It is not often that Black Mirror returns to its own universe, but when it does, it goes all in. Season 7, Episode 7: USS Callister: Into Infinity is a sequel to one of the show’s most beloved and most bizarre episodes, and yes, it’s just as trippy as you hoped. Or feared. Or both.
The original USS Callister episode gave us an unsettling look at toxic fandom, workplace power dynamics, and pixelated purgatory through a Star Trek lens. This time around, “Into Infinity” builds on that foundation and blasts off into something that feels part parody, part revenge tale, and part digital philosophy lecture.
The episode opens with a bang…or more accurately, with a glitch. The Infinity crew is still trapped in their own code, still trying to make sense of their semi-conscious existence, but now they have a new threat to face. A rogue AI? A corrupted update? A glitchy upload? You pick. Honestly, the tech explanation here is less important than the chaos it causes.
We shift our focus for this episode primarily onto the digital crew, led once again by Cristin Milioti’s character, who is still doing her best to rally the troops in between existential crises and space battles. She remains the heart of the story, keeping things grounded even when the ship is hurling toward digital doom at warp speed.
One thing that stands out right away is how much more this episode leans into the fun. There are fight scenes. There are wormholes. It feels like the writers asked themselves, “What if a Black Mirror episode was just… fun for once?” and then went a little wild.
That is not to say it lacks depth. There is plenty to chew on here like questions about identity in the digital age, autonomy inside artificial systems, and the terrifying idea that your entire personality could be at the mercy of someone else’s tech. But the tone is lighter, the pacing quicker, and the jokes actually land more often than not.
Visually, the episode is gorgeous. The set design screams retro sci-fi in the best way, and the effects feel slick without being over-polished. The costume department clearly had a blast. And the opening credits sequence? I am not saying I watched it three times, but I am not saying I didn’t.
Where the episode stumbles a bit is in its need to wrap everything up with a neat little bow. For a show that typically thrives on bleak ambiguity, this one ends with a surprisingly clean resolution. It works, but it also feels slightly out of sync with the tone of most Black Mirror finales. There are no devastating twists here. No horrifying reveals. Just a solid conclusion that might make you smile. Or at least stop questioning your own digital footprint for a moment.
Overall, “Into Infinity” is a bold and entertaining sequel that expands the USS Callister universe without dragging it through the reboot mud. It is not perfect, but it is fast-paced, funny, and filled with just enough existential dread to remind you that yes, this is still Black Mirror.
OUR RATING
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