Mind-Blowing Connections: Unraveling the Link Between Black Mirror's Demon 79 and Metalhead

Containing spoilers for "Metalhead" and "Demon 79," this article explores the presence of Easter eggs in Black Mirror. While previous episodes have included subtle references, the connection between the Season 6 finale and "Metalhead" suggests a possible shared universe. These Easter eggs, along with others, could have significant plot implications for both episodes.

What Happens in "Demon 79"?

Nida Huq, played by Anjana Vasan, is employed at a clothing retailer located in Northern England during the year 1979. The country is currently facing a surge in anti-immigrant sentiment, which adds to Nida's distressing daily life. However, things take an unexpected turn when she encounters a real demon. Sent to the basement during her lunch break by her boss in response to a complaint about the aroma of her food from a racist colleague named Vicky, portrayed by Katherine Rose Morley, Nida stumbles upon a talisman and accidentally cuts herself on it, inadvertently summoning a demon known as Gaap, played by Paapa Essiedu.

Gaap reveals to Nida that she must eliminate three individuals within the next three days; otherwise, the world will meet its demise. If Gaap fails to assist Nida in accomplishing her task, he himself will be banished to eternal oblivion. Initially hesitant, Nida eventually becomes convinced that failing to commit these three murders in accordance with the rules set by the demon authority (excluding murderers as potential victims) will, indeed, bring about the apocalypse.

In the end, Nida's final victim —

What Is the "Metalhead" Easter Egg in "Demon 79"?

— narrowly manages to evade her, and she finds herself in a police interrogation room. Detective Len Fisher remains skeptical of Nida's tale about the imminent apocalypse, just moments before the first detonation of nuclear bombs devastates England. In a final encounter, Gaap materializes before Nida, and together they embark into an eternal void.

"Metalhead" follows the gripping narrative of a woman (Maxine Peake) who must evade a ruthless drone assassin in a dystopian wasteland set in the not-so-distant future. A striking feature of this episode lies in the appearance and actions of the "dogs," the menacing robotic drones that bear resemblance to real-life counterparts. Relentless hunters, these machines ruthlessly pursue and eliminate any unfortunate individuals who cross their path. The episode subtly suggests that these drones are responsible for the desolate state of the monochromatic, depopulated world it portrays.

Do "Demon 79" and "Metalhead" Take Place In a Shared Universe?

"Demon 79" reaches a pivotal point about two-thirds of the way, revealing the intriguing "Metalhead" Easter egg. As Gaap offers Nida a glimpse into the repercussions of Michael Smart's election, a fleeting image of a "dog" flashes on-screen. Amidst the intense montage that follows, Nida witnesses an aged Smart delivering a pro-war speech against the backdrop of the White Bear symbol from Season 2 (which also plays a significant role in Bandersnatch, representing diverging timelines). Additionally, a quick shot of a "Metalhead" dog traversing through a forest, along with other unsettling imagery, ignites a sense of impending global conflict.

Do "Demon 79" and "Metalhead" Take Place In a Shared Universe?

The response hinges on how one defines the "universe," in addition to the extent of their readiness to embrace imagination. Engaging in the plot hints provided by Black Mirror's creators, it appears that they motivate viewers to establish links not only across these episodes, but also with "White Bear," Bandersnatch, and conceivably other installations.

First, it is worth noting that the talisman discovered by Nida contains a version of the "White Bear" symbol carved into it. The explanation given in the episode attributes this symbol to representing Nida's kills. However, this does not fully clarify why it had two notches when Nida initially found it, or why the same symbol is seen behind Smart during his upcoming speech. If we connect it to its appearance in Bandersnatch, the symbol's presence in the episode could suggest the existence of multiple timelines.

In "Loch Henry," it is revealed that Michael Smart is directly responsible for the "dogs" seen in "Metalhead." Additionally, Gaap's vision depicts these same drones as a result of Smart becoming prime minister. This indicates that in the universes where "Metalhead" and "Loch Henry" are set, Michael Smart rises to power and deploys these lethal robot dogs. Furthermore, the audience witnesses Smart delivering his speech once he has aged and global tensions have reached a boiling point, leading to war. Consequently, it is highly likely that "Metalhead" and possibly even "Loch Henry" depict different stages of the apocalypse, as shown by Gaap and triggered by Michael Smart's ascension to prime minister.

Yet, if this is the future predicted by Gaap, why does the world simply perish from nuclear bombs? Where is the fiery vision Nida witnesses at the beginning of the episode? Where are the dogs? It is highly likely that in a scenario like this, nuclear bombs would detonate globally, triggering an early Armageddon long before Smart ages a day. Even if the entire world doesn't cease to exist, it's hard to fathom that Smart, injured as he is, escaped the impact zones of the multiple nuclear bombs shown striking the ground. At best, he would have been taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, still leaving him within the blast radius. As a result, he never becomes prime minister and his robot dogs, which play a crucial role in the occurrences of "Loch Henry" or "Metalhead," are never unleashed.

There are three primary possibilities. The first is that the events depicted in these episodes are unrelated. The second is that Michael Smart somehow evaded the nuclear detonations and managed to survive, leading the UK into war using lethal drones. The final possibility is that "Metalhead" portrays an alternate timeline that does not culminate in nuclear devastation in 1979.

By the end of "Demon 79," Nida notices that the talisman has reverted back to its ordinary form - that of a domino. This could suggest that she may have imagined the entire incident, or it could mean that she actually succeeded in killing Michael Smart in time. The marks on the talisman vanish well before midnight, which contradicts the previously established rules. It would be more logical for them to disappear only after Nida either succeeded or failed in killing Smart before midnight. It is entirely plausible that Smart dies from the severe injuries Nida inflicts on him with a hammer blow to the skull, triggering the talisman.

Perhaps by completing her task, Nida manages to avoid the hellish apocalypse predicted by Gaap - the one depicted in "Loch Henry," "Metalhead," and potentially other episodes. This aligns with Black Mirror's grim perspective on the future of human civilization, hinting that nuclear destruction would be preferable to the unsettling technological horrors portrayed in earlier episodes.

This implies that Gaap's claim of being cast out could potentially be untrue, and instead, he may simply be attempting to protect Nida from death. Alternatively, Gaap could merely exist as a creation of Nida's deteriorating mind. It is also plausible that this interpretation may be a bit far-fetched. Ultimately, it is left to the viewers to determine the extent to which these episodes are interconnected.

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