Black Mirror Season 7 Copies Breaking Bad’s Most Brutal Arc, But With a More Perfect Ending

The following contains spoilers for Black Mirror Season 7, Episode 6, «USS Callister: Into Infinity,» now streaming on Netflix.

One of the main themes of Black Mirror is how technology can be used for revenge. While it can be used to help humanity, it usually leads to it backfiring and harming people instead. But personal vendettas have been seen in many episodes, including new ones such as «USS Callister: Into Infinity,» which is a Black Mirror sequel.

«USS Callister: Into Infinity» builds on Jesse Plemons’ Robert Daly at Callister Inc., the gaming company he formed with James Walton. Shockingly, as more of their dark history is revealed, fans see Black Mirror copy a horrific Breaking Bad arc with Plemons’ Todd. But, in this case, there is an even better ending that speaks to how unchecked capitalism should be treated.

What Happened to Breaking Bad's Todd?

Todd Turned Jesse Into a Meth-Making Slave

Todd was brought in to help Walt and Jesse distribute meth in Breaking Bad’s final seasons. Todd’s uncle, Jack, had sordid connections to allow more sales. In time, once Gus was killed, even Mike admitted Todd’s crew was a necessary evil. Jesse didn’t like them, as they were neo-Nazis, but money had to be made and products had to be sold. In the end, Jack’s crew betrayed Walt.

They killed the DEA agents, Hank (Walt’s brother-in-law) and Steve, and stole most of Walt’s millions. They kidnapped Jesse and used him as their meth slave. Jesse would cook near-perfect meth for them, making Walt redundant. Todd was very timid, but very cruel, as El Camino: A Breaking Bad movie showed. He loved torturing Jesse, albeit with a nice smile and quiet voice.

Luckily, the Breaking Bad finale had a guilty Walt rescuing Jesse. He died as he shot the villains dead, and Jesse also got to strangle Todd to death before escaping this servitude. He’d end up in Alaska, hating how Todd killed his beloved, Andrea. This slaver arc made Todd one of Breaking Bad’s nastiest villains.

Jesse Plemons' Robert Daly Becomes a Digital Slave

James Walton Makes Robert Code Black Mirror's Infinity Inside the Game

Jesse Plemons’ villainous character gets karma in a creative sense in the Black Mirror TV show. He created digital clones and tortured them in a digital space in the first «USS Callister» episode. This follow-up reveals that Walton actually tricked him into doing this when he hired him. He convinced Robert to clone himself using illegal technology and become the heart of the game, Infinity. This way, Robert’s digital clone could keep building worlds inside the game, expanding and giving them more realms to make money.

Cristin Milioti’s Nanette Cole visits the slave in the new Black Mirror season, she is shocked to see how broken and defeated he is. He puts on a brave face after the gaslighting. But he is depressed. He carries on, knowing this is the only way to expand the servers and to grow the game’s infinite universe, which he thinks the Real Robert and himself will benefit from. He has no clue Walton abused Robert up top and that his original self died when the clones used the Real Nanette to fight back.

It’s very coincidental. Walton sees and objectifies Robert the way that Todd did to Jesse. Granted, Jesse was forcefully abducted, but Todd kept reminding him in captivity that someday he would be let free. Todd, however, was grinding Jesse down and breaking his spirit with false hope. He wanted Jesse to give up and accept his fate. Robert does this after Walton’s sweet-talking. He has fooled himself into thinking building more of Infinity is now his purpose and overall destiny. Like Jesse, he has been robbed of agency and identity at a meta level in this Black Mirror sequel.

Black Mirror's Slave Master Suffers a Greater Price

Walton's Real and Digital Selves Have to Live In Shame

The Real Robert tortured women and even a child inside his own pocket universe. Clone Robert is shocked to hear this. He can’t believe he’d grow up to be one of Black Mirror’s most toxic males. While it can’t be excused, part of it is his nature, but part is Walton hogging all the credit. Walton made both Roberts do all the hard work while he soaked in the PR and made millions. It’s quite crushing because both Roberts are in denial.

"USS Callister: Into Infinity" Details

The Real Robert still couldn’t confront Walton, while the clone felt Walton would still visit him someday. Walton preyed on their loneliness and need for companionship, and how vulnerable they were as they hid out in an office (reality) or a garage (in the game’s engine) to code. This allowed Walton to enjoy the fruits of Robert’s labor. It’s only when the two Nanettes rally with Robert’s victims that the Real Walton is arrested. His clone self watches on and languishes, knowing what his true persona was: an oppressive, vindictive capitalist.

In Breaking Bad, Walt did act as Jesse’s friend again, even though he couldn’t be forgiven. He freed him after realizing the error of his ways. But by dying, he didn’t get that true penance, nor did Todd. However, the Waltons do. It’s sweeter knowing one will be tried and put away for his corporate sins involving illegally cloning Robert. By contrast, the Clone Walton helped out and redeemed himself. He knows he has to live with accepting part of him is a monster that needs to be punished.

They see their reputations being tarnished, but in the end, Black Mirror’s slave master suffers a lot more: physically in the real-world, and when the clone gets stored with the others in Real Nanette’s mind to observe reality at last. It’s a finale that the «eat the rich» crowd would surely enjoy. No one, after all, should like people who exploit others as the heart of a business.

All seasons of Breaking Bad and Black Mirror are available on Netflix.