The death of Robert Daly (Jesse Plemons) marks a shift in power, with Nanette (Cristin Milioti) now taking the helm as captain in Black Mirror’s “USS Callister: Into Infinity.” This episode serves as the much-anticipated continuation of the well-loved Season 4 opener from 2017.
Toby Haynes, who directed the original “USS Callister,” returns to direct this follow-up. The episode is written by series creator Charlie Brooker, Bisha K. Ali (“Demon 79” and “Common People”), William Bridges (“Shut Up and Dance” and “USS Callister”), and Bekka Bowling.
What happens when your survival depends on your digital death (Photo: Black Mirror Season 4/Zeppotron, Charlie Brooker’s own company, in association with Endemol, the UK television company)New Threats in a New Universe
The crew, now free from the terror of Captain Daly, soon discovers that their voyage into a new universe comes with a deadly twist: they can be killed. Worse still, they become marked targets after taking credit from other players to survive.
Nanette, in the real world, investigates complaints from gamers about a mysterious player stealing credits. Her investigation reveals that Daly had cloned her, Walton (Jimmi Simpson), and other office members. As she informs Walton, she realizes he would rather kill their digital counterparts than help them.
When Nanette threatens to expose Walton to a reporter who’s been investigating him, Walton attempts to bribe her into silence. However, things take a drastic turn when Nanette is struck by a car mid-argument, falling into a coma.
The USS Callister Crew’s Last Stand
In the game, the USS Callister crew recruits Walton’s digital clone, re-spawned after his previous death in “USS Callister,” to assist them in reaching the game’s core, known as the Heart of Infinity. A flashback reveals that 12 years ago, Walton had cloned Daly to ensure the game’s endless expansion.
The virtual clone, named Bob, continues working on the game without rest. Meanwhile, the real-world Walton fears the public discovering that his company was built using an illegal clone, a revelation that would surely lead to prison.
In a desperate move, he invites everyone the USS Callister crew has ever robbed, all of whom rush toward them at breakneck speed.
The Ending of “USS Callister: Into Infinity”
Captain Nanette reaches the Heart of Infinity and shares the news of real-world Nanette’s coma with Bob. Bob tells her that he can place Captain Nanette into real-world Nanette’s mind, as she is essentially brain-dead.
After agreeing to the plan that will save both her and her crew, Captain Nanette notices that Bob intends to create a copy of her, rather than transfer her, to keep a version of her with him.
A scuffle ensues, ending with Captain Nanette killing Bob with his prized Bargradian cutlass, which activates a kill switch that will erase the entire game. At the last moment, just before the game is destroyed, Captain Nanette transfers into her real-world counterpart.
Nanette wakes up in her body, now with the USS Callister crew residing in her mind and seeing through her eyes, much like in the Season 4 episode “Black Museum.” Walton, meanwhile, faces the consequences of his actions.
Nanette and the crew watch as a news report reveals that he was arrested by the FBI after being on the run for three months. While Nanette works on freeing her friends, they’ve reached a temporary compromise.
With Nate (Osy Ikhile) now in charge, he and the rest of the crew agree to respect her privacy in exchange for occasionally watching The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Brooker’s Take on the Ending
Brooker explains to Tudum that Captain Nanette hasn’t replaced the real-world Nanette but has merged with her. “Rather than just overriding, she’s kind of merging with her real self,” Brooker says. “She closes that loop in a way which felt important because the real-world her is not as accomplished as the [digital version].”
He further elaborates that the virtual Nanette, who has undergone much hardship, has become a capable leader, whereas the real-world Nanette lags. Thus, Nanette, in a sense, becomes whole again.
The Question of a Happy Ending
While the crew is not dead, they find themselves stranded once again. Brooker describes the ending as “sort of an ultra Black Mirror ending.” He adds, “Even though it is kind of hopeful, they’re not in a great situation.”
Simpson, who portrays Walton, describes the ending as “complicated and honest,” noting the tension between the characters.
“I think it’s hilarious that these folks who are kind of getting [under] each other’s skin are now forced into an even tighter situation because it makes the potential for problems greater, but also makes it kind of essential to find the next doorway.”
Milioti, who plays Nanette, enjoys the twisted nature of the ending, finding it “so weird and singular, and I never saw that coming.” She finds the situation horrifying yet amusing.
Nanette’s Reluctance to Free Her Friends
Nanette’s hesitation to remove her friends from her head is explained by Milioti: “I think that there’s some stuff going on there about not wanting to relinquish a power position, because if she lets go of her [captainship], she has to return to her life where she just works at this office with people that don’t respect her.”
Milioti further reflects on the psychological complexity, suggesting that Nanette’s reluctance may also stem from loneliness, as these are the only people who truly understand her. “Why would she want to let them go?” she ponders.
Who Dies in “USS Callister: Into Infinity”?
Captain Nanette reveals early on that Shania (Michaela Coel), who appeared in the original “USS Callister” episode, was killed four weeks prior, an event that haunts her. “I can still smell her fucking blood,” the captain admits.
In a universe where you can die for real, no one is safe (Photo: Black Mirror Season 4/Zeppotron, Charlie Brooker’s own company, in association with Endemol, the UK television company)Later, Walton joins Nanette in the game to learn more about their digital copies. Upon boarding the USS Callister, Walton opens fire on the crew, hoping to end his cloning problems by killing them. He fatally injures Karl (Billy Magnussen) before Captain Nanette shoots him, ejecting him from the game.
Why a Sequel to “USS Callister”?
“USS Callister: Into Infinity” marks Black Mirror’s first-ever sequel episode, pushing the boundaries of the series. Brooker shares, “Sometimes I’m writing an episode and I’m disappointed I have to say goodbye to all these characters, and this is one of those.
We had such a great ensemble cast, and from the moment the credits rolled on the first one, I was like, ‘I wanna do it again. I want to keep telling that story.” The creative team worked on the sequel for a long time, with Brooker noting that it went through numerous iterations.
“It’s just been gratifying to see it all come together. It was quite emotional getting the cast back and rebuilding the ship.”
The Potential for Another Sequel
When asked about the possibility of another follow-up, Brooker remains open but non-committal. “I would not rule it out, [but] I wouldn’t say we’ve got a definite plan to do that,” he tells Tudum. He adds, “There are several Black Mirror episodes I’d return to if we found the right story.”
