Unveiling the Mind-Bending Conclusion of Black Mirror: Demon 79

Caution: Spoilers ahead for the season 6 finale of Black Mirror, "Demon 79."

Black Mirror's latest finale, "Demon 79," tackles major societal issues in its characteristic bold manner. However, amidst the chaos of a world on the brink of destruction, the episode's profound message might be overshadowed. As usual, the story follows a character, Nida Huq (played by Anjana Vasan), who is completely unaware of the imminent upheaval in their life. In Nida's case, she endures repeated microaggressions as she navigates the realms of love, happiness, and the basic right to navigate public spaces without enduring leering or insults due to her skin color.

Nida, an Indian-British woman, is no different from anyone else striving to meet their needs and find a hint of happiness on their path. However, her journey takes a turbulent turn, similar to that of Joan (Annie Murphy), leaving her questioning her own sanity. Yet, unlike Joan, Nida confronts these unsettling twists in an increasingly racist and xenophobic UK suburb. The situation is still dire, but the additional layers of terrible deepen its impact. "Demon 79" not only sheds light on the experience of being a person of color in the late 70s, but also offers a glimpse into the transformation of a kind-hearted individual into a reservoir of violent resentment due to constant mistreatment.

What Is Black Mirror’s “Demon 79” About?

The unique charm of Black Mirror is its ability to unite people, and this holds true for season 6, episode 5, "Demon 79." In this episode, Nida and Gaap (played by Paapa Essiedu) form an exceptionally unconventional couple, as they come together just before the apocalypse, with one of them being a genuine demon. When Nida is introduced, she is leading a slightly uncomfortable life in the quiet town of Tipley, England. Her mornings begin with a sensible breakfast, followed by a casual read of the newspaper, before heading off to work as a sales assistant in a department store that remains unnamed. Every aspect of Nida's life is ordinary... except for the fact that she is an Indian-British woman with visibly brown skin.

The hate speech of a far-right political group, known as the National Front, has permeated the town she calls home. Identifying themselves as victims of unregulated immigration, they harbor immense animosity towards those they perceive as 'others.' Nida, in particular, receives malicious and disdainful looks from white strangers, suggesting that she doesn't belong. Adding to her distress, her white co-worker Vicky (Katherine Rose Morley) habitually belittles her with derogatory comments. The impact is so profound that Nida finds herself entertaining violent fantasies of brutally murdering Vicky, purely for amusement. To exacerbate matters, Vicky takes offense to Nida's food being labeled as "smelly" and complains to the management, leading Nida to be banished to the basement during her lunch breaks. However, it is in this basement that Nida crosses paths with Gaap, who reveals to her that the world is on the verge of destruction.

The talisman that Nida unknowingly brought home from work becomes the source of manifestation for the demon. What adds to the peculiarity is how the demon takes the likeness of Bobby Farrell, a singer from the German-Caribbean music group Boney M., who happened to be performing on television at the time Nida accidentally summoned the demon. This might have been an attempt by Gaap to make his presence more tolerable, as Nida seemed to be attracted to Bobby. However, it turns out that this strategy did not work out as planned.

Without delay, Gaap proceeds to declare that the world will come to an end unless Nida takes the lives of three individuals. This twist is reminiscent of the twisted nature of the show "Black Mirror," because just having a demon would have been too straightforward. Initially, Nida hesitates to acknowledge Gaap's existence in her living room. Eventually, she flat out refuses to accept the impending apocalypse unless she adheres to Gaap's demands.

By the time she’s fatally attacking a third individual, she has essentially resolved to place her trust in him. However, she still harbors some uncertainty. That is, until her focus shifts to Vicky as her next target for elimination. While she schemes to finally transform her murderous daydreams into brutal reality, her colleague engages in a conversation with local politician Michael Smart (David Shields). Overhearing him discuss his intentions to covertly inject racist xenophobia into his campaign under the pretense of prioritizing loyalty to his community and country, Nida is shown firsthand by Gaap the extent of Martin's capabilities, which could lead to nothing short of complete world domination. Determined, she goes after him. Regrettably, her plans go awry and she ends up in a worse state than she initially started.

How Does “Demon 79” End?

Nida’s primary objective is to track down and eliminate Martin, disregarding Gaap’s desperate pleas to cease and instead pursue Vicky. Consequently, Gaap abandons her, allowing her to proceed on her own. Although Nida successfully collides her car with the deceitful politician, she is apprehended before she can complete her mission and is subsequently taken into police custody. This particular moment in a Black Mirror episode typically presents the protagonist with a choice: to courageously defy the odds or to accept defeat in the face of the inevitable. In "Demon 79", Nida is confronted with the grim reality that she has failed in her mission.

Luckily, the officers restraining her afford her an opportunity to elucidate her actions and the underlying motivations. Evidently, neither of them harbors faith in her account, yet they afford her a modicum of attention. As the clock strikes midnight, doubts arise regarding her sanity. However, as bombs continue to rain down, obliterating Tipley piece by piece, her delusions appear less dubious. Gaap resurfaces with an irresistible proposition—one that Nida could theoretically decline, but elects not to. They are both destined for an eternal void of nothingness, and she consents to accompany him. The concluding scene of "Demon 79" depicts them hand in hand, departing from a world engulfed in the inferno.

The ending of "Demon 79" may appear predictable with its world-engulfing flames and the disillusioned protagonists walking away in a slow-motion sequence reminiscent of Zack Snyder's style. Nida had a specific mission to prevent a catastrophe, but unfortunately, she failed. This led to the realization of Gaap's warnings throughout the Black Mirror episode: the world as Nida knew it ultimately perishes.

However, the ending of "Demon 79" holds deeper meaning than what meets the eye. It serves as a poignant reminder to show kindness to those around us, including our neighbors and co-workers. It serves as a cautionary tale of the universal consequences that unfold when individuals succumb to hate. While most Black Mirror episodes possess a sinister undertone and offer chilling lessons to viewers, "Demon 79" does not rely on eerie music or graphic visuals to induce fear. Despite revolving around a demon coercing a mostly innocent woman into committing murder, it categorically avoids the horror genre. Rather, this particular episode serves as a wake-up call, shedding light on the disastrous outcomes that arise when those who aspire to help others are themselves oppressed and silenced. "Demon 79" demonstrates how a cruel and unforgiving world turns an individual who possessed the potential to become a heroic figure into a monstrous existence.