Black Mirror boldly returns to one of its most beloved universes with “USS Callister: Into Infinity,” the long-anticipated sequel to the Emmy-winning Season 4 episode. Directed by Toby Haynes and co-written by Charlie Brooker, Bisha K. Ali, William Bridges, and Bekka Bowling, this 90-minute installment delivers high-stakes adventure, emotional payoff, and rich philosophical questions, all wrapped in a dazzling sci-fi spectacle.
Set shortly after the fall of Robert Daly, the tyrannical and abusive creator of the original Callister simulation, the story picks up with Captain Nanette Cole (Cristin Milioti) now leading the remaining digital clones trapped in the sprawling multiplayer universe of Infinity. No longer confined to Daly’s twisted Star Trek-inspired fantasy, the crew navigates this vast new world without official player credentials. That status makes them virtual outlaws—vulnerable, unprotected, and hunted.
To survive, the crew turns to digital piracy. They scavenge data, hack weaker players, and dodge in-game moderation systems. Their ship, once a prison, is now a lifeline—but its future is far from secure. A rumor of a potential “back door” to full autonomy surfaces, and with it, a dangerous plan to hack the core infrastructure of Infinity. Their mission hinges on locating a familiar face: James Walton’s (Jimmi Simpson) digital clone, “Walt,” who was thought lost after Daly’s demise.
Walt, it turns out, has been hiding deep within the simulation, guarding valuable knowledge about Infinity’s architecture. Reuniting with him triggers an ambitious journey toward the “Heart of Infinity”—a surreal digital recreation of Daly’s cluttered garage, which now functions as the game’s master control center. There, to the crew’s horror, they find a clone of Daly still alive, sustained by backup protocols. Though weaker than his original incarnation, this Daly still wields enormous power.
Here, Into Infinity raises the stakes by forcing Nanette to make a devastating choice. Daly offers her an ultimatum: she can save her crew by transferring them to a private, unmoderated server where they’ll be free—but only if she agrees to remain by his side in eternal companionship. Alternatively, she can refuse and risk them all being purged.
In true Black Mirror fashion, the confrontation becomes a test of autonomy and moral courage. Nanette refuses to become anyone’s prisoner—again. A digital battle ensues, mixing fast-paced visuals with psychological tension. With Walt’s help and a clever code loop, they overpower Daly’s clone and collapse the core system housing him.
The crew’s victory unlocks a safer domain: a private server sandbox with open code access, allowing them to reshape their existence. For the first time, they aren’t at the mercy of a godlike creator—they are the creators. But USS Callisterdoesn’t end there.
In a parallel arc, the real-world James Walton—whose DNA was used to create his digital counterpart—faces mounting legal scrutiny over his involvement in Daly’s original unethical cloning experiment. His arrest raises further questions about consent and accountability in virtual spaces, grounding the episode’s fantastical elements in a chilling near-future reality.
Meanwhile, the final scenes take a quiet, tender turn. Nanette’s consciousness merges with her comatose real-world body—allowing her to live as a hybrid being with both digital memories and real-world agency. Her crew, now a collective of uploaded minds, continues to exist with her, suggesting a future where bodies and consciousness no longer obey binary definitions.
Their first act of freedom? Something simple: watching television together. It’s a soft, heartwarming moment that captures the show’s enduring power—juxtaposing technological complexity with raw human emotion.
“USS Callister: Into Infinity” brilliantly balances high-concept science fiction with a deep emotional throughline. Cristin Milioti anchors the narrative with a layered performance, portraying Nanette’s evolution from a digital victim to a liberated leader. The episode’s blend of action, suspense, and ethical inquiry reflects Black Mirror’s signature style at its best. Its commentary on digital identity, the fluidity of consciousness, and the dangers of unchecked power makes it both thrilling and thought-provoking.
Far more than just a sequel, “Into Infinity” enriches the USS Callister lore while standing firmly on its own. It challenges viewers to reconsider what it means to be “real” in a world where technology increasingly blurs the lines between life, play, and surveillance. A fitting finale to Season 7—and a strong contender for one of Black Mirror’s most impactful follow-ups. I’m
