Black Mirror Season 7's USS Callister Sequel Looks Like It's Mocking A Divisive $467 Million Sci-Fi Movie

As Black Mirror season 7 approaches, it sounds like the show’s upcoming sequel episode will be a clever parody of 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness. Since the series first debuted in 2011, Black Mirror has explored the world of dystopian sci-fi and the dark side of futuristic technology. Some of Black Mirror’s worst episodes leaned into the show’s horror side, but many of its strongest outings focused more on both the positive and negative impacts that technological advances have on human society. Black Mirror season 7 promises to be no different in this regard.

However, the acclaimed Netflix hit’s seventh outing will see the show change up its formula in a few areas. Black Mirror season 7 promises to attempt a risky feat as the anthology show stages its first sequel episode. "USS: Callister: Into Infinity" is a sequel to season 4, episode 1, “USS Callister,” a cautionary tale wherein Jesse Plemons’ abusive game programmer Robert Daly is overthrown by digital clones of his colleagues that he created. Daly spends most of the episode mistreating clones of his colleagues aboard the eponymous vessel, only for them to eventually kill his real-life self.

Black Mirror Season 7's USS Callister Sequel Borrows Its Title From Star Trek

USS Callister: Into Infinity Slyly References Star Trek Into Darkness

Two versions of Cristin Milioti's Nanette stare at each other on a spaceship from Black Mirror season 7 trailer-1

In the unusually happy ending of Black Mirror’s “USS Callister," Cristin Milioti’s new clone Nanette inspires her fellow clones to stand up to Daly and the group collectively overpower him. In season 7’s upcoming sequel episode, "USS Callister: Into Infinity,” IGN reveals that Nanette now feels overworked and out of control in her role commanding the titular ship. The title of "USS Callister: Into Infinity” calls to mind 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness, a divisive sequel to 2009’s well-received Star Trek reboot.

Those with a dim view of Star Trek Into Darkness viewed it as a needlessly bleak rehash of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

This might not be an accident considering how much the aesthetic, style, and tone of the original season 4 episode borrowed from various incarnations of Star Trek. While 2009’s reboot was generally well-liked, Star Trek Into Darkness garnered more criticism due to its comparatively dark, downbeat tone. The sequel arrived in an era when many blockbuster franchises were experimenting with darker, grittier reinventions of their intellectual properties, but those with a dim view of the sequel viewed it as a needlessly bleak rehash of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

This could be good news for Black Mirror season 7’s sequel episode as, if "USS Callister: Into Infinity” does borrow from the Star Trek sequel, it could offer a darker take on the story after the original episode’s sunny ending. “USS Callister” has plenty of moments that are hard to watch, but the episode’s finale is atypically optimistic compared to most Black Mirror outings. As such, it would be surprisingly fitting for “USS Callister: Into Infinity” to offer a sadder, darker take on the same story.

"USS Callister: Into Infinity" Could Be A Spoof Of Sequel Culture & Remakes

USS Callister Primarily Parodied Toxic And Entitled Creators

Much like “USS Callister” critiqued toxic creators who are granted excessive power in the media environment, "USS Callister: Into Infinity" could spoof remake/reboot culture. Although complaints about the preponderance of remakes, reboots, and sequels have been around for decades, the comparative lack of investment in original intellectual properties is a real issue in the industry. Ironically, Black Mirror’s sequel episode could critique the very concept of endlessly revisiting fruitful existing ideas instead of coming up with risky new concepts.

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Although its critical reception was far from outright disastrous, Star Trek Into Darkness was criticized for failing to offer something sufficiently new. Even Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan’s director told ScreenRant in 2018, “If you're going to do an homage, you have to add something. You have to put another layer on it, and they didn’t.” This criticism could be leveled at many sequels, re-imaginings, spinoffs, and particularly remakes, which Black Mirror season 7 may highlight in its satirical take on the media environment’s current reboot culture.

Star Trek Into Darkness Being So Divisive Could Help Black Mirror Make Its Point

The Star Trek Sequel Wasn’t Widely Loved Due To Its Dark Tone

The fact that Star Trek Into Darkness was criticized for failing to offer something new sets up "USS Callister: Into Infinity” for success. Given how self-referential earlier Black Mirror episodes like “Joan Is Awful” are, it makes perfect sense for the show’s first sequel to be a take-down of studios recycling uninspired concepts through endless sequels.

Black Mirror can parody both the appetite for nostalgic cash-ins and the issues with them.

Revealing that the ending of “USS Callister” wasn’t as unambiguously hopeful as it first seemed is risky, but it does mean Black Mirror can parody both the appetite for nostalgic cash-ins and the issues with them. It is tricky for even the most self-aware show to satirize uninspired sequels while still somehow supplying a satisfying, successful follow-up, but Black Mirror taking on Star Trek Into Darkness gives the series the best formula to succeed in this endeavor.

Source: IGN