Black Mirror Season 7: USS Callister's Shocking Twist Explained

As a hardcore gamer, I can’t wait to dive back into one of Black Mirror’s most mind-bending virtual realities in ‘USS Callister: Into Infinity’, the long-awaited sequel to the Emmy-winning Season 4 episode. And let me tell you, it wraps up just like a classic Charlie Brooker tale – leaving me speechless with my jaw on the floor.

To start off, let me quickly summarize the events in ‘USS Callister’: The character Robert Daly, portrayed by Jesse Plemons, is the co-creator of a widely acclaimed virtual reality game named Infinity. However, he faces disrespect from his colleagues at Callister Inc., particularly James Walton, played by Jimmi Simpson.

He surreptitiously gathers DNA samples from his colleagues and employs them to develop digital counterparts within a personalized adaptation of a game resembling Space Fleet (a fictional universe similar to Star Trek, as portrayed in Black Mirror). In this virtual setting, he compels the crew to adhere strictly to his orders under the fear of inflicting pain and disfigurement.

Instead, the freshly uploaded duplicate of Nanette Cole (played by Cristin Milioti) assists them in devising a strategy to bring down Daly’s private server, trapping him within the game. Meanwhile, the team manages an escape through a wormhole. Rather than meeting their end, they are transported to the Infinity universe, now liberated from Daly’s dominion but not yet secure. Warning: Spoilers ahead!

USS Callister: Into Infinity ending explained

In the conclusion of USS Callister: Into Infinity, it’s a joyful ending… albeit an unusual kind of joy (given that this is Black Mirror). Nanette Cole merges her two selves, which allows her to break free from the game.

Moreover, these remaining clones – Kabir Dudani (Paul G. Raymond), Nate Packer (Osy Ikhile), Elena Tulaska (Milanka Brooks), and Walton – also find their way into her consciousness.

Nanette is working on figuring out how to remove some ideas from her mind, and she’s taking her time, savoring the joys of living in the real world.

Currently, everyone has struck a balanced agreement. The team is comfortable closing their eyes whenever she’s in the bathroom, changing her clothes, or spending time with a Tinder date, as long as she continues to watch “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” together.

From a devoted fan’s perspective, I find myself reflecting on the climactic demise of the malevolent characters from USS Callister. The final digital avatar of Robert Daly met its end at the hands of clone Nanette, ultimately resulting in the annihilation of the entire Infinity game world.

Previously mentioned was the fact that the game’s co-founder, James Walton, constructed a digital duplicate of Daly and imprisoned him within the Heart of Infinity since the game’s launch. This meant that Daly was compelled to generate infinite planets and expand the virtual universe indefinitely for all eternity.

In this manner, Walton could keep reaping financial advantages from Daly’s intellect and creations without needing to exert any effort.

Despite this portrayal of Daly not being guilty of any misdeeds, it clearly revealed his autocratic nature, both in reality and within his personal sphere.

With the assistance of Clone Walton, Clone Nanette manages to reach the Core of Eternity. Their goal is to persuade Daly to create a safe universe based on the USS Callister crew for them. After agreeing, Daly saves this universe onto a floppy disk.

transporting her back into reality while safeguarding the rest of the team. Yet, as he prepares to upload it, Daly mentions his plan to “duplicate” and “transfer” their code, suggesting he’ll make a duplicate digital version of Nanette for personal use.

She alerts him that her duplicate might not take kindly to the situation, as we’re all aware of the consequences when Daly is given too much control. This leads to a confrontation, with Nanette seizing her Bargradian sword from Space Fleet and impulsively hurling it towards him, fatally striking his head and instantly ending his life.

Loading the disk in time, Clone Nanette prevents the Infinity game from crumbling apart seconds before it explodes. Unbeknownst to her, Daly’s method of salvation involves transferring each character into the physical form of Real Nanette.

While it’s not perfect, this option is preferable to letting them navigate the dangerous corners of the Infinity universe alone without protection.

Regarding the true Walton, not only does his business collapse, but he is apprehended by the FBI for allegations including fraud, violations of digital human rights, embezzlement, concealing an accident, and more.

What was it that prompted the crew to flee the USS Callister at its outset? Let’s retrace our steps to the commencement of ‘USS Callister: Into Infinity’.

USS Callister crew are struggling in Infinity

In Episode 6 of Black Mirror Season 7, we leap ahead through several months post the ‘USS Callister’ events. Despite managing to escape Daly’s virtual universe, Nanette, Kabir, Packer, Karl, and Tulaska struggle to endure in the Infinity game, facing significant challenges in their survival.

