Black Mirror Creators Gaslighting Netflix Viewers with Alternate Season 7 Cut

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In simpler terms, it seems like the TV series “Black Mirror” is starting to feel eerily authentic as Season 7 seems to be playing mind games with Netflix viewers by showing slightly varying versions of a key scene depending on the household.

Despite some diminished impact due to familiarity over time, Black Mirror’s bleak portrayal of a technologically advanced future remains just as powerful in Season 7. Certain episodes lean towards melancholy more than others, but one episode in particular distinguishes itself from the rest for an unusual reason.

In Episode 2, titled “Bête Noire,” the narrative delves into the enigmatic implications of gaslighting, or what appears to be gaslighting, leaving room for doubt. Throughout the episode, we accompany Maria as she grapples with unsettling alterations in her memory. To put it simply, the situation unfolds in a rather ominous manner.

It seems that Netflix might be subtly confusing viewers by presenting conflicting scenes within the same episode, leading to a sense of doubt and confusion among those who watch it.

Black Mirror Season 7’s Bête Noire is gaslighting viewers

Have you ever felt confident that something was a particular way, yet discovered later that it was not as you remembered? This phenomenon is often referred to as the Mandela effect, and it forms the basis of the plot in Episode 2.

In a passionate discussion among her peers, Maria, being a researcher, finds herself at odds over the true name of a local fast food chain. Her colleagues are adamant that it’s called Barnies, while Maria insists with certainty that it’s named Bernies. To them, she might seem a bit unconventional in her belief.

Maria remembers seeing a hat with the Bernie’s company logo on her boyfriend. However, she was incorrect when her coworkers looked it up online and discovered that the actual company name is Barneis. This might not be accurate for all viewers worldwide.

It seems that the scene has been modified for Netflix viewers, appearing to be done randomly. In certain instances, viewers notice Barnies on the screen, while in others, they observe Bernies.

My buddy and I caught the recent “Bête Noire” episode from Black Mirror’s seventh season, and we spotted an obvious disparity between our streams. The audience is even being manipulated psychologically around the 16-minute-40 second mark! #BlackMirrorS7

— Vastolorde | AKIO 🫡💖🇺🇸 (@actualakio) April 10, 2025

barnies

— Black Mirror (@blackmirror) April 11, 2025

Adding to the mystery, when Netflix posted Bernie (presumably referring to a character or show), Black Mirror’s account responded with Barnie. It’s hard to tell what’s truth and what’s fiction, but we won’t reveal any more of the episode now. However, it seems clear that Netflix is playing a trick on its viewers, introducing an element of meta-confusion in Season 7, hinting at a playful form of misdirection or manipulation.

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2025-04-16 04:48