special | Charlie Brooker | Won | |||
| 2018 | Broadcast Awards | Best Single Drama | "San Junipero" | Won |
References
- "San Junipero" is described as the show's most popular episode by reviewers for Complex, Entertainment Weekly, Vulture a
- Mbatha-Raw and Davis have been praised in Collider, the Irish Independent, IGN, Paste, and IndieWire.
- The episode has been described as such in The New York Times, IGN, GameSpot, The Atlantic, Junkee, Vox and Collider.
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2015/digital/news/netflix-black-mirror-new-episodes-1201602037/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/mar/29/netflix-channel-4-charlie-brooker-black-mirror
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/sep/16/black-mirror-first-look-review-charlie-brooker
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/21/arts/television/review-black-mirror-finds-terror-and-soul-in-the-machine.html
- Colliderhttps://collider.com/black-mirror-season-3-review-san-junipero-nosedive/
- The Daily Beasthttp://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-san-junipero-the-magical-black-mirror-episode-that-will-help-take-your-mind-off-trump
- Den of Geekhttps://www.denofgeek.com/uk/tv/black-mirror/44587/black-mirror-series-3-interview-charlie-brooker-and-annabel-jones
- ihttps://inews.co.uk/culture/television/black-mirror-charlie-brooker-san-junipero/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/dec/01/charlie-brooker-dark-side-gadget-addiction-black-mirror
- Inside Black Mirror
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/la-en-st-0817-black-mirror-20170816-story.html
- Entertainment Weeklyhttps://ew.com/books/2018/11/20/black-mirror-creator-charlie-brooker-book/
- Black Mirrorhttps://www.ew.com/article/2016/10/23/black-mirror-postmortem-interview-season-3
- IndieWirehttps://www.indiewire.com/2016/10/black-mirror-san-junipero-gugu-mbatha-raw-mackenzie-davis-spoilers-charlie-brooker-interview-1201739792/
- NMEhttps://www.nme.com/news/tv/charlie-brooker-black-mirror-san-junipero-sequel-2133848
- Black Mirrorhttps://www.vogue.com/article/black-mirror-creator-charlie-brooker-san-junipero
- "Black Mirror Creator Responds to San Junipero Fan Theory"https://web.archive.org/web/20170921001755/http://nerdist.com/black-mirror-creator-responds-to-san-junipero-fan-theory/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/black-mirror-director-san-junipero-ending-spinoffs-season-4-947617
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/black-mirror-season-4-episodes-charlie-brooker-annabel-jones-interview-spoilers-1033807
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/10/28/black-mirror-usually-shows-the-dark-side-of-technology-one-episode-shows-it-can-give-us-hope/
- The Quietushttp://thequietus.com/articles/22717-clint-mansell-interview-black-mirror
- NMEhttps://www.nme.com/news/tv/black-mirror-san-junipero-soundtrack-stream-1886429
- Cosmopolitanhttp://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/tv/a7700702/black-mirror-gugu-mbathaw-raw-san-junipero/
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2017/08/black-mirror-gugu-mbatha-raw-mackenzie-davis-emmys-interview-1202154140/
- thelocationguide.comhttps://www.thelocationguide.com/2016/10/black-mirror-doubled-london-for-california-on-season-three-shoot/
- FilmFixerhttps://filmfixer.co.uk/2016/10/03/london-still-reflected-in-charlie-brookers-black-mirror/
- "Black Mirror's New Episodes Will Hit US In October"https://web.archive.org/web/20171213010958/https://nerdist.com/black-mirrors-new-episodes-will-hit-us-in-october/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2016/digital/news/black-mirror-season-3-trailer-1201881576/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2016/dec/21/best-tv-episode-2016-game-of-thrones-black-mirror-westworld
- Cinema Blendhttps://www.cinemablend.com/television/1605250/the-10-best-tv-episodes-of-2016?story_page=8
- "How to watch all 'Black Mirror' episodes, from worst to best"https://web.archive.org/web/20170928214125/http://cnnphilippines.com/life/entertainment/television/2016/10/24/black-mirror-ranked-episodes.html
- Irish Independenthttp://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-reviews/black-mirror-is-back-and-its-as-disturbing-as-ever-with-a-few-minor-cracks-35156063.html
- Black Mirrorhttps://ign.com/articles/2016/10/19/black-mirror-season-3-review
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/critics-picks-15-best-tv-episodes-2016-958180/item/critics-pick-tv-episodes-americans-958175
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/28/arts/television/the-memorable-tv-episodes-of-2016.html