In this game, they’re always competing with other players, and the consequences are severe. If a competitor is struck, they automatically leave the game. However, being struck in reality isn’t just a game over; it could lead to genuine injuries, and in some cases, death.

It turns out that Shania Lowry, or Michaela Coel as you might know her, had already passed away a couple of weeks earlier.

Furthermore, not only do they require funds for self-defense within the game, these resources come at a cost in the form of game currency. Faced with no alternative means to sustain themselves, they are forced to steal from other players. However, due to escalating real-world Walton prices, this task has become more challenging than ever before.

During a mission, both Nanette and Packer come perilously close to death. Miraculously, they manage to return to the USS Callister, but find that their earnings from the mission amount to only 34 credits – barely enough to cover fuel and ammunition for the forthcoming days.

Kabir remarks, “They’re making a fortune from this game. Everything is twice as expensive,” to which Tulaska jokes, “The cost of living crisis.

In Infinity’s gameplay, players are encountering problems related to the missions due to elements such as the robberies, which they find unacceptable, and the presence of “bandits” without player tags, along with their ability to bleed – aspects that should supposedly be impossible within the game.

In the actual world, it was confirmed that the character Robert Daly, from the initial ‘USS Callister’, passed away. It’s believed he may have succumbed to starvation at his residence, as he apparently became trapped within the game and couldn’t escape.

At the offices of Callister Inc., the genuine Kabir becomes more and more worried upon noticing a string of complaints pertaining to the Infinity bandits, or, in other words, the replicas.

He attempts to get in touch with Mr. Walton, but Kabir is dismissed by the co-founder to clear the path for his appointment with Kris El Masry, a journalist from the New York Times.

In the meantime, the genuine Nanette Cole arrives at work, visibly anxious following Daly’s demise. She clandestinely holds on to the DNA sample she obtained from Daly’s residence, tucking it away in her handbag.

Later, she gains access to the office’s surveillance system to monitor Walton’s conversation with Masry. While Walton assumes it’s for a fluffy article, the reporter quickly switches to tough interrogation instead.

Robert Daly’s DNA cloner sparks suspicion

Following his reference to the Infinity bandits, Masry reveals a picture depicting Daly’s demise. He gestures towards a device resembling a DNA duplicator on his desk and explains, “Few remain of its kind now, as the technology was globally outlawed due to human rights concerns.

In simpler terms, Masry questions whether Robert Daly illegally copied characters into Walton’s game, suggesting that if the injured character is one of these copies and the allegation is true, then Walton and the entire company would be involved.

This results in Walton being dismissed from the office, leaving him disoriented. Regrettably for him, Kabir has decided to resign.

After listening to everything, Nanette proposes helping Walton. To be able to assist, she requires full access to Kabir’s logging system, which Walton quickly allows her.

The individual comes across a video posted by a gamer who had been earlier targeted by the clones of Nanette and Packer. A chilling understanding strikes her: these duplicates are now free to roam within Infinity.

Worried about Daly’s welfare, Nanette shares all the details with Walton – starting from how Daly passed away and moving on to the DNA samples. Later, Walton retrieves Daly’s computer system and grants Nanette access so she can work on finding a solution to the problem at hand.

USS Callister crew devise a new plan

As an enthusiast, I’d rephrase it as follows: Just like Nanette, I too envision a unique idea: building my own secure virtual universe, similar to Daly’s, but with added safety measures. In this self-created realm called Infinity, I could effortlessly duplicate myself and seal off this new pocket dimension once I’ve moved in.

She explains, “There wouldn’t be any more credits, or other players for that matter, nor any dangers remaining. It would simply be us, secure and protected.

Clone Kabir points out a minor complication: To accomplish this task, they would require access to the original game’s source code. This source code is symbolically represented within the game as the Heart of Infinity – an all-encompassing engine that generates and sustains the entire universe.

As a gamer, I’ve stumbled upon a fascinating truth: only two characters can reach The Heart of Infinity – Daly, who’s no longer among the living, and Walton, whose clone form has met its end.

Instead of reaching out to the genuine Walton for assistance, Kabir reminds them, “We’re unauthorized duplicates within his corporation’s simulation. If we’re found out, they could imprison him.

In simpler terms, the not-so-bright replica of Karl, by accident, provides an important clue when he discloses that Walton’s residence is indeed within the USS Callister, a spaceship.

