The only Black Mirror episode that received a sequel

Somehow it was eight years ago since we saw the crew of the USS Callister Rebell against her cruel captain, frees himself from his strictly controlled pocket universe and went into the broader galaxy. What happens next is examined when Black mirror returns on April 10 with “USS Callister: in Infinity”, the first episode of the dystopian series.

But before the CallisterThe next chapter arrives, a restoration of the original episode, which is expressly on the reef Star Trek but also researches the workplace culture, toxic masculinity and ideas to shape consciousness Compensation—Sene as in order. No surprise: the entry of the fourth season is still one of Black mirror‘S best of all times because of its mixture of outstanding stories, services and special effects.

This characteristic quality also nailed completely, which almost all of them Black mirror Episodes try to integrate and explore technological innovation that sounds absolutely fantastic and wonderful until the dark side is exposed.

At 76 minutes, “USS Callister” is on the longer side (“Infinity” is longer), but like most Black mirror Episodes The term is perfectly tailored to the needs of history. It begins with the promised full-on Star Trek Homage with Robert Daly (Jesse Plemons) as a heroic and daring captain Kirk-like leader of a crew who fights a stranger. The costumes are outrageous retro, the whole woman occurs to kiss her captain when the mission ends successfully, and everyone is only a little too upset and submissive.

We will soon find out why everything looks so retro shiny: this is actually an immersive game called called called infinityModified by his designer -the real Robert Daly -to replicate his favorite vintage -TV show. Space fleet. It is an astonishing idea on the surface that enables him to get into the show and experience your own adventures.

But of course there is a dark undercut. Why is the crew so submissive? Well, Robert has shaped every character according to real employees who are dissatisfied for some reason. They may not respect him in the office, but their virtual themselves crouches together with every command.

There could be a version of this story in which Robert’s infinity The adaptation is a cathartic way to ward off outrage and frustrations. Although he created infinity And co -founder of the company, Callister Inc., who produces it, he is so socially cumbersome that everyone at best treats him as an outsider and, in the worst case, as a complete crazy. And as the fans know well, Black mirror Loves a story that contains revenge on bullying.

But “USS Callister” is not looking for a sympathy for Robert. His creepy fixation on his colleague-the only human interaction in his life, apart from the Pizza Liefer Type, does not simply change to VR. Instead, he stole her DNA in a row and used them to create digital clones that only exist in his personally modified version of infinity.

We learn first -hand what that means when Nanette Cole (Cristin Milioti) “New girl in the office”, who initially admired Robert for his coding skills Space fleet Uniform on board the USS CallisterI don’t know what the hell is going on. Put it in Compensation Terms, it is the “in the” exit “nanette, which still exists in the real world. But different than CompensationThis newly created nanette even has the memory of the nanette itself, until the moment it opened her eyes.

“Do I dream?” She asks everyone else; They all look like the people they got to know in the office, except that they are all made Space fleet Style. Your next question is: “How do we get out?”

While everyone else was tortured by Daly to the submission at that time, the nanette is determined to escape this hell, where they feels Like her actual self, but instead a digital clone is doomed to fail to suffer eternal agony. She manages to gather others – like CompensationYou have to face the idea that your only way to freedom may stop. But instead of stepping into an elevator, you have to maneuver the USS Callister In a worm hole that was created by an upcoming infinity Software update.

Nanette’s plan is awesome-it is about getting your real self and the ignorant help of this pizza delivery–and it is not a spoiler to say that it almost works here with this sequel. But maybe the most useful trick “USS Callister” is that he exceeds the deliberately fake feeling in the race to his climax Star Trek Rip off Daly and becomes an authentically exciting space adventure, at least for a few scenes.

Nanette, digital clone or in other ways ensures a fantastic Space fleet The captain – and thinking about the closing moments of the episode makes “in Infinity” even more to be expected.

You can “USS Callister” and the rest of stream Black mirror Seasons 1-6 on Netflix now; Black mirror Season seven, including “USS Callister: in Infinity”, arrives on April 10th.

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