Cristin Milioti, a rising star in Hollywood, returns to the spotlight in the latest season of Black Mirror. Known for her diverse roles, Milioti gained acclaim in How I Met Your Mother and garnered critical praise for her performance in The Penguin as Sofia Falcone. Her portrayal of Nanette Cole in Black Mirror’s “USS Callister” proved her versatility yet again. In this latest season, Milioti faces a more chilling antagonist than she did in The Penguin, revealing a deeper victimhood amid a terrifying narrative underworld.
In Black Mirror’s seventh season, Milioti’s Nanette Cole reunites with the USS Callister crew in a sequel to the season four episode, “USS Callister.” Aptly titled “USS Callister: Into Infinity,” this episode introduces a more menacing foe than the scheming Oswald “Oz” Cobb, exposing the true tragedies hidden within this sci-fi realm. As questions swirl around Will Poulter’s enigmatic character in the season trailer, echoes from Black Mirror’s interactive Bandersnatch intrigue return.
The original episode featuring Callister, Inc. introduced us to Walton, played by Jimmi Simpson, whose tyrannical leadership and camaraderie with the co-founder, Robert Daly, depicted tensions simmering within the company. The sequel unmasks Walton’s deeper malice, portraying him as a misogynistic, power-hungry CEO driven by inherited wealth. His disconnection from his employees and his disdain for independent media depict a classic tale of privilege unchecked by morality.
“USS Callister: Into Infinity” displays Walton’s manipulative nature, as he exploits the work of others to bolster his empire. Clones of Nanette and even Walton himself become caught in the crossfire of Real Walton’s ruthless intent, exemplifying the lengths he will go to erase any evidence of Daly’s misdeeds. Walton’s actions within the game’s digital realm, including leaving Real Nanette helpless after a car accident, transcend villainy in a way that starkly contrasts with the underworld tactics faced by Milioti’s Sofia Falcone in The Penguin.
Sofia Falcone’s experience with her father, Carmine, and later Oswald, portrayed power struggles within Gotham’s mob circles. While the mobsters operated with a skewed ethical code, Walton’s reliance on the privileges and constructs designed by others, void of any moral compass, underscores his true monstrosity. Meanwhile, Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker introduces Walton’s cruel detachment from human empathy, through his treatment of digital clones as disposable assets.
The show’s social critique sharpens as it portrays Walton as a soulless puppet master, uninhibited by ethical boundaries, resembling themes explored in shows like Severance. The clones, through Milioti’s vivid portrayal, experience the horror of their reality, enduring lives where identity and autonomy are constantly undermined. This sparks movements within them to defy Walton’s oppressive strategies, asking Clone Robert to secure their futures in a heavenly digital landscape while propelling Nanette to rejoin her consciousness with the Real Nanette’s body.
Milioti’s Nanette, in a climactic turn, outsmarts her captor Robert within the game, navigating the chaos to merge her consciousness and carry the Callister crew within her psyche. This twist reflects Black Mirror’s knack for melding futuristic fantasy with existential dread. Despite Walton facing jailtime due to his machinations catching up to him, the erosion left in his wake lingers, leaving viewer contemplation on the boundaries of power and accountability.
The digital atrocities, Robert’s demise, and Nanette’s survival weave a narrative tightly packed with emotion and introspection. Yet, even as she equips herself with newfound resilience, the looming threat of Walton’s return hints at systemic flaws within the justice system fueled by wealth and influence, as his legacy of destruction persists. Nanette’s journey mirrors real-world struggles, questioning fairness within hierarchical structures, adding to Milioti’s performance as a woman confronting overwhelming odds.
All seven gripping seasons of Black Mirror, including Cristin Milioti’s gripping battles in season 7, await viewers on Netflix, challenging them to question technological dominion and its implications for humanity’s future.
