The second episode of Black Mirror Season 7, titled “Bête Noire”, dives deep into the psychological unraveling of two former classmates entangled in a chilling battle of control, guilt, and high-tech manipulation. The title itself, meaning “a person or thing strongly detested or avoided”, sets the tone for a gripping narrative where reality is warped — quite literally.
Here’s a breakdown of the episode’s plot, key twists, and a full ending explanation that will leave you questioning what’s real.
The Premise: A High School Past Returns to Haunt the Present
Maria (played by Siena Kelly) is the accomplished head of flavor development at a futuristic food company called Ditta. Her structured world is disrupted when Verity Greene (Rosy McEwen), a former schoolmate with a troubling past, joins as a research assistant.
What seems like a coincidence quickly turns sinister. Maria remembers Verity as the outcast with “mad hair” and social awkwardness, but Verity remembers something much darker: a cruel high school rumor that ruined her life.
Distorted Reality: Is Maria Losing Her Mind or Is Something More Sinister at Play?
As Verity settles into her new role, Maria’s grip on reality begins to slip. Minor inconsistencies — like misremembered brand names and tampered emails — quickly escalate into major professional sabotage.
Despite her rising paranoia, Maria is convinced Verity is behind her unraveling. After Verity frames her for mishandling ingredients, Maria becomes the target of scrutiny and ridicule at work. When a nut allergy mysteriously vanishes from existence, Maria is certain that something — or someone — is altering reality.
The Power of the Pendant: A High-Tech Weapon of Control
Maria’s breaking point comes after she is fired following a dramatic confrontation. Desperate for answers, she breaks into Verity’s luxurious home and discovers a mysterious pendant — a remote connected to a quantum compiler that allows Verity to shift into parallel timelines where her statements become absolute truth.
However, the pendant only works with Verity’s biometric signature, making her the only one able to manipulate reality at will.
“I just pick the timeline where you’re the only one who knows the truth so you feel special,” Verity reveals.
She admits she is targeting Maria deliberately — as payback for spreading the high school rumor that led to the downfall of her only mentor, a teacher accused due to Maria’s lie. Verity was left to suffer alone, while Maria moved on with her life.
Climax: A Deadly Turn of Events and the Rise of a New Power
Verity’s endgame is revenge: she wants to drive Maria to suicide, just like another former classmate, Natalie. But Maria fights back. When Verity uses the pendant to frame her for a knife attack, the police storm in.
In a moment of desperation, Maria grabs an officer’s gun and shoots Verity, killing her. Amid the chaos, she uses Verity’s dead fingerprint to activate the pendant and rewrite reality in her favor.
“She shot herself. It wasn’t me,” Maria tells the police — and just like that, it becomes the truth.
But Maria doesn’t stop there.
Final Twist: From Victim to Empress of the Universe
Using the pendant, Maria declares herself “The Empress of the Universe.” She commands the police officers to worship her, and reality bends accordingly. The last shot shows thousands chanting her name while the officers kneel, declaring, “Hail Maria.”
What began as psychological torment ends with the emergence of a new reality-bending tyrant.
Ending Interpretation: A Reflection on Power and Corruption
The final scene leaves viewers with a chilling question:
Now that Maria holds the same power Verity once abused — will she become just as corrupt?
The episode cleverly critiques the idea of unchecked control over truth, blending tech paranoia, high school trauma, and sci-fi thriller into one unforgettable story.
Why This Episode Stands Out
- Strong performances from Sienna Kelly and Rosy McEwen bring emotional depth to a high-concept sci-fi plot.
- Quantum tech meets psychological horror, making this one of Black Mirror’s most layered episodes yet.
- Explores themes of revenge, identity, and the fragility of reality — all wrapped in a dark futuristic narrative.
