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Black Mirror has taken its exploration of gaslighting and reality-bending to a whole new level with its second episode of the latest season, Bête Noire. The episode delves into the psychological manipulation of Maria (Siena Kelly), a food researcher who begins to question her reality after reconnecting with an old school acquaintance, Verity. Verity, who is revealed to have created a technology that transports herself and Maria into alternate universes, alters the reality they experience, leaving Maria unsure of what’s real.
The mind-bending twist doesn’t stop there—Black Mirror has released two different versions of the episode, playing with the theme of reality and perception in a literal way. In a key moment of the episode, Maria argues with a colleague over the name of a fried chicken franchise her boyfriend worked at. She’s convinced the name is Bernies and even has a baseball cap to prove it, but others insist it’s Barnies. Eventually, the name on her cap changes in real time to reflect the alternate version of reality she’s experiencing.
The plot has a clever meta twist, with Netflix releasing two versions of the episode for viewers. Some saw Bernies, while others saw Barnies. The difference was picked up by a viewer who tweeted about the varying experiences of the episode: “We noticed that there was a stark difference between our episodes… even the viewers are getting gaslit at 16:40!”
Black Mirror is known for its dark, suspenseful, and satirical take on technology, and this episode is a perfect example of how the series blurs the lines between the real world and the world of the show itself. It plays with the viewer’s perception, making us question what’s true—just as Maria questions her own reality.
Season 7 of Black Mirror is now available for streaming on Netflix, offering fans even more mind-twisting stories in the series’ signature style.