In the universes of Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror, Easter eggs are more than fan service. They’re a metaphor for the interconnectivity of the online world, and the human desire for continuity amid endless realities — and yes, they’re very fun to spot. With the seventh season returning to its roots of mind-bending explorations of technology, Brooker rewards highly engaged viewing more than ever.
Read on for some of the references in the six episodes of Season 7 to the series’ wild history, although we’re only cracking the surface here.
EPISODE 1: “COMMON PEOPLE”
Cooper Elementary
The school where Amanda (Rashida Jones) works is named in honor of Cooper Redfield (Wyatt Russell) of “Playtest,” the second episode of Season 3.
ADIs
Amanda teaches her class about ADIs — Autonomous Drone Insects — the killer bee replacements that were first introduced in “Hated in the Nation” (Season 3, Episode 6).
Palmer County
The name of the cozy vacation destination is a reference to Alex Palmer, the romantic lead played by Brandy in “Hotel Reverie” (Season 7, Episode 3). A sign for the county reads, “Where love is alive & dreams come true,” which sounds a bit too hopeful for this heart-wrenching episode.
“Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)” by Irma Thomas
When Amanda and Mike (Chris O’Dowd) arrive at the Juniper Lodge, a lounge singer is crooning a cover of “Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)” by New Orleans soul singer Irma Thomas. The song might sound familiar to you because it’s been featured on every season of Black Mirror. The song can be heard in “Fifteen Million Merits” (Season 1, Episode 2); “White Christmas” (Season 2, Episode 4); “Men Against Fire” (Season 3, Episode 5); “Crocodile” (Season 4, Episode 3); “Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too” (Season 5, Episode 3); and “Joan Is Awful” (Season 6, Episode 1).
Cub’s Polar Ice
The Big Gulp-style drink that Shane (Nicholas Cirillo) is sipping is a two-in-one Easter egg: The name is a reference to “White Bear” (Season 2, Episode 2), and it’s made by the food giant Ditta, which you’ll see much more of in Episode 2 of Season 7, “Bête Noire.”
Honey Nuggs ad
In the middle of a lesson on honeybees, Amanda spouts off her first Rivermind-powered ad. It’s for Honey Nuggs, a snack made by Ditta, again from “Bête Noire.” Earlier, there was a Ditta vending machine at the hospital when Mike was talking to the Rivermind rep Gaynor (Tracee Ellis Ross).
Skillane Legal
The office across the hall from Gaynor’s is Skillane Legal, a reference to Victoria Skillane from “White Bear.” Apparently, shady businesses like to share working spaces.
Dum Dummies handles
The trolls on the live streaming platform have fitting usernames, particularly urAWFUL, a nod to “Joan Is Awful,” and I AM WALDO, an homage to “The Waldo Moment” (Season 2, Episode 2).
Hotel flag
On Amanda and Mike’s return to the Juniper Lodge, while Amanda is on Rivermind Lux, the flag hanging on the front of the hotel has two “White Bear” glyphs and two bears in the corners. It’s fitting that one of the darkest episodes of the season has so many references to “White Bear.” The glyphs are an omen for chaos and loss of control in Black Mirror lore.
Now playing
A cinema sign shows that Hotel Reverie is playing, along with I Used to Be Funny, the debut feature film of Ally Pankiw, who directed “Joan Is Awful.”
Barnies Hat
Or is it “Bernies”? The key to effective branding is consistency, but unfortunately for snack inventor Maria (Siena Kelly), a playful debate over the spelling of this beloved fried chicken chain seen on a hat is the first step in a spectacular breakdown. In “Joan Is Awful” and “Shut Up and Dance” (Season 3, Episode 3), it was definitely, definitely “Barnies” … but then again, we wouldn’t trust those characters to print our merch, either.
Snack brands
Everyone loves free snacks at the office, but many of the treats at Ditta headquarters come with a dark past: Raiman Organic Almond Milk, the same brand as the chocolate milk that Robert Daly (Jesse Plemons) drinks in “USS Callister” (Season 4, Episode 1), which makes another appearance in the Season 7 finale, “USS Callister: Into Infinity”); Possetts crisps, a reference to the department store in “Demon 79” (Season 6, Episode 5); and Lacie’s Licorice Roll, the namesake of Lacie (Bryce Dallas Howard) in “Nosedive” (Season 3, Episode 1).
“Gemini Orbits” poster
Outside the Ditta tasting lab is a “Gemini Orbits” poster, which references the doomed spacecraft in “Beyond the Sea” (Season 6, Episode 3).
Watch Black Mirror Creator Charlie Brooker Answer Your Questions About Season 7
Tuckersoft advertisement
A billboard for Tuckersoft, the video game company in the 2018 interactive film Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, appears outside the Ditta office’s windows. Episode 4 will feature many more Tuckersoft references.
Space Fleet
This sci-fi franchise is, of course, at the heart of the Season 7 finale “USS Callister: Into Infinity,” a sequel to iconic Season 5 opener “USS Callister.” But Robert Daly is far from the only superfan. Keep a lookout for a poster in “Plaything” and a clickbaity headline (as well as a nerdy T-shirt) in “Hotel Reverie.”
Bandersnatch Book
You can see the choose-your-own adventure novel that inspired the groundbreaking 2018 interactive film on the shelves in Verity’s (Rosy McEwen) bedroom.
