‘Black Mirror’ Study Guide: USS Callister

The first episode of season 4 is ultimately one big allegory for internet trolling and using technology as a means of catharsis.

‘Black Mirror’ is a satirical anthology series that examines the dark aspects of modern society, particularly as it relates to our relationship with technology. Each standalone episode presents a picture of a world that’s futuristic, yet believable; cool, yet horrifying. Each of these study guides will touch on some of the themes the episode explores.

Internet Trolling

“USS Callister”, the first episode of the 4th season of Black Mirror, is one big allegory for internet trolling. Callister is the video game developer the story is set in, but much of the episode takes place in the USS Callister, a spaceship in “Infinity”, the company’s flagship virtual reality online game. The USS Callister is led by Captain Robert Daly, who, in reality, is Bob Daly, CTO and Co-Founder of Callister.

When we first meet Daly, he seems like a sympathetic figure. He’s quiet, treated like a bit of an outcast, and openly disrespected, even though he was and is the brains behind the game. He spends his days in his office, door closed, and rushes home after work to dive in to his own private, “modded”…