WARNING: This article contains spoilers for the fifth episode of Black Mirror season 7, titled “Eulogy.”
The fifth episode of Black Mirror season 7, “Eulogy,”unfolds a poignant and heart-wrenching narrative centered on love and loss. Portrayed by Paul Giamatti, Phillip Connarthy is a solitary figure living in coastal New England, where he grapples with his own anguish instead of confronting the pain he’s caused others, especially his former girlfriend, Carol Royce. Known to him as Carol Hartman, her long-standing absence has left Phillip embittered and emotionally scarred. The revelation of Carol’s passing stirs a reluctant curiosity within him regarding the innovative Eulogy technology, designed to celebrate her life at her upcoming funeral.
Presented in an immaculate white box reminiscent of a sleek Apple product, the Eulogy technology houses a Nubbin, a familiar device appearing in multiple episodes of Black Mirror, including the recent “USS Callister: Into Infinity.”Through this Nubbin, Phillip encounters The Guide, an AI-driven consciousness (played by Patsy Ferran) dedicated to eliciting genuine and accurate memories of Carol from Phillip’s recollections. With The Guide’s assistance, Phillip revisits his shared past with Carol in late 1980s New York through photographs and nostalgic music, ultimately unraveling the reasons for their separation.
How Phillip Finally Remembers Carol Through Eulogy
Phillip Peels Back Painful & Biased Layers Of His Memory To Find Something Pure
The closing scenes of “Eulogy”depict Phillip as he tenderly recalls Carol’s face, having literally erased her memory of him during a previous emotional encounter. Years ago, Carol abruptly left their dinner table after Phillip’s marriage proposal, an event that left him shrouded in shame. Since that pivotal moment, he has been in denial, even resorting to blocking Carol’s image out entirely, possibly as a coping mechanism. As The Guide leads him through old photographs, Phillip struggles to visualize Carol until he begins to comprehend what truly caused their relationship’s collapse.
Throughout their exploration, The Guide discerns the inaccuracies in Phillip’s self-constructed narrative and rejects his stance of victimhood. Their journey through photos reveals that Phillip was responsible for breaking Carol’s heart when he cheated on her with another woman named Emma, a realization that jolts him. In retaliation, Carol engaged in a meaningless affair with a xylophonist, who turned out to be Kelly’s biological father. Gaining a clearer understanding of his past allows Phillip to rekindle the buried affection he holds for Carol, particularly when he remembers her heartfelt cello composition, leading to an emotional catharsis as he watches her play.
Who Plays The Cello At Carol’s Funeral: The Guide Or Kelly?
Kelly Appears To Have Taken After Her Mother’s Musical Talents
Image via Netflix
It becomes clear that Kelly has inherited her mother’s musical gifts, which explains her determination to protect the legacy of the cello throughout the series. Upon arriving at the funeral, Phillip and Kelly lock eyes, and she recognizes him even though this marks their first encounter in person.
How Phillip’s Memory Of Carol Fails To Capture The Full Picture
Image via Netflix
Isolated in his despair, Phillip unjustly places the blame for their failed relationship solely on Carol. Haunted by the moment she walked away during his proposal, he has carried this burden for years. However, under The Guide’s insightful influence, Phillip gradually uncovers a more balanced perspective on the true nature of their relationship. He confronts denied issues, such as his infidelity and temperamental behavior, which had driven Carol away initially.
Through the Eulogy experience, Phillip is compelled to face his shortcomings, realizing that Carol’s departure was a consequence of his own actions, rather than an arbitrary choice on her part. This learning curve unveils a heartbreaking truth: both longed for a future together, yet Phillip’s flawed perception led him to resent the very person he claimed to love. It leads one to ponder whether his admiration was more about how she made him feel rather than an appreciation for her true essence.
What Carol’s Note To Phillip Means & What Could Have Been
Phillip Might Have Worked Things Out With Carol If He’d Read Her Note
Image via Netflix
During his emotional journey, Phillip uncovers a note that Carol had written to him, expressing her intentions to share the truth about her own one-night stand, which resulted in her pregnancy. The note indicated her willingness to reconnect and discuss their past, a conversation Phillip believed would never take place. His failure to appear at their agreed-upon meeting—an event tied to this note he had never read—led Carol to conclude their relationship was over. This newfound understanding forces Phillip to confront the reality that his anger towards Carol’s abrupt departure was anchored in a significant misunderstanding.
The Guide’s True Identity Twist As Kelly Royce Explained
Phillip Impatiently Skipped The Intro To The Eulogy Process
Image via Netflix
The Guide’s creation was not meant to obscure the identity of Kelly Royce but rather to embody her personality, insight, and likeness in guiding the Eulogy process for Phillip and others like him. She clarified that while she does not share a consciousness with Kelly, this design aimed to prevent emotional damage to her during such a vulnerable time. Had Phillip not bypassed the introductory portion of the Eulogy process, he would have discovered The Guide’s origins, possibly deepening their connection. Ironically, this reflects Phillip’s previous lack of patience in conversations with Carol, which may have led to a drastically different outcome had he allowed her to express herself candidly.
What The Eulogy Technology Is & How It Works
Eulogy Is A Profound & Remarkable Memory Extractor
Image via Netflix
In contrast to many other technologies depicted in Black Mirror (as seen in season 7, episode 1, “Common People”), the Eulogy process appears to bring forth more benefits than drawbacks. Operating on a non-invasive premise, it necessitates the full consent of the user while aiming to provide a meaningful resolution. The Guide succinctly explains its functionality throughout the episode, never compelling Phillip to confront unwelcome aspects of his past.
The Nubbin embedded in the Eulogy kit taps into Phillip’s memory banks, extracting visual and auditory elements tied to Carol also integrated with musical cues to facilitate memory retrieval. Through the guidance of an automated counselor closely associated with the deceased, Eulogy skillfully differentiates accurate memories from those tinged with bias and personal agendas.
The Real Meaning Of Eulogy’s Ending: Revisiting The Truth Of The Past
Phillip’s Newfound Awareness Of His Past Errors May Destroy Him Even Further
At the episode’s outset, Phillip elicits sympathy, largely aided by his own curated narrative surrounding the fallout with Carol. This self-imposed isolation stems from his inability to confront personal issues and accept accountability for his actions. While Phillip’s attendance at Carol’s funeral marks a significant character development, it simultaneously strips away the protective layers that have shielded him while nurturing a victim mindset for years.
The finale of “Eulogy”delivers a bittersweet conclusion. If Phillip truly wants to embrace the honesty of his past, he may find himself even further shattered without the comforting lies he once clung to. There exists a scenario in which Phillip and Kelly could connect over coffee, sharing memories of Carol in an open and healing dialogue. Gaining clarity about both Carol and himself could foster newfound growth, though a darker reality looms where he struggles to reconcile with their breakup being largely his fault or the regret of not opening Carol’s letter sooner, which might have salvaged their relationship. The ending of Black Mirror “Eulogy”uniquely encapsulates this duality, leaving viewers to ponder the weight of truth and reconciliation.