**Spoiler Alert:** The following article contains significant plot details regarding episode 6, titled *”USS Callister: Into Infinity,”* from *Black Mirror* season 7. Initially presented in season 4, *USS Callister* concluded with Capt. Robert Daly’s pocket universe being shut down by the ship’s crew, allowing them to escape to the main game server. While this appeared to offer a sense of resolution for the virtual characters, season 7’s episode 6 reveals a much darker reality for these digital clones.
Stripped of player tags, the crew of the USS Callister confronts the challenges posed by real-world players within the overarching framework of the *Infinity* game, where survival hinges upon accumulating game credits. In a bid to protect themselves, Nanette and her crew devise a plan that leads them into conflict with not only new adversaries but also familiar foes. Fortunately, the episode concludes on a hopeful note for the characters.
The Fate of Nanette’s Clone & The USS Callister Crew in Season 7 Episode 6
The Collapse of Infinity and the Crew’s Escape
Upon visiting the Heart of Infinity, Nanette encounters a digital replica of Robert Daly. Surprisingly, this version of him, portrayed by Jesse Plemons, exhibits a milder demeanor compared to his previous iterations. When Nanette seeks his assistance in creating a secure universe in which she and her crew can reside, Robert agrees to aid, promising not only their safety but also the transfer of her consciousness back to her physical form.
However, departure from the plan emerges when Nanette is compelled to confront Robert violently, leading to his demise. This critical moment sets off a chain reaction that threatens the entire virtual universe within Infinity, nearly obliterating both Nanette and her crew. In a crucial moment, Nanette successfully uses the correct data disks to transition her consciousness back into her physical body, while her crew is cast into a new pocket universe. Ultimately, the episode concludes with Nanette awakening in her own human body, only to discover that the remaining crew members reside in her mind, allowing for communication through her phone.
Tragically, of the original crew, only two members, Carl and Shania, do not survive the narrative. Carlos is killed by Walton’s parent version, while Shania’s fate is left ambiguous, having perished before the events of season 4, episode 1.
Understanding Nanette’s Choice to Eliminate Bob
Revealing Robert’s Dark Side
Initially, Robert Plemons presents himself as a more benevolent version of his human counterpart who met his end in season 4. However, beneath this surface lies a familiar malevolence as he plots to “copy”rather than “cut and paste”Nanette’s consciousness, intending to maintain a part of her within the Heart of Infinity. This realization, echoing past tyrannies inflicted by his human form, propels Nanette into a desperate fight for her autonomy. In a climactic confrontation, she kills Robert to prevent his overt manipulation.
The Consequences of Infinity’s Collapse and Walton’s Outcome
Walton’s Arrest and the Finality of Infinity
The death of Robert results in the game Infinity collapsing, triggering an error message that reverberates across its players: *”Fate Content Error 606.”* As explained to Walton by his human counterpart, this denotes the permanent erasure of the game from the server, leading to the downfall of both the game and its developers. After a three-month manhunt, James Walton finds himself apprehended by the FBI, having been reported anonymously by Nanette. He faces multiple charges, including:
- Fraud
- Violation of digital human rights
- Embezzlement
- Failure to report an incident
Nanette & The Digital Clones’ Strategies for Survival
Designing a New Universe within the Game
Because Nanette and her crew are conscious beings within the game’s confines, they are compelled to play strategically to gather credits for survival. Following the loss of one crew member, they realize the grave risks posed by continuing to adhere to the game’s parameters. To ensure their safety, they conceive a plan to construct a new universe void of the harsh realities and confines of Infinity’s competitive environment.
Realizing that access to the game’s source code is vital, they set their sights on the Heart of Infinity, the repository of the game’s core mechanics. Guided by Kabir, they embark on a quest to unlock this crucial stronghold, hopeful of crafting a sanctuary away from the threats they face.
The Heart of Infinity: Catalyst for Collapse
The Deceptive Nature of the Heart
As revealed, the Heart of Infinity embodies the game’s source code, hidden within the virtual domain. Kabir deduces its potential for manipulation, positing that a visit to this core could allow for the design of their own universe. However, Walton’s digital clone exposes a crucial aspect: the Heart’s inherent purpose was to keep Robert working unfettered in Infinity.
This critically informs the game’s dynamics, as Robert’s demise eliminates the foundational architect of its infrastructure, leading to the eventual disintegration of Infinity.
The DNA Cloner: Misuse and Consequences
Ethical Implications of the DNA Cloner
Walton’s clone highlights the troubling backstory of the DNA cloner utilized by Robert in season 4. Originally intended for the adult entertainment industry, this technology could fabricate sentient virtual companions for user-defined experiences. Ethical concerns saw it banned in real life. Yet, Walton harnessed this tool for nefarious purposes, cloning Robert in a bid to engineer persistent labor for Infinity. Meanwhile, Robert employed it to dominate the lives of his digital workforce.
Walton’s Digital Clone: A Surprise Resurrection
Resurgence Despite Past Peril
In the climactic close of season 4’s first episode, Walton sacrificed himself to facilitate the USS Callister’s escape from Daly’s oppressive server. His presumed death meant a datastorm fate for him in the updated game. However, season 7, episode 6 illuminates that residual atoms from his physical body traversing the wormhole enabled him to respawn within the revised Infinity.
Recognizing that his realm remained intact within the game, Nanette and her crew discover Walton is indeed alive when they find his location by tracking which new planet emerged from the wormhole.
The Discovery of Nanette’s Digital Clone
Following the Trail of Untagged Players
After encountering mentions of untagged players in game discussions, Nanette diligently tracks these players down. She quickly realizes that one player seems to echo Nate’s voice, while another blatantly resembles her. This investigation leads her to a voice note from season 4’s episode 1, which urged her to retrieve Daly’s DNA samples—an act confirming that the messages originated from her digital counterparts.
Does *USS Callister: Into Infinity* Tease Future Installments?
Possibilities for Continuation Following Season 7, Episode 6
Although season 7 concludes successfully for Nanette and her team, the finale includes a moment hinting at potential sequels. The USS Callister crew inquires whether Nanette has figured out how to disentangle them from her mind and create a secure server for their existence. While she indicates ongoing efforts, her responses suggest a greater interest in her own life outside the game.
| Key Facts About Black Mirror | |
| Created By | Charlie Brooker |
| Season Count | 7 |
| Total Episodes | 33 (excluding *Bandersnatch*) |
| Available On | Netflix |
This storyline could give rise to compelling conflict between Nanette and her crew, potentially reigniting tensions between digital clones and their human counterpart. In many aspects, *Black Mirror*’s *USS Callister: Into Infinity* mirrors themes found in *Severance*, illustrating the struggle of two facets of the same individual vying for self-determination as their boundaries converge. This resemblance suggests that, akin to the Apple TV+ series, the *USS Callister* narrative has ample potential for further exploration, potentially evolving into a full-fledged series.