The second episode of Black Mirror season 7, titled 'Bête Noire,' presents a complex narrative that may initially seem less rooted in science fiction, though it intensifies as the story progresses. The storyline centers on Maria, portrayed by Siena Kelly, and Verity, played by Rosy McEwen, within their professional environment. Maria is employed at a confectionery company's office and becomes unsettled by Verity's return, who was once her classmate.

In an attempt to undermine Verity, Maria spreads rumors about her past among their colleagues, even though she was complicit in creating those very rumors that made Verity's school life difficult. As the days unfold, Maria experiences significant confusion, struggling to recall names of locations and discovering discrepancies in her emails, which she believed were different when she wrote them. She becomes increasingly convinced that Verity possesses the ability to alter reality at will, a phenomenon that seems to go unnoticed by others.

Warning: This article contains spoilers about the episode

What happens towards the end?

After Maria loses her job, she tracks Verity to her expansive home to steal a necklace that she believes grants Verity the power to alter reality. Upon obtaining the necklace, Verity discloses, “It’s merely a remote. It connects to the quantum compiler located downstairs.”

Maria continues to wave the necklace in desperation until Verity provides a more elaborate, albeit perplexing, explanation: “Technically, it doesn’t change anything; it merely adjusts our corporeal frequency to align with one of the parallel realities where everything I’ve said has always been accurate. There are infinite timelines, so I select the one where you are the only person aware of what’s happening. This makes you feel quite… special.”

In simpler terms, Verity’s necklace interacts with the compiler she has constructed downstairs to shape the reality she desires, effectively granting her god-like abilities. The compiler then transports her to a parallel universe where all her statements are true, and Maria is the sole individual cognizant of the alterations in her reality.

Why does Maria kill Verity?

In a fit of rage, Maria shoots Verity in the head for causing numerous problems. She then uses the remote to command the quantum compiler, declaring herself the new controller. Maria exclaims, “The pendant works for me, the pendant works for me!” before instructing the police to withdraw. “She shot herself. It wasn’t me. You witnessed the entire event,” she asserts.

Maria's scheme succeeds, culminating in the final scene where she stands on a pedestal on an alien planet, surrounded by her followers who chant “Hail, Maria!” in unison. The episode ultimately illustrates that unchecked power can transform an individual into the very thing they loathe.

The title of the episode, ‘Bête Noire,’ which translates to “a person or thing that one particularly dislikes,” aptly reflects the narrative, as Maria becomes her own worst enemy by the conclusion of the episode.

Read Also: Black Mirror: ‘Common People’ Episode Cast, Plot Summary, and Ending Explained

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