- Digital Spyhttp://www.digitalspy.com/tv/black-mirror/feature/a780434/black-mirror-episodes-ranked-charlie-brooker/
- Den of Geekhttps://www.denofgeek.com/uk/tv/black-mirror/46080/den-of-geeks-top-15-tv-episodes-of-2016
- Pastehttps://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/12/the-25-best-tv-episodes-of-2016.html
- Esquirehttp://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a51786/best-tv-episodes-of-2016/
- GameSpothttp://www.gamespot.com/gallery/black-mirror-every-episode-ranked-from-good-to-bes/2900-956/12/
- Black Mirrorhttps://www.avclub.com/black-mirror-finds-love-and-a-great-episode-in-a-hope-1798189275
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/black-mirror-season-3-episodes-1-6-netflix-ranked-a7373321.html
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2016/tv/news/20-best-tv-episodes-2016-1201932645/
- The Atlantichttps://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/10/black-mirrors-san-junipero-is-the-standout-of-the-season/505049/
- The Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/2017/09/16/san-junipero-revisited-black-mirrors-heartbreaking-vision-heaven/
- HuffPosthttp://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/black-mirrors-san-junipero-nominated-for-two-emmys-and-were-crying_us_59679cdbe4b0a8d46d12eae7
- "Opinion: 'San Junipero's' Emmy Win Says Queer People Can Live Happily Ever After"https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/opinion-san-junipero-s-emmy-win-says-queer-people-can-n802411
- "Is 'bisexual lighting' a new cinematic phenomenon?"https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-43765856
- Cosmopolitanhttps://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/love-sex/a19491322/bisexual-lighting-problematic/
- The A.V. Clubhttps://www.avclub.com/heaven-is-a-place-onscreen-the-afterlife-is-tvs-most-i-1822556552
- Complexhttp://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2017/12/black-mirror-season-4-preview
- Black Mirrorhttps://ew.com/tv/2017/07/13/black-mirror-san-junipero-emmy-nominations/
- Vulturehttps://www.vulture.com/2017/05/black-mirror-san-junipero-scene-too-sad-to-air.html
- The Daily Beasthttps://www.thedailybeast.com/the-best-episode-of-black-mirror-season-4-is-a-hopeful-romance-to-rival-san-junipero
- "Black Mirror – Season 3, Episode 4 – Rotten Tomatoes"https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/black_mirror/s03/e04
- The Daily Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/0/black-mirror-season-3-san-junipero-review-charlie-brookers-dark/
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/12/21/the-10-best-tv-episodes-of-2016/
- IndieWirehttps://www.indiewire.com/2016/12/25-best-tv-episodes-of-2016-veep-game-of-thrones-americans-bojack-horseman-1201757385/
- Digital Spyhttp://www.digitalspy.com/tv/black-mirror/review/a811882/black-mirror-season-3-san-junipero-review-beautiful-rather-than-biting/
- Junkeehttp://junkee.com/guide-binging-black-mirror-thats-thing-really-need/88116
- Voxhttps://www.vox.com/culture/2016/12/22/13938430/best-tv-episodes-of-2016
- Black Mirrorhttp://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a49919/black-mirror-episodes-ranked/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2016/digital/news/black-mirror-episodes-rank-binge-guide-netflix-1201894706/
- Colliderhttps://collider.com/black-mirror-episodes-ranked/
- TheWraphttps://www.thewrap.com/all-19-black-mirror-episodes-ranked-from-good-to-mind-blowing-photos/
- Black Mirrorhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/black-mirror-season-3-review-929346
- GQhttps://www.gq.com/story/best-tv-2016
- "Through a Touchscreen Darkly: Every 'Black Mirror' Episode Ranked"https://www.slashfilm.com/black-mirror-episode-ranking/3/
- The Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/0/black-mirror-every-episode-ranked-rated/
- Black Mirrorhttps://ew.com/gallery/black-mirror-episodes-ranked/?slide=283288#283288
- GQhttps://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/gallery/best-black-mirror-episodes
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- Black Mirrorhttps://www.vulture.com/article/best-black-mirror-acting-performances.html
- Mashablehttps://mashable.com/2018/01/05/black-mirror-pessimism-ranking-dread
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- NMEhttps://www.nme.com/news/tv/charlie-brooker-rules-out-direct-sequel-to-san-junipero-but-teases-a-graphic-novel-about-it-instead-2135308
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2017/tv/news/black-mirror-season-4-black-museum-colm-mccarthy-directing-interview-1202640505/
- Heavyhttp://heavy.com/entertainment/2017/12/black-museum-easter-eggs-photos-screenshots-mirror/