LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Netflix's hit dystopian science-fiction series 'Black Mirror' is back with another season of mind-bending, non-linear storytelling. 'Black Mirror' is one of the most anticipated releases on Netflix in June apart from 'The Witcher'.
The official trailer of 'Black Mirror' Season 6 seemed to pay homage to some of the controversial episodes of previous seasons. Take a look below at the subtle references that have been an important part of boosting the show's popularity.
The Streamberry menu
The existence of Streamberry is itself a parody of Netflix. With a layout similar to Netflix, a closer look at its menu in the trailer reveals references to some important episodes of the past.
'The Callow Years' and 'The National Anthem'
The Streamberry menu, as seen in the trailer, has a six-part documentary series named 'The Callow Years', which is a reference to 'Black Mirror's first-ever episode of Season 1, titled 'The National Anthem'. That focused on UK Prime Minister Michael Callow engaging in an act of bestiality in exchange for the safe return of a member of the royal family.
The return of Ashley O
As reported by Mashable, the Streamberry menu also shows a title card of 'On a Roll' with a half-visible face of Miley Cyrus, who starred as a pop star in the Season 5 episode titled 'Rachel, Jack, and Ashley O'. Her face is only visible on a closer look, and it is unclear whether 'On a Roll' is a concert movie or a documentary.
The 'White Bear' symbol
Apart from the Streamberry menu, the official trailer of Season 6 also contains a subtle nod to one of the most brutal episodes of 'Black Mirror'. The 'Demon 79' episode of Season 6 references the Season 2 episode 'White Bear'. The symbol presented in the trailer for 'Demon 79' is, however, inverted, indicating the satanic horror that might be seen in that particular episode.
Charlie Brooker's interactive special
The Streamberry menu has not been limited to references to past episodes but has also included easter eggs of Brooker's personal work. The 'Rowdy and Peanut' animated show seen in the menu is a reference to Brooker's own creation. These characters were part of an interactive special by Netflix, titled 'Cat Burglar'.
'Black Mirror' Season 6 has enticed its viewers not just with an interesting premise and an exciting star cast but also with the subtle nods to its own previous iterations. 'Black Mirror' Season 6 releases June 15, 2023 on Netflix.