The episode serves as a sharp takedown of abusive power and the dangers of retreating into an isolated, digital universe where one can act without moral restraint.
Visually, the episode is a pitch-perfect parody of the original Star Trek , specifically deconstructing tropes like the egomaniacal captain.
The episode follows Robert Daly, a gifted but socially awkward programmer and co-founder of a popular massively multiplayer online game, who creates a simulated reality within the game. In this private sandbox, he acts as a tyrannical captain of a starship, ruling over digital clones of his real-world coworkers. Director: Toby Haynes. Writers: Charlie Brooker and William Bridges. Main Cast: Jesse Plemons as Robert Daly. Cristin Milioti as Nanette Cole. Jimmi Simpson as James Walton. Michaela Coel as Shania Lowry. Key Themes
is the first episode of the fourth season of the anthology series Black Mirror , released on Netflix on December 29, 2017.