Black Mirror is doing a big first in its seventh season with a sequel to one of its most acclaimed episodes, which also gives the show the perfect opportunity to satirize itself. Charlie Brooker’s anthology TV series Black Mirror has presented some of the most disturbing scenarios of where the world and society could lead due to the rapid development of technology and the evolution of media. Of course, Black Mirror also uses these to comment on current social issues and trends, and it will continue to do so in its seventh season.

Black Mirror has gotten a lot of praise from critics and general audiences, with episodes like “San Junipero” and “USS Callister”, as well as the interactive movie Bandersnatch. Now, Black Mirror is preparing for its seventh season, which will mark a first in the show’s history with a sequel episode. Black Mirror season 7 will have six episodes, one of them a sequel to season 4’s acclaimed episode “USS Callister.” Plot details about the sequel episode are currently unknown, but choosing “USS Callister” for a sequel gives Black Mirror the perfect chance to satirize itself.

Black Mirror Season 7's USS Callister Return Is The Perfect Chance To Mock Sequels & Franchises

Black Mirror Knows What It’s Doing With Its Sequel Episode

“USS Callister” introduced the audience to Robert Daly (Jesse Plemons), a brilliant but reclusive programmer and co-founder of the company Callister Inc. The company produced the multiplayer game Infinity, which Daly uses at home in a modified version where he takes his real-life frustrations out on sentient digital clones of his coworkers. When new programmer Nanette (Milioti) is added to Daly’s modded version of the game, her clone realizes the situation they’re in and finds a way to save themselves and their real-life counterparts.

With the sequel to “USS Callister”, Black Mirror can now mock the media in a new way through sequels and franchises.

“USS Callister” has been praised for its tone (as it has more comedy than most Black Mirror episodes), performances, themes (such as abuse of authority and gender power dynamics), and references to Star Trek. Despite the show’s main focus being technology and its many advancements, Black Mirror has also fired shots at the media, as it did in episodes like “Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too”, “The Waldo Moment”, and Bandersnatch. However, with the sequel to “USS Callister”, Black Mirror can now mock the media in a new way through sequels and franchises.

The entertainment industry has been benefiting a lot from reboots, prequels, sequels, and franchises that keep expanding, with Black Mirror now doing the same in season 7. Of course, the key to this will be the sequel episode’s story and how it expands the world established by the first episode.

The USS Callister's Star Trek Influence Makes It Even More Perfect As A Franchise Parody

USS Callister Has Some Very Obvious Inspirations

An important element in “USS Callister” that will help Black Mirror better mock sequels and franchises is Star Trek. Although a main inspiration for “USS Callister” was the classic Twilight Zone episode “It’s A Good Life” (via EW), the look of Daly’s digital universe takes a lot from Star Trek. The design of the spaceships, the costumes, and the technology used within Daly’s version of Infinity are very much like those in the universe of Star Trek, so “USS Callister” isn’t just addressing the above-mentioned social themes, but it’s also spoofing one of the biggest sci-fi franchises ever.

The sequel to “USS Callister”, then, it’s not just any sequel episode, but one of an episode that is already mocking a franchise known for its many, many sequels, spinoffs, and expansions. Of course, this also gives Black Mirror a lot of material to work with in the next “USS Callister” episode, and it’s especially interesting as its main character, Daly, is now dead. Brooker confirmed that, after Daly became trapped in the digital world and physically unable to get out of the game, he died of starvation, also thanks to the “Do Not Disturb” sign on his door (via DigitalSpy).

This also gives an opportunity for Black Mirror to fire shots at the many changes the Star Trek franchise has gone through.

The sequel to “USS Callister” is known to follow the surviving crew under new leadership (thanks to Nanette), but their problems are just beginning. This also gives an opportunity for Black Mirror to fire shots at the many changes the Star Trek franchise has gone through, and how not all of them have always been beneficial to it.

Black Mirror Season 6's Netflix Parody Already Started Turning The Satire On Itself

Black Mirror Recently Fired Shots At Netflix… & Itself

Black Mirror has its fair share of complex episodes, and season 6’s first episode is one of them. Titled “Joan Is Awful”, the episode follows Joan Tait (Annie Murphy), who one day finds a new TV show on the streaming service Streamberry called Joan is Awful. The show is about her daily life, with exaggerated moments for dramatic purposes that, ultimately, hurt her reputation in real life. “Joan Is Awful” gets more and more complex the more Joan learns about the show and those involved in it. In the end, the episode is meta-commentary on streaming platforms, the media, CGI, and AI.

The self-satire of Black Mirror can now continue with the sequel episode to “USS Callister”, but instead of going after streaming platforms and technology, it can be more about creative and narrative decisions. Black Mirror’s sequel to “USS Callister” has a lot of potential, and it can take the show’s meta-commentary and satire to another level.

Sources: EW, DigitalSpy.