It’s unlikely because, upon passing through the wormhole, the spaceship reinitialized itself, creating chambers only for the players who were still alive at that specific point in time.

It appears that Walton perished prior to entering the wormhole, but as Nanette notes, if even a single atom of his charred body were swept into their slipstream and traveled with them, it’s possible that he would have reappeared as a fresh character.

They determine that their destination is XJ-500, a planet that came into existence as soon as they departed from Daly’s computer, which is where they must go to locate him.

In the actual world, Nanette too comes to the same realization, leading her and the genuine Walton to step into the game and make a beeline towards that location.

First at the XJ-500 location arrives the replica Nanette, encountering there a stray replica named Walton. You’d recall that he deviates significantly from his original self – in fact, he exhibits kindness unlike his real counterpart.

He’s overjoyed at her presence, and she invites him to rejoin her aboard the spaceship. However, he refuses to go anywhere without Rocky, his loyal companion – a stone adorned with a painted face upfront and a hollow at the back.

However, just as they prepare to depart, the genuine Nanette and Walton appear instead. In a moment reminiscent of the TV show “Severance”, Nanette declares, “I am your true self,” to which the other responds, “Whether that’s true or not is debatable.

They clarify that their intention is not to harm anyone, but rather to assist. With this understanding, all four of them make their way back to the USS Callister, a place bustling with activity as the rest of the group is engrossed in watching The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

Walton is the new villain

Onboard the spacecraft, the team discloses their intention to penetrate the Heart of Infinity, aiming to establish a safe cosmic dwelling. However, just as they are about to carry out this plan, the authentic Walton seizes a colossal weapon and begins firing at them.

In an attempt to make him halt his actions, Nanette pleads, yet he retorts with, “They’re considered unlawful.” They successfully eliminate Walton’s digital persona from the game temporarily – albeit not without consequence as he cold-bloodedly slays clone Karl in the process.

This incident has left Nanette reeling in disbelief, repeatedly expressing regret for not realizing his intention. They urge her to snap out of it and prevent Walton from coming back to reality instead.

She leaves the game and accidentally knocks the Nubbin from Walton’s grip. A heated dispute ensues, as Walton attempts to intimidate her by falsely accusing her of being at Daly’s place the night he passed away.

In a turn of unexpected events, Nanette declared her indifference and intended to quit, but as she was about to cross the street, a car suddenly appeared from nowhere and collided with her, rendering her unconscious.

The real Heart of Infinity

On the USS Callister, the replica Walton reveals a chilling secret: the true Heart of Infinity isn’t another Robert Daly clone as they had initially thought; instead, it is a clone who is imprisoned at the game’s core, destined to serve forever.

Back then, prior to founding Callister Inc., I, much like a youth buoyed by my father’s trust, traversed various landscapes, channeling my resources into an eclectic mix of business endeavors.

Even though many attempts had failed, when Daly demonstrated the prototype of his technology to him, it was clear that it would revolutionize things.

The memory sequence depicts Walton making his initial visit to Daly within his garage, an area adorned as a tribute to the Space Fleet – fully equipped with a genuine Bargradian sword.

As a fan, I’m utterly amazed by the VR experience, yet I find myself wondering aloud, “When will we have the chance to engage in combat?” Daly, however, endeavors to clarify that it’s intended to be more about immersive experiences rather than just games.

However, it appears that Walton’s vision is primarily focused on monetary gains. He expresses this by stating, “If we can make this work for online play, it’s a massive treasure trove.

In that particular instant, Daly had fashioned four planets within his digital domain. However, Walton argues for a minimum of 50 to make it viable.

He inquires about automatically producing them, but Daly responds that it’s not feasible since he would have to personally examine each planet.

As a fervent admirer, I must confess that an intriguing notion, albeit questionable in legality, has crossed Walton’s mind. One of the ventures he had financially backed hailed from the adult entertainment sector – the DNA cloner. Despite being prohibited before its official launch, his persistence has led him to acquire one of these devices.

According to clone Walton, “Bob, embedded within the code and integrated with the engine, can effectively operate around the clock inside a temporal pocket, constructing the universe bit by bit.” He concurred with this assessment.

He elaborates, “What lies within the Core of Eternity is what truly matters. The intricate, rotating design serves merely as a facade, a diversion. Hidden inside is Bob’s trapped consciousness, powerless to escape. It’s all about expanding Infinity upon itself.

