Discover the Unforgettable Connections Between Star Trek and Black Mirror
Discover the fascinating connections between Black Mirror and Star Trek Explore the Star Trek parody episode, the involvement of talented actors from both series, and intriguing crossover episodes Unveil the captivating links that will leave fans craving for more
Summary
Black Mirror and Star Trek share major links, including shared actors and a popular parody episode, showcasing the cultural impact of Star Trek on Black Mirror.
The episode "USS Callister" from Black Mirror pays tribute to Star Trek by featuring a futuristic game that draws inspiration from the iconic Star Trek universe, but with a sinister twist. In other episodes of Black Mirror, we have seen the appearance of various Star Trek actors, including Christina Chong and David Ajala in "The Waldo Moment," and Alice Eve in "Nosedive."
The Star Trek franchise and Black Mirror share common elements such as actors and a popular parody episode. Originally a British show, Black Mirror gained global recognition after Netflix acquired the rights in 2015. It is an anthology series featuring standalone stories that are loosely interconnected through subtle references and hidden messages. Drawing inspiration from The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror predominantly explores sci-fi themes and often presents dystopian futures and advanced technologies to reflect on contemporary social and political issues.
Despite their differences, the cultural impact of Star Trek as a renowned sci-fi series inevitably influenced Black Mirror. This is evident in one of Black Mirror's episodes, a direct parody of Star Trek: The Original Series, but with a distinct and dark twist that defines the show's essence. Furthermore, numerous actors from the modern Star Trek series have made appearances in various episodes of Black Mirror, with some even sharing the screen together.
Black Mirror’s Star Trek Parody Episode
The connection between Star Trek and Black Mirror is strongest in Black Mirror season 4, episode 1, "USS Callister." This episode focuses on Robert Daly, the creator of a virtual reality game that resembles the futuristic world of Star Trek. In the game, Daly mistreats digital clones of his coworkers, who he created using their DNA. However, when a new employee named Nanette Cole is cloned, she encourages the clones to rebel against Daly.
"USS Callister" draws inspiration from various elements of Star Trek, including the game's world, the characters' uniforms, and even Daly's impersonation of Captain Kirk. Although the episode delves into dark themes beyond its Star Trek connections, the Star Trek-inspired aspects are intended as a loving spoof of the franchise, much like the movie Galaxy Quest. Critics and viewers generally praised these elements, making "USS Callister" one of Black Mirror's most popular and highly rated episodes in season 4.
Strange New Worlds’ Christina Chong and Discovery's David Ajala's Black Mirror Episode
Apart from direct references, Black Mirror has featured several episodes with actors from Star Trek. One such episode is season 2, episode 3, titled "The Waldo Moment." This particular installment follows Jamie Salter (played by Daniel Rigby), a comedian who provides the voice for Waldo, a crude animated blue bear featured on a satirical British TV show. When Waldo unexpectedly becomes a parliamentary candidate, Jamie is thrust into the political limelight but gradually becomes disenchanted with his role in the election.
"The Waldo Moment" includes two actors who would later appear in Star Trek projects. Christina Chong portrays Tamsin, a producer on Jamie's show. Chong has since gained popularity as La'an Noonien-Singh on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, where she portrays one of the breakout characters. Additionally, David Ajala portrays Jeff Carter in "The Waldo Moment". Carter is an American government agent who approaches Jamie with the proposition of using Waldo to influence political movements globally. Ajala has been part of the Star Trek: Discovery cast since season 3, portraying Cleveland Booker, who becomes Captain Michael Burnham's (portrayed by Soneqa Martin-Green) love interest.
Star Trek Into Darkness’ Alice’s Eve’s Black Mirror Episode
Another Star Trek actor who also appeared in a Black Mirror episode is Alice Eve. In Star Trek Into Darkness, Eve portrayed the character of Dr. Carol Marcus, giving a fresh perspective to the role previously originated by Bibi Besch in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Unlike Chong and Ajala, Eve's participation in Black Mirror occurred following her involvement in Into Darkness. In the third season, first episode titled "Nosedive," Eve took on the character of Naomi Blestow. This episode is set in a society where individuals rate each other on a five-star scale, with these ratings directly impacting their social standing. Naomi served as the childhood friend of the main protagonist of the episode, Lacie Pound (Bryce Dallas Howard).
Strange New Worlds’ Babs Olusanmokun and Short Trek's Aldis Hodge's Black Mirror Episode
"Black Museum," the sixth episode of season 4 in the series Black Mirror, introduced two actors who would later appear in Star Trek. The episode revolves around Nish (Letitia Wright), who decides to explore the notorious Black Museum run by Rolo Haynes (Douglas Hodge), a scientist renowned for his development of consciousness-sharing technologies. Haynes's experiments involving his groundbreaking technology consistently ended in tragedy for the subjects involved. Despite being terminated and discredited, Haynes preserved all his creations within the Black Museum. In truth, Nish is the offspring of one of Haynes's experiments and her purpose in visiting the museum is to seek revenge by killing him.
Star Trek actors Aldis Hodge and Babs Olusanmokun both appeared in the episode "Black Museum." In the episode, Hodge portrayed the character Jack, the husband of a woman who underwent experimental procedures by Haynes. Jack agreed to have his wife's consciousness transferred into his own mind. Following his role in Black Mirror, Hodge went on to star as Craft in the Star Trek: Short Treks episode titled "Calypso." Olusanmokun played Clayton Leigh in "Black Museum," portraying Nish's father and an inmate on death row. Haynes continued to subject him to torture in his museum. Currently, Olusanmokun portrays Dr. Joseph M'Benga in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, significantly expanding on the character originally portrayed by Booker Bradshaw on Star Trek: The Original Series.
