The Black Mirror universe has expanded with its first-ever sequel episode, USS Callister: Into Infinity, a follow-up to the critically acclaimed Season 4 opener. Directed once again by Toby Haynes and written by series creator Charlie Brooker alongside Bisha K. Ali and William Bridges, this installment delivers a thrilling continuation of the USS Callister saga—packed with existential dilemmas, shocking twists, and a haunting exploration of digital consciousness.
A New Threat in a New Universe
The original USS Callister ended with the crew escaping their tyrannical creator, Robert Daly (Jesse Plemons), by fleeing into an alternate digital universe. But freedom comes at a cost. In Into Infinity, Nanette Cole (Cristin Milioti) has taken command, only to discover that their new reality has a terrifying rule: they can now die.
To survive, the crew resorts to stealing credits from other players, making them targets in the game. Meanwhile, in the real world, Nanette uncovers the truth—that Walton (Jimmi Simpson), CEO of Callister Inc., had secretly cloned Daly to keep developing the game. When she confronts him, Walton would rather eliminate the digital copies than face legal consequences. But before she can expose him, tragedy strikes: Nanette is hit by a car and falls into a coma.
The Heart of Infinity and a Desperate Gamble
Back in the game, the crew seeks out the Heart of Infinity—the game’s core—where they encounter Bob, a digital clone of Daly who has been working nonstop for years. Bob reveals a shocking possibility: he can transfer Captain Nanette’s consciousness into the comatose real-world Nanette’s mind.
However, things take a dark turn when Nanette realizes Bob isn’t planning a transfer—he wants to copy her, keeping a digital version trapped with him forever. In a desperate struggle, Nanette kills Bob with his own Bargradian cutlass, triggering a system-wide deletion. At the last second, she uploads herself into her real-world body, waking up from the coma—but with her digital crew now living inside her mind.
A Twisted Fusion of Identities
The ending raises chilling questions about identity and autonomy. Brooker explains that this isn’t a simple case of one Nanette replacing the other—they merge.
“Rather than just overriding, she’s kind of merging with her real self,” he says. “The virtual Nanette has been through a lot and has stepped up as a leader, whereas the real-world Nanette is running behind. In a way, she becomes whole again.”
But this “wholeness” comes with complications. The crew, now trapped in Nanette’s consciousness, negotiate a fragile coexistence. With Nate (Osy Ikhile) as the new captain, they agree to give her privacy in exchange for watching The Real Housewives of Atlanta—a darkly humorous compromise.
Is This a Happy Ending?
Brooker describes it as “an ultra-Black Mirror ending”—hopeful in some ways, but deeply unsettling.
“They’re not in a great situation,” he admits. Jimmi Simpson, who plays Walton, calls it “complicated and honest.”
“They’re forced into this purgatory together,” Simpson says. “It’s hilarious and horrifying—perfect for Black Mirror.”
Milioti adds that Nanette may be reluctant to free her crew because power and loneliness play into her decisions.
“If she lets go of her captainship, she has to return to a life where no one respects her,” she says. “These are the only people who understand her. Why would she want to let them go?”
Who Doesn’t Make It Out Alive?
The stakes are higher than ever—characters can now permanently die.
- Shania (Michaela Coel) was killed weeks before the events of the episode, leaving Nanette traumatized.
- Karl (Billy Magnussen) is fatally shot by the real-world Walton during a violent confrontation.
Why Make a Sequel?
Brooker admits he wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters.
“From the moment the first episode ended, I wanted to keep telling their story,” he says. “We spent years refining the script—it was emotional rebuilding the ship and reuniting the cast.”
Will There Be Another Sequel?
Brooker isn’t ruling it out.
“I wouldn’t say we have a definite plan, but there are several Black Mirror episodes I’d return to if we found the right story.”
Final Verdict: A Bold, Unsettling Expansion
USS Callister: Into Infinity pushes Black Mirror into uncharted territory, blending existential horror with dark comedy. It’s a story about survival, identity, and the blurred line between reality and simulation—ending not with a clean resolution, but with a haunting question: What does it mean to be truly free?
For fans of the series, this sequel is a must-watch—packed with callbacks, shocking twists, and the kind of moral complexity that makes Black Mirror unforgettable.
Black Mirror Season 7, including USS Callister: Into Infinity, is now streaming on Netflix.