‘Black Mirror’ Season 4, Episode 1 “USS Callister” Review Roundup: One Of The Show’s Best

Netflix’s Black Mirror recently aired its hotly anticipated second episode, “USS Callister.” Bursting with sci-fi flair and a multiracial cast wearing jumpsuits in the three primary colors, this episode positioned itself as an homage to the classic Star Trek series. While preexisting knowledge of both Black Mirror and Star Trek would strengthen your appreciation of this piece, it’s still worth a watch.

Jesse Plemons played the role of Captain Daley, the show’s counterpart to Star Trek’s Captain Kirk. Likewise, Cristin Milioti was cast as Manette, Michaela Coel as Shania, Billy Magnussen as Baldak, Osy Ikhile as Nate, Paul G. Raymond as Dudani, Jimmi Simpson as Walton and Milanka Brooks as Elena.

BLACK MIRROR’S “USS CALLISTER” REVIEW ROUNDUP

“’USS Callister’ was perhaps a mite too long at 75 minutes (its epic conclusion, while tense at times, was very drawn-out). But its concept was perfect for Black Mirror: a mix of fizzy pop culture and genuinely bleak drama. More importantly, it had a happy ending—the crew escapes, Daly is stranded in his now-empty program, and Nanette’s online clone finds herself in a comparative paradise, a multiplayer video game. Who’s the first person she encounters there? An egotistical fool (voiced by Aaron Paul) who lamely proclaims himself the king of space battles. Yes, there’s more than one Captain Daly out there—but at least this time Nanette can warp to another galaxy. Sophie, do you share my take on the topicality of ‘USS Callister?’ Don’t you want to drive into a wormhole as 2017 winds to a close?”
–David Sims, The Atlantic

“USS Callister” cements its status as one of the very best Black Mirror episodes when this crafty commentary improves upon the very sort of art it criticizes. The back half of the story pivots into its own sort of Trek-esque adventure when the characters trapped inside the simulation mount a last-ditch effort to save themselves. While the Cole in the outside world is only semi-aware of what’s happening, the in-game Cole steps up to engineer their escape and see it through. She makes for a nonchalant sort of hero, more interested in getting everyone the hell out than her own gallantry. (Milioti gives a perfect deadpan for the final line of “Let’s, uh, fuck off somewhere.”) Though she’s shown to be resourceful, clever, and brave, Cole’s basic regard for the welfare of others prevents her from turning into the same Mary Sue that Robert eagerly fashions himself as.
–Charles Bramseco, Vulture

“USS Callister” is less cerebral than some of its fellow Black Mirror high points. Beyond Daly’s particular strain of toxicity, the takeaways mostly come down to “don’t judge a book by its cover” (turns out the douchey tech bro really loves his kid!) and “flying through space is really fun” (at least when it isn’t done at the behest of a monster). There’s not much insight into potential uses of VR, nor is “USS Callister” trying to offer any. “USS Callister” is instead a tribute to one woman’s ingenuity, which may be the most important legacy the rapturous reception of “San Junipero” left in its wake. Black Mirror works best not as a show about technology, but about the people who use it.
–Alison Herman, The Ringer