Charlie Brooker’s tech-heavy Twilight Zone riff Black Mirror has returned with a sterling fourth season. A strong contender for one of the series’ best, it was chock-full of iconic moments, twists and turns, and what many are calling one of the best episodes of the show’s history. But I’m not here to talk about any of that (check out our full review here!), I’m here to look at how this installment played into a theory many fans have been thinking about since season 1. The shared universe of Black Mirror.Â
This season was stuffed with incredible Easter eggs for fans of the show, confirming that not only are the episodes interlinked but that they in fact take place in the same world and possibly even the same timeline. So without further ado here are the ten best Easter eggs from Black Mirror s4.
The Dating App – Episode 1 and 4
In “U.S.S. Callister,” we briefly see Elena using a dating app whilst sitting at reception. This in turn ends up being the same app that appears in “Hang The DJ.” But it’s not just a connection to other s4 episodes; it also appears in s3’s “Playtest.”
Rannoch B – Episode 1
Valdak, the outer space antagonist in “U.S.S. Callister,” lives on the planet Rannoch B, which was created by Robert Daly in his Infinity program. The planet just happens to share a name with Ian Rannoch, one of the child murderers from s2’s “White Bear.”
Raiman brand milk – Episode 1
This is a great example of Brooker’s dedication to world building. In “Men Against Fire” from season 3, there was a soldier called Raiman whose family owned a farm. So it’s pretty likely that the milk we see Daly drinking in “U.S.S. Callister” comes from that very family farm.
Harlech Shadow – Episode 2
Another reference to s3’s chilling “Playtest,” we see the poster for the deadly video game that Cooper plays hanging on the bedroom wall of Sara, the troubled teen of “Arkangel.”
“Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)” – Episode 3
As Shazia drove through the wilds of Iceland in “Crocodile,” you may have recognized the song that was playing on her car radio. That’s because Irma Thomas’s melancholy classic has appeared in almost every season of Black Mirror in one way or another. From “Fifteen Million Merits” to “White Christmas” to this episode, this song is one of the show’s most used motifs.
Fences Pizza Delivery – Episode 3
In “Crocodile,” we see an autonomous pizza delivery truck hit a pedestrian, leading to the investigation which will inevitably be architect Mia’s undoing. This just happens to be the same pizza company who delivers to Robert Daly’s apartment in s4’s “U.S.S. Callister.”
San Junipero – Episode 6
The hospital where the Black Museum’s proprietor, Rolo Haynes, used to work is called Saint Juniper’s. Sound familiar? That’s because it was apparently a hospital used for experimental practices, including testing the tech that would later be used in the classic episode from season 3.
Victoria Skillane – Episode 6
“Black Museum” is rife with Easter eggs. A smart setup by Brooker, it establishes a criminology museum where we can see numerous relics from past episodes. One of the first things we see is a video of Victoria Skillane, referencing the child killer from s2’s “White Bear.”
Carlton Bloom and the Bloody Bathtub – Episode 6
Whilst Rolo Haynes shows Nish around his ghastly exhibit, we see the bathtub from this season’s “Crocodile.” At the same time, we catch an even more interesting glimpse of the hanged body Carlton Bloom, the Banksy-esque artist who blackmailed the British Prime Minister in the first ever Black Mirror episode, “The National Anthem.”
Autonomous Drone Insect – Episode 6
Another blink and you’ll miss it reference, this bee drone is one of the autonomous (unintentional) killer robots from s3’s “Hated in the Nation” which were used to murder public figures after hashtag votes on social media.
DNA Scanner – Episode 6
A callback to one of the bleakest moments from the first episode of this season, we see Tommy’s lollypop and the DNA scanner Daly used to create his sentient space crew as Rolo shows off his grim collection of goodies to Nish.
What does it all mean? Well, we know for sure that the show is set in one universe, but did you spot the other easter eggs? What do you think this means for the future of the show? Let us know in the comments!
Images: Netflix
Enjoy our looks at Black Mirror Season 4’s best episodes!
- The toxic masculinity of “U.S.S. Callister”!
- Is “Black Museum” a a cry for help from its creator?
- And yes, we adore “Hang the DJ“!
