So, here we are. It’s 2026, and people are still arguing about what happened to Nanette Cole. If you’ve spent any time on Netflix lately, you know that Black Mirror finally did the unthinkable. They made a sequel. Specifically, USS Callister: Into Infinity. Honestly, for a show that prides itself on being an anthology where every story is a closed loop of misery, coming back to the bridge of the Callister felt like a massive risk. But it happened.
You probably remember the original. Jesse Plemons playing Robert Daly—the ultimate "nice guy" who was actually a digital god-emperor torturing clones of his coworkers. It was peak TV. Then, in April 2025, Charlie Brooker dropped the 90-minute follow-up as the finale of Season 7. It wasn't just a "more of the same" situation; it basically turned the show into a full-blown space opera.
What Actually Happened in Into Infinity?
The story picks up three months after the crew escaped Daly’s modded sandbox. They’re "free" in the wider Infinity game, but life is kinda trash. They’re basically digital refugees, robbing other players for credits and barely scraping by. Captain Nanette (the digital one, played by the brilliant Cristin Milioti) realizes they can’t keep living like this. They need a permanent home, a private server where no one can delete them.
Things get weird when we find out James Walton—the real-world CEO—didn't just get lucky. The episode reveals he was an early investor in the DNA cloning tech Daly used. Turns out, the tech was originally built for the adult industry (yikes) before being banned.
The plot reaches a breaking point when the real-world Nanette Cole and James Walton actually enter the game. Seeing two Nanettes on screen at once is a total trip. But the "real" Walton isn't there to save anyone. He’s there to bury the evidence. He starts blasting, kills the clone of Karl (Billy Magnussen), and tries to wipe the rest. It’s a mess.
📖 Related: Break It Off PinkPantheress: How a 90-Second Garage Flip Changed Everything
The Ending That Broke the Fandom
The finale happens at the "Heart of Infinity." Nanette finds a clone of Robert Daly—not the original tyrant, but a version trapped there to maintain the game’s code. He’s been in solitary for eons. In a wild twist, the real Nanette gets into a car accident in the physical world and ends up braindead.
This leads to the big "Black Mirror" choice:
- The digital Nanette can take over the real Nanette’s body.
- The crew dies.
Naturally, she chooses to live. By the time the credits roll, digital Nanette is inhabiting real Nanette’s physical body in a hospital. But she’s not alone. The entire USS Callister crew is living inside her head. They can see what she sees, and they talk to her via her phone. It’s equal parts "happy ending" and a claustrophobic nightmare.
The Spinoff That Never Was (And Might Still Be)
Did you know this was almost an 8-part series? Seriously. Charlie Brooker has been pretty open about how the development of USS Callister as a standalone spinoff was basically a victim of the 2023 strikes.
👉 See also: Bob Hearts Abishola Season 4 Explained: The Move That Changed Everything
They had scripts. They had a plan. Brooker even mentioned a scrapped sequence where Nate Packer (Osy Ikhile) would have used a digital exoskeleton to control his real-world body and steal stuff from the office. That sounds insane. Instead, they condensed all those big ideas into this one 90-minute movie.
There’s still talk of a "trilogy." With Black Mirror Season 8 recently confirmed for a 2026/2027 window, the rumors are flying. Brooker hasn't ruled out a third chapter, especially since the ending of Into Infinity leaves Nanette in such a strange spot. Imagine being a high-functioning professional with five sentient AI coworkers constantly bickering in your subconscious. That’s a sitcom waiting to happen, or a psychological horror show. Probably both.
Why Fans Are Divided
Honestly, not everyone loved the shift. If you look at the 2025 reviews from places like GQ or The Daily Telegraph, the sequel ranked middle-of-the-pack. Critics felt like it moved too far away from the "taut psychological tension" of the first one.
The original was a commentary on toxic masculinity and office power dynamics. Into Infinity felt more like a sci-fi adventure. It had bigger explosions and more world-building, but some fans felt the "human" element got lost in the shuffle.
✨ Don't miss: Black Bear by Andrew Belle: Why This Song Still Hits So Hard
But look at the numbers. It spent five weeks in the Netflix Top 10. People clearly wanted to see these characters again. There's something deeply satisfying about seeing Nanette Cole—a character who started as a victim—become the most powerful entity in two different realities.
Key Details You Might Have Missed
- The Cameo: Jesse Plemons’ return was kept a total secret until the episode aired. Even though Daly "died" in the first one, seeing his digital remnant was a highlight.
- The Tech: The episode confirms the "illegal DNA cloning device" is now an FBI matter, with Walton being arrested in the final scenes.
- The Credits: If you stay through the credits, you can hear the crew arguing about what Nanette should eat for her first "real" meal. It’s funny, but also... kinda haunting?
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're looking to get the most out of the USS Callister saga, here is how to approach it:
- Rewatch Order: Don't just jump into the sequel. Watch the original Season 4 episode first, then Into Infinity. The parallels in the cinematography (especially the bridge shots) are much more obvious when they're fresh.
- Follow the Creators: Keep an eye on Charlie Brooker’s interviews throughout 2026. He’s been dropping breadcrumbs about "Project Codename," which some think might be the next step for the Callister universe.
- The "Easter Egg" Hunt: Into Infinity is loaded with references to other Season 7 episodes like Common People and Eulogy. Look at the news tickers in the background of the real-world scenes.
The story of the USS Callister isn't just about a fake spaceship. It’s about the terrifying idea that our digital footprints might one day be more "real" than we are. Whether we get a third part or not, the "Infinity" universe has permanently changed how Black Mirror handles its own mythology.