USS Callister: Into Infinity

Maybe I needed to rewatch the previous USS Callister episode to really appreciate this one, because it's been a while since I saw the original and this one, good as it is, felt like it didn't really measure up.

Don't get me wrong, it really is a very good episode, it's just not up to par with the previous episode this season OR the previous USS Callister episode.

All that being said, Cristin Milioti carries *almost* the entire episode alone, and probably WOULD carry it alone if not for Jimmi Simpson. The two of them together? Fantastic. The supporting cast are great, of course, and Jesse Plemons just OWNS almost every scene he's in (but when doesn't he?), but sadly he's not in it enough.

The crew of The USS Callister face a desperate fight to survive, a world of 30 million players, new Captain, Nanette faces challenges in two realities.

I've seen a number of movies at the cinema recently, big budget releases, not one of them has come even close to this, it felt like a blockbuster in a series.

I'm really glad I watched the original first, I don't tend to revisit it too often, but I definitely have a huge appreciation for it, but I'd forgotten some of the story.

It's a real mix, there's almost a dizzying amount of action, but there's just so much more to it. The ending is epic, that's all I'll say, action packed, emotionally charged, it surprised me.

Terrific visuals, it looks fabulous, the special effects are dazzling, I loved the sound too.

The cast did a great job, every performance mattered, we even get a Wrexham fan, that made me laugh.

Will there be a third in the future? I hope so.

9/10.

Probably one of the greatest Black Mirror episodes out there. Best of the bunch of Season 7 and they are ALL great episodes!

The person playing the tech CEO absolutely nails the role and practically steals the show, but there are also fantastic jobs done by every single actor involved. Absolute "BRAVO" to the cast, the writers, the director, the cinemetographer and everyone else, the special effects are great and all of the characters are too.

What a treat to have this show around in this timeline and I can only hope the next season matches the outstanding writing and deep creative process this episode encapsulates.

Obviously go back and watch series Four episode One, before watching this movie and yes, this should be referred to as a movie and not an episode and it's better than some of the dross that's released in the cinema nowadays as well!!

It was entertaining, funny (like proper funny) and good sci-fi, great acting, which is to be expected after how good the original episode was, by far the best of this series...

I think I always had an affinity for the original episode as a player of MMORPGs, but this will be good for everyone. Plus it scratches my sci-fi itch while I wait for the new series of the Orville lol.

So go back and watch the original epsiode and then strap in for an epic hour and a half!

9/10 episode, highest of this series!

The crew of USS Callister is stuck inside the universe of an MMPORG. To stay alive they need credits so turn to robbing players in the game. This causes complaints by the gamers which leads the developers to investigate. Nanette Cole is on the case but the truth is bizarre, illegal and involves her.

A continuation of the previous Black Mirror episode involving USS Callister; 'USS Callister' (S4E1). That episode aired in 2017 and I have largely forgotten what happened in it (though I do know I rated it very highly) so I watched this episode in isolation, without knowing much about the background.

Turns out you don't really need to know anything about the backstory as you can pick it up from this episode pretty quickly.

The episode itself is quite clever and complex, reminding me of Christopher Nolans 'Inception" in terms of layers of consciousness and existence. The fact that it is set inside a game universe is very original and makes for an entertaining experience.

This is all helped by an excellent performance by Cristin Milioti as Nanette Cole (well, a few Nanette Coles to be exact).

Not perfect though. It is maybe too clever for its own good and I never understood the motivations and aims of the characters stuck in the game, making engagement less than 100%.

Still, it's a fun, interesting ride, one worthy of the Black Mirror universe.