As a dedicated admirer, I can’t help but ponder the reasons behind the genuine Walton’s relentless efforts to prevent anyone from reaching the Heart of Infinity. Should someone manage to get there, it would undeniably mean the demise of his golden goose, and quite likely, a stint in jail.

Clone Nanette suddenly realizes that her real self is in serious danger.

Nanette Cole makes a tough decision

Instead of contacting the actual Nanette, they find themselves speaking to a doctor, who informs them that she’s in a coma and it’s uncertain whether she’ll regain consciousness or retain her mental faculties upon awakening.

Despite enduring numerous challenges, clone Nanette makes up her mind to venture into the Heart of Infinity immediately, and clone Walton permits her entry.

Upon her arrival, she encounters a digital replica of Daly in a simulated version of his garage, employing both hands and intellect to enlarge the Infinity cosmos. Following an uneasy greeting, Nanette reveals that his actual self constructed a pocket universe and duplicated all his workforce for torment and fulfillment of his Space Fleet dreams.

In response, he expresses his belief that Walton had taken advantage of him and appeared self-centered. To this, Nanette agrees, implying that she needed the favor as a result. This implies that her real self, in some way, might have perished due to this interaction with Walton.

Daily transfers his fresh universe onto an antique green floppy disk (the hardware dates back to the ’90s), yet he offers Nanette another choice: a red floppy disk, capable of moving her into her physical form in reality.

For the remaining USS Callister duplicates, their very existence would be erased. Essentially, it’s a matter of choosing between rescuing the crew or ensuring her own survival.

In her act of selflessness, she elects to prioritize the safety of the crew, prompting Daly to disclose that there had been a concealed third choice all along – one saved on a blue floppy disk: an option to save everyone. However, he was only prepared to extend this alternative if she demonstrated courage and wisdom in her decision-making.

Yet, upon his attempt to transfer it, he remarks, “Shall we duplicate it instead.” Nanette corrects him by saying he means “Extract it,” but Daly clarifies that he intends to create another version of her – a companion for him within the Heart of Infinity.

He assures her he’d be kind towards her, but with no underhanded actions unless she consents. Yet, he won’t cause harm, he claims. However, Nanette isn’t fooled. “Yes, you would,” she counters. “I understand that right now you don’t believe it, but the power you possess is not something you can handle responsibly.

The final battle

In this situation, they engage in a dispute, where Daly exclaims “stop” and shoves his arm forward forcefully, making Nanette’s face contort as if she can no longer speak. Subsequently, he employs his powers to elevate her off the ground and hurls her violently against the wall.

Simultaneously aboard the USS Callister, the genuine Walton re-enters the game, whacks his duplicate with a rock (Rocky), then marches towards the command center.

He reveals his secret identity rather hastily (by telling Packer his coffee order), but before they could subdue him, he presses the ‘Party Invite’ button. This leads to catastrophe for the team, as it summons every player they have previously robbed for an interstellar fight.

1. In a rush, he betrays his hidden identity (by telling Packer what coffee he wanted), but before they could apprehend him, he tapped the ‘Party Invite’ button. This triggers chaos for the group, as it brings together every robbery target they had ever had for a cosmic conflict.

1. He exposed his undercover status in no time (by giving Packer his coffee order), but before they could detain him, he clicked the ‘Party Invite’ button. This sets off a calamity for the team, as it gathers all of their former robbery victims for an intergalactic battle.

1. He exposed his secret operations quickly (by ordering coffee for Packer), but before they could arrest him, he activated the ‘Party Invite’ button. This results in a disaster for the team, as it invites all of their past robbery targets for an intergalactic war.

This sets the stage for brief appearances by characters like Nida Huq (played by Anjana Vasan) and Gaap (portrayed by Paapa Essiedu), both from the Black Mirror Season 6 episode ‘Demon79’, who make an entrance as malevolent figures.

Ultimately, they exhausted all their available credits, which depleted their shields completely. In other words, just one more accidental strike would spell their doom.

As a gamer, I snatch up the mentioned Bargradian cutlass and hurl it towards Daly, taking his life. With seconds to spare, I locate the elusive blue floppy disk, load it onto the system, and press enter just as the Infinity game was about to vanish forever.

As they rise from slumber, we arrive at the concluding moment of ‘USS Callister: Into Infinity’. Here, our beloved team resides within the mindscape of Nanette, while the genuine Walton finds himself incarcerated for his misdeeds.

2025-04-10 10:24

Black Mirror Season 7: USS Callister’s Shocking Twist Explained