The thick paperback has apparently remained relevant over decades and timelines because it appears in every Season 7 episode but “USS Callister: Into Infinity.” Bandersnatch is also owned by game designer Colin Ritman (Will Poulter) in “Plaything” (Episode 4), film “editor” Jack (Charlie Hiscock) in “Hotel Reverie,” Philip (Paul Giamatti) in “Eulogy” (Episode 5), and an always-online co-worker (Nicholas Cirillo) in “Common People.”
EPISODE 3: “HOTEL REVERIE”
Vintage White Bear poster
Check out the framed poster for The White Bear in the Old Hollywood-themed office of Judith Keyworth (Harriet Walter).
“Demon 79” thumbnail
As Brandy (Issa Rae) researches Dorothy (Emma Corrin) on YouTube, you can see a thumbnail of the “Demon 79” poster, right under the aforementioned clickbait-y video about Space Fleet.
“Saint Juniper”
A newspaper headline that flickers in Dorothy’s memory mentions that she stars in the new film Saint Juniper.
In “San Junipero,” the memorable fourth episode of Season 3, the title refers to what appears at first to be an idyllic beach resort town but turns out to be a simulated reality for elderly folks to play out their youthful fantasies, even beyond death. By Season 7, the place has become a Shangri-la-like metaphor for an escape you’re not necessarily meant to return from. The name takes the form of Saint Juniper and Junipero Drive (Brandy’s address) in “Hotel Reverie,” Juniper Lodge in “Common People,” and Saint Juniper’s Hospital in “USS Callister: Into Infinity.”
Streamberry
The logo of the streaming service made infamous in “Joan Is Awful” is seen in the trailer for Hotel Reverie.
More Snacks
Look closely at the windows and displays in the mini-mart that Cameron (Peter Capaldi) attempts to steal from, and you’ll see a plethora of tasty treats from the Black Mirror universe, including White Bear Beer, Bête Noire ice cream, more Possetts Crisps, Smithereens candies (Season 5, Episode 2, “Smithereens”), and Ditta’s signature product, the Hucklebuck. Later in the episode, there’s yet another Hucklebuck reference in the tube, where a paranoid young Cameron (Lewis Gribben) experiences sensory overload.
Let’s hope Maria from “Bête Noire” bought up plenty of Ditta stock options on her road to becoming empress of the universe.
Colin Ritman’s office
Colin himself is a throwback to Bandersnatch, and his lair in the Tuckersoft headquarters, as seen in a memory, is a veritable shrine to Black Mirror nerddom. Peep the posters that line the walls: Bandersnatch II; Striking Vipers II (Season 5, Episode 1, “Striking Vipers”); Nohzdyve, the videogame in Bandersnatch and a nod to “Nosedive”; Space Fleet (USS Callister); Men Against Fire (Season 3, Episode 5, “Men Against Fire”); Waldo, the trash-talking cartoon bear from “The Waldo Moment”; a “Metalhead” reference (Season 4, Episode 5); and Demon 79.
If you look very, very closely, you will spot drawings made by Colin’s daughter Pearl (Laura Evelyn), who played a memorable role in Bandersnatch, as well as a photo of her on Colin’s desk right when Cameron is stealing the Thronglets alpha build.
And, of course, on his desk is the previously mentioned copy of Bandersnatch the novel.
Deadly ashtray
The weapon that Cameron grabs to kill Lump (Josh Finan) is a callback to Bandersnatch, in which Stefan (Fionn Whitehead) uses a heavy glass ashtray to kill his father (Craig Parkinson) — only if you chose that ending, of course.
EPISODE 6: “USS CALLISTER: INTO INFINITY”
Mohawk’s outfit
Take a close look at Mohawk’s vest. The gamer (Gwion Glyn) has a number of strange badges and pieces of flair bearing the “White Bear” glyph and logos from “Men Against Fire” and “Arkangel” (Season 4, Episode 2). All the characters inside of Infinity wear the emblem from “Men Against Fire.”
Ashley O
Pink-braided gamer Pixie (Iolanthe) is listening to the song “On a Roll” by Ashley O — played by Miley Cyrus — from “Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too” (Season 5, Episode 3). You can see an image of Ashley O on the streaming service on Pixie’s computer.
“Back for Vengeance” comic
When Walton (Jimmi Simpson) opens a box of Daly’s belongings, a Space Fleet comic book, titled “Back for Vengeance,” features a treasure trove of Easter Eggs on its cover: Waldo, a “White Bear” glyph, and a robotic dog from “Metalhead.”
Daly’s garage
In a flashback to 12 years ago, Walton visited Daly at his house — and sure enough, Daly was already a creep. The teal boots that Nanette (Cristin Milioti) wore in “USS Callister” can be seen in the cache of Space Fleet memorabilia in his garage.
Cameos
Anjana Vasan and Paapa Essiedu, stars of “Demon 79,” appear in the final space battle.
Newsreel
The ticker that runs across the news report of Walton’s downfall touches on several Season 7 beats: “Hotel Reverie reboot hits Streamberry,” “Thronglets 2 launches to critical acclaim,” and “Rivermind CTO steps down.” Thrown into the mix is Michael Callow (Rory Kinnear), the prime minister from the series premiere “National Anthem.” He still can’t escape the notorious incident in which he was forced to perform a lewd act on a pig on live television; the news item reads, “Former UK PM Michael Callow enters celebrity vet school.”
Stream Black Mirror Season 7 now, only on Netflix.
