Summary
Season 7 ofBlack Mirrorhas been a mixed bag of stories that were different from one another. Even though they primarily focused on the adverse effects of technology, it also showcased how tech can be used to help people say goodbye and hold on to memories that might otherwise fade. But the Netflix series is known for ending its season with a bang, and that’s what it is doing with one of the biggest episodes in the show’s history, “USS Callister: Into Infinity,” the sequel to the “USS Callister” that aired in 2017.
In “USS Callister,” Daly (played by Jesse Plemons) is the CTO of Callister Inc., which produces the multiplayer game Infinity, in which users can control a starship in a simulated reality. However, Daly is treated poorly by his colleagues. The arrival of Nanette Cole changes that because she praises Daly’s work. However, Daly is not as innocent as he looks and has made clones of his office-mates in the aforementioned game, and treats them harshly. It doesn’t take much time for him to clone Nanette and make her a part of his twisted fantasy. As the story progresses, the crew gets together to escape Daly’s virtual world. Fortunately, they were able to do so, but they got stuck in the game’s universe, and if they needed to get out of it, they would need to find a solution fast. “USS Callister: Into Infinity” takes the story forward and shows how Nanette and her crew continue to fight on.
Black Mirror Season 7’s USS Callister: Into Infinity explores survival and the cost of digital freedom
The finale of Season 7, titled “USS Callister: Into Infinity,” is a sequel tothe episode featured in Season 4of the Netflix series. After Robert Daly’s death, Nanette Cole (played by Cristin Milioti) takes control of USS Callister and is now trying to keep her and the crew alive by raiding other players for credit. If they don’t have enough credits, they might die soon. However, these raids are now making players frustrated because they are being raided by players with no tags, and shockingly, experiencing bleeding effects even though there’s no blood in the game.
It’s getting harder for Cole and her crew to survive out there, and they need help. On the other hand, in the real world, Nanette is tasked to help James Walton (played by Jimmi Simpson) in finding those bandits and removing them from the game. In the process, Walton gets to know a dark reality about what Daly was doing with the game and how he created clones of real people. Cole has finally thought of one way to escape the game, but it would require help from someone who might have already died in the game.
When “USS Callister” first premiered in 2017, it opened to rave reviews from critics as well as audiences. The critics praised the episode for showing the real depiction of abuse of power and being darkly funny. The sequel takes the story forward in a brilliant way and opens up new avenues. Although it doesn’t talk about the abuse of power in the same manner, it does showcase it in a profound way. From the very start, this episode doesn’t waste much time in establishing that time in running away for Cole and her crew. They are on the run, facing chaotic planets and players who treat them like disposable characters in a video game. In its predecessor, the crew was trying to escape one madman, but this time they are trying to escape auniverse that has 30 million players and is built on chaos, turning the episode into something much darker.
USS Callister: Into Infinity is a gripping sequel, though it falls short of its predecessor
What really makes “USS Callister: Into Infinity” intriguing is the horrifying idea that freedom doesn’t necessarily mean safety. The crew had originally thought they had freed themselves from a monster like Daly, but now they are stuck in an even scarier world, where people won’t think twice before hurting them. In this universe, every user is a potential legend or even a god, able to warp reality or delete entire planets for fun. The crew can’t log out, and they can’t hide forever, which makes their condition even worse than humans in the real world. It is a chilling commentary on the cruelty of digital anonymity. But things are not entirely different in the real world, where Nanette is trying to save the company from a disastrous situation, but things don’t go as per the plan because of one man’s ego and authority. This is not similar to what Daly did because he went overboard with how he handled situations, but Cole, in both universes, is facing a dire situation to keep everyone safe.
The writing is tight and doesn’t overexplain. There’s no need for long monologues because the situations speak for themselves. The makers have once again blended technology and terror into something extraordinary. This episode is a timely reminder of how the most frightening tech stories aren’t about the technology itself, but what people do with it. The visuals are top-notch. It’s grand, fast-paced, and features some really breathtaking moments. Another strong aspect of the episode is how it explores the theme of identity.
Throughout the episode, viewers will find themselves asking if the Callister crew are still the same digital copies who once lived under Daly? Or have they become something unrecognizable? Meanwhile, Nanette, in both universes, has to make a choice to protect her people and change the system from within or sacrifice her morals. The performances are great, especially Milioti, who effortlessly conveys how different her personalities are in both universes. In the game, she has the authority and doesn’t flinch to make a decision, while in the real world, she’s just another forgotten face — overlooked, underestimated, and invisible. The supporting cast - Simpson, Billy Magnussen, Osy Ikhile, Milanka Brooks, and Paul G. Raymond - is equally compelling and elevates the viewing experience.
Even though the episode is intriguing and thrilling at the same time, this episode doesn’t quite reach the level of its predecessor. Theoriginal “USS Callister” had a tightly focused nemesisand a claustrophobic tension that made every moment crackle with dread. In the stakes, the stakes are definitely bigger but less personal, and the emotional punch isn’t as distinct. Still, it manages to expand the universe ambitiously. While it may not surpass the original, it earns its place beside it with confidence and style.
All in all, “USS Callister: Into Infinity” is a thrilling journey about the wild frontier of the internet and shows thatBlack Mirrorisn’t afraid to take bold routes.
