Black Mirror's latest season is here, and the second episode, "Bête Noire," dives deep into the dark consequences of technology on personal relationships. The story centers around Maria and Verity, two former classmates whose paths cross again in a chilling reunion filled with tension and unresolved past grievances.
Set in the fictional UK food manufacturing company Ditta, where Maria (Siena Kelly) works as a rising star in R&D, the episode begins with a seemingly innocent encounter. Verity Greene (Rosy McEwen), a girl from Maria's high school days, unexpectedly applies for a job at Ditta. While Maria recalls Verity as a quiet, bullied student, Verity's return stirs up unease, hinting at a brewing storm.
As the week unfolds, Maria's life begins to unravel. The episode cleverly uses the mundane setting of a candy company to explore deeper themes of revenge and technology. Maria is confident about trivial details, such as the name of a fast-food chicken joint her boyfriend used to work at, but with each passing day, she finds herself increasingly gaslit. When a colleague's comment about "Bernie's Chicken" contradicts her memory of "Barnie's Chicken," Maria's world begins to feel disorienting.
By the middle of the week, the stakes rise dramatically. During a visit from Mr. Ditta, the CEO, Maria's new candy concept, which she claimed contained seaweed-based gelatin, is revealed to actually contain beef gelatin. Verity's manipulations come to light when it’s discovered that Maria's email specifying the correct ingredients was altered to mislead her. The tension escalates when Maria learns of the tragic suicide of Natalie Caine, a former classmate and bully, who had been tormented by a rumor that Maria herself had started in high school.
Verity, who had been quietly plotting her revenge, reveals her true power: a pendant that serves as a remote control for a quantum compiler, a device capable of altering reality itself. In a chilling twist, Verity explains that she can change perceptions and memories, tuning everyone's reality to one where her version of events is the only truth. "Technically it's not really changing anything. It just retunes our corporal frequency to one of the realities where whatever I've said has always been true," she tells Maria, highlighting the episode's exploration of truth and manipulation.
The climax of "Bête Noire" is as shocking as it is thrilling. In a desperate confrontation, Maria confronts Verity and, in a moment of chaos, shoots her. Seizing the pendant, Maria declares herself the "Empress of the Universe," using the power of the quantum compiler to reshape her reality. The episode ends with Maria in control, a stark contrast to her earlier victimhood, leaving viewers to ponder the moral implications of her newfound power.
Creator Charlie Brooker has described the ending as a "joke ending" that is "slightly absurd," emphasizing the dark humor that runs through the episode. This twist challenges viewers to reflect on the nature of power and revenge, as Maria's triumph comes at the cost of her humanity.
"Bête Noire" is a compelling addition to Black Mirror's anthology, showcasing how technology can amplify personal vendettas and distort reality. The episode's exploration of the past—both in terms of personal history and technological manipulation—serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of allowing technology to dictate our lives.
The episode's title, which translates to "a person or thing strongly disliked or avoided," perfectly encapsulates Verity's feelings towards Maria and the broader themes of resentment and retribution that permeate the narrative. As the characters grapple with their shared history, the episode highlights how unresolved trauma can lead to devastating consequences.
In conclusion, "Bête Noire" stands out in Black Mirror's seventh season, not just for its thrilling plot twists but for its poignant commentary on the human condition. It leaves viewers questioning the reliability of their own memories and the lengths one might go to reclaim power.
