In an alternative 1969, two men on a perilous high-tech mission wrestle with the consequences of an unimaginable tragedy.

Charlie Brooker’s third episode in Season 6 of Black Mirror boasts an intriguing high concept idea that it develops to an inevitable conclusion.

David Ross (Hartnett) and Cliff Stanfield (Aaron Paul) are astronauts on a two-man mission who can fill some of their downtime by transporting their consciousness into mechanical replicas back on Earth. It’s remarkable technology, even though this is an alternative past, and of course is the catalyst for what follows.

At 80 minutes, the episode is feature-length, and boasts some great performances. But what’s essentially a one-note story feels stretched too thin. And while I’m prepared to accept the fantastical premise, there’s one plot point that just doesn’t ring true. It’s there purely to move the story in one direction, but it just doesn’t make sense.

Verdict: An emotional tale that pushes credibility to the limits, but not necessarily in the way you’d expect. 6/10

Nick Joy