Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for Black Mirror and American Horror Stories episodes.
Summary
Black Mirrorseason 7 arrived onNetflixon April 10th, 2025, and fans didn’t waste any time watching the six new episodes. Besides telling new creepy and dark stories about technology causing chaos and destruction in the lives of interesting characters, the new season featuresthe show’s first sequel episode: “USS Callister: Into Infinity,“which has a brutal ending.
Whileevery episode ofBlack Mirroris unique and engaging, and often has athoughtful and sometimes grim conclusion,there is one season 7 story that is perfect for fans oftheAmerican Horror Storiesepisode “Bestie.”
Fans Of The American Horror Stories Episode “Bestie” Will Like Black Mirror Season 7, Episode 2, “Bête Noire”
Black Mirrorseason 7, episode 2, “Bête Noire,“has a lot in common withthe popularAmerican Horror Storiesseason 3, episode 1, “Bestie.“They’re both stories about characters who spend too much time online, who have a desire to be popular, bully others, and seek friendship and loyalty. These episodes also featurepowerful villains who manipulate and control otherswhile appearing likable and charming.
TheBlack Mirrorseason 7 episode “Bête Noire” follows Ditta food company R&D employeeMaria (Siena Kelly) whose former high school classmate Verity (Rosy McEwan) gets a job in her department. Maria is immediately upset because everyone made fun of Verity back in the day, and she doesn’t think she has enough experience to work there.
While Maria is more confident than Shelby Brubaker (Emma Halleen), the main character in theAmerican Horror Storiesseason 3 episode “Bestie,“Maria and Shelby are both lost, lonely, and confused. Through her magical pendant, Verity makes Maria think she doesn’t know what is real and what’s notas facts and words keep changing. Verity is trying to ruin Maria’s life, just like Shelby’s new online friend Bestie (Jessica Barden) forces her to hurt people to show her loyalty. Both episodes also feature characters who attempt to get revenge on others, and these storylines are memorable and disturbing as a result.
Ever sincetheBlack Mirrorseason 7 trailer came out, it was clear that these six episodes would be well-crafted and unnerving. It’sinteresting to compare Maria, Verity, Shelby, and Bestie. While they all want to make friends, they go about it the wrong way, and it’s a disaster. Verity and Bestie are as fascinating asthe scariestAmerican Horror Storyvillainsbecause they make people think that they’re kind and innocent and then they reveal their true, dark, controlling natures.
What Did Charlie Brooker Say About Black Mirror Season 7, Episode 2, “Bête Noire”?
Black Mirrorshowrunner Charlie Brooker talked toNetflix.tudum.comabout the ending of “Bête Noire” whereMaria has killed Verity and is now the emperor of the universesince she has control of Verity’s pendant/magical remote. Brooker said:
“It’s fun to make it look like [Maria’s] absolutely lost everything in the last few moments and then have her triumphantly, phoenix-from-the-flame style, use this device to get out of the problem she’s in. It’s kind of a joke ending, but hopefully it’s slightly absurd.”
WhilesomeBlack Mirrorepisodes have happy endings,the conclusion of “Bête Noire” is bleak yet campy. Maria lets her power go to her head as she’s the empress of the universe, but it’s also a fairly humorous ending. In contrast, Shelby is killed at the end of “Bestie,” which is heartbreaking. In both episodes,the main characters find themselves alone and not able to trust anyone, and their quest for popularity ruins their lives.
