BLACK MIRROR Season 7: BETE NOIRE Ending Explained & Review

Summary

The video review dives into episode two of Black Mirror's season 7, 'Betanoir,' which revolves around a technology that tunes a person's frequencies to parallel universes, distorting their reality. The episode explores themes of revenge, gaslighting, and the consequences of a rumor that haunts Maria’s life. Through a dark and intense narrative, the story shows how both Maria and her tormentor, Verity, become entangled in a cycle of manipulation and violence. While the tech aspect didn’t resonate with the reviewer, the characters’ complex emotional arcs and immersive storytelling made it a solid but imperfect episode.

Takeaways

• 😀 The episode 'Betanoir' in Black Mirror Season 7 was divisive, with the reviewer having low expectations initially but ultimately finding it to surpass those expectations in quality.
• 😀 The central technology in the episode allows a person to tune their frequencies to a parallel universe, altering their reality.
• 😀 The episode's plot revolves around Maria, whose past actions regarding a school rumor come back to haunt her, leading to her struggle with the consequences of her past decisions.
• 😀 Maria unknowingly becomes a target of Verity, a character who was deeply affected by a rumor Maria started in school, and uses technology to manipulate people's perceptions.
• 😀 The pendant that Verity wears plays a critical role in changing others' opinions and manipulating Maria's reality, leading to her gaslighting and social isolation.
• 😀 Verity’s ultimate goal is to make Maria feel the same emotional torment she experienced during school, while using advanced technology to alter events around Maria's life.
• 😀 The climax of the episode sees Maria using the pendant to reverse her fate and gain ultimate power, becoming the 'empress' of the universe.
• 😀 The episode's conclusion is a paradox of a dark yet somewhat happy ending, as both Maria and Verity are morally compromised characters.
• 😀 The reviewer appreciated the immersive nature of the episode, highlighting how it effectively made the audience feel Maria’s escalating frustration and paranoia.
• 😀 The episode was praised for its strong performances, especially from the actors playing Maria and Verity, whose emotional transitions were convincingly portrayed.
• 😀 While the technology in the episode—parallel universes and infinite timelines—wasn’t particularly appealing to the reviewer, they enjoyed the gradual narrative buildup and the emotional complexity of the story.

Q & A

What is the core concept of the technology in 'Betanoir'?

The core technology in 'Betanoir' allows people to tune into alternate realities by manipulating their personal frequency, causing their current reality to shift based on what happens in one of the infinite parallel universes. This technology plays a central role in distorting perceptions and creating a web of psychological manipulation between the characters.

How does Verity's technology affect Maria throughout the episode?

Verity uses the technology to gaslight Maria, making her appear unreliable and mentally unstable to those around her. This drives Maria to the brink of losing her job, her relationships, and her sanity, as Verity manipulates events to make Maria seem like the cause of various problems.

Why does Verity seek revenge against Maria?

Verity seeks revenge because Maria played a part in spreading a rumor about her during their school days. This rumor ruined Verity's reputation and caused her significant emotional pain, leading her to use the technology to manipulate Maria's life and subject her to the same suffering Verity endured.

What is the significance of the pendant around Verity’s neck?

The pendant is a voice-controlled remote linked to the technology Verity uses. It allows her to manipulate alternate realities, gaslight Maria, and create false perceptions of events, making it a crucial tool in Verity's scheme to destroy Maria's life.

How does Maria’s perspective change by the end of the episode?

By the end of the episode, Maria goes from being a victim of Verity's manipulation to becoming the 'empress of the universe' after using the pendant to take control. This marks a dramatic shift in her fate, from being on the verge of destruction to gaining ultimate power, albeit in a morally questionable way.

What role does the rumor about Verity and her teacher play in the story?

The rumor about Verity and her teacher is central to the episode's conflict, as it is the catalyst for the bullying Verity faced during school. Maria is initially implicated in the rumor, but it's revealed that she started it to get Natalie off her back. This deceit sets the stage for Verity's need for revenge.

How does the episode explore the idea of two wrongs not making a right?

The episode illustrates the idea that two wrongs don't make a right through Verity and Maria's actions. Verity seeks revenge for her past suffering by manipulating Maria, but in doing so, she becomes as morally corrupt as Maria once was. The conclusion shows that both characters end up losing in different ways, reinforcing the idea that vengeance only leads to further harm.

What are the emotional and psychological impacts of the technology on the characters?

The technology has significant psychological effects on both Maria and Verity. Maria experiences increasing paranoia, confusion, and frustration as she becomes gaslighted by those around her. Verity, on the other hand, is able to manipulate reality to exact revenge, but the power she wields makes her morally unrecognizable, highlighting the corrupting influence of the technology.

What is the significance of the church organ music in the episode?

The church organ music is used to heighten the sense of dread and unease throughout the episode. It underscores the growing tension and psychological strain Maria experiences as her reality becomes increasingly distorted. The dissonant tones of the music match the chaos and confusion in the characters' lives.

Why does the reviewer feel conflicted about the episode's ending?

The reviewer feels conflicted because, while the ending is somewhat happy for Maria, it is also dark and morally ambiguous. Maria gains ultimate control, but at the cost of becoming a killer, much like Verity. The reviewer appreciates the twist but is unsure if it provides the same emotional depth and impact as other *Black Mirror* episodes.