There are plenty of episodes of Black Mirror that make you fear your phone…and then there’s “Bête Noire,” which makes you fear your own memory, your coworkers, and possibly almond milk. It’s slick, unsettling, and full of the kind of psychological spirals that will make you want to double-check literally everything you think you remember.
This episode starts innocently enough. We meet a successful, driven woman living her normal-ish life at a candy company (because of course even dystopia needs snacks). She seems like she’s got things figured out until a new colleague arrives and things start to feel… off. Not “my Zoom link isn’t working” off. More like “did I wake up in a different universe?” off.
What follows is a slow burn of confusion, unease, and tech-fueled paranoia. The episode toys with the idea of memory, reality, and how the two aren’t always on speaking terms. You’ll find yourself questioning whether what you saw earlier in the episode actually happened or if YOU are the one losing it. (Hint: you’re not. Probably.)
Stylistically, Bête Noire is classic Black Mirror—all cool tones, disorienting sound design, and the creeping sensation that your devices might be plotting against you. The lead performances are strong, particularly the central character, who somehow manages to juggle emotional breakdowns and workplace stress with incredible wardrobe consistency. It’s honestly impressive.
Now, the concept behind this episode is bold. It flirts with some seriously heady sci-fi ideas – stuff that would make even Christopher Nolan pause and say, “wait, run that by me again?” The execution mostly works, especially if you’re the type who enjoys putting together narrative puzzles. That said, if you prefer your stories to offer clarity on a silver platter… you might find yourself squinting a bit.
And yes, there is a subplot involving nut milk. That’s all I’ll say. But trust me: it’s memorable in a way that might haunt you during your next grocery run.
One thing I have to give props for is the fun meta layer tucked into the episode’s release. Without giving anything away, Netflix did something a little sneaky with how this one rolled out—playing into the very themes of memory and perception the episode explores. It’s clever, disorienting, and makes you want to rewatch just to see what else might’ve changed.
But while the episode is rich in atmosphere and loaded with intriguing ideas, it doesn’t totally stick the landing. The pacing stumbles a bit in the back half, and some of the episode’s bigger swings may leave viewers more puzzled than provoked. It’s the kind of story that makes you want to talk about it afterward, but maybe more to figure out what you just watched than to praise its genius.
Still, there’s a lot to enjoy here if you’re in the mood for something twisty, psychological, and just a little bit petty. (Black Mirror really said: what if trauma, but make it quantum?) It’s not the most impactful or emotionally resonant episode of the series, but it is a memorable ride, especially for fans who enjoy when sci-fi goes full-on existential meltdown.
In short: Bête Noire is the kind of episode that makes you question your own memory, side-eye your coworkers, and maybe Google “quantum reality manipulation” at 2 a.m. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely Black Mirror doing what it does best – making you deeply uncomfortable in a very cool, very well-lit way.
OUR RATING
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