While season 6 of the popular Netflix series Black Mirror has many compelling episodes, fans can't help but revisit older ones, particularly "White Christmas." This holiday special aired in 2014 and stars Rafe Spall and Jon Hamm as Joe Potter and Matt Trent. As the two characters spend time at a cabin on December 25th, they share scary and memorable tales.
As soon as Black Mirror fans knew that there was a Christmas-themed episode of the dark show, it was clear that it would be unlike any other holiday TV episode or movie. "White Christmas" takes an exaggerated look at how technology can change people and features the characters telling three interconnected stories that are impossible to forget about. What happens during "White Christmas" and how does the episode end?
What Is Black Mirror's "White Christmas" Episode About?
"White Christmas" is broken up into three stories and these all make "White Christmas" one of the most chilling Black Mirror episodes. The first tale is about a man getting advice from technology when he's interested in a woman he meets at a holiday gathering. This story has a bleak ending that is tough to predict. After Jennifer (Natalia Tena), who had scary visions, met Harry (Rasmus Hardiker) at the party, he went to her house and she killed them both with poison.
This would be intense enough, but then the second tale hints at the plot twist that will come later on. The big moment that is shared at the end of Black Mirror's "White Christmas episode proves why it's one of the best TV shows on Netflix. It's never easy to predict what is going to happen on this show, and that is what makes it such a wild and compelling ride.
In the second tale, viewers learn that Matt's career is all about working with digital clones called "cookies." Matt talks about how Greta (Oona Chaplin) was cloned and her cookie didn't want to be anyone's assistant. This story gets dark and fast. Matt says that he made it so the cookie lost six months of their life in only seconds, and then the cookie realized that they couldn't disobey him.
There are unconventional Christmas movies and then there is "White Christmas," which is a fear-inducing look at how some people have spent the winter holiday. Joe then tells the third story about having an unhealthy relationship with a woman he was once engaged to. He said that Beth Grey (Janet Montgomery) blocked him because she had an abortion and he didn't agree. While he was blocked, he would see her and her daughter on Christmas every single year and would visit her dad's home. This story gets even darker: after Beth got into an accident and passed away, Joe found out that she cheated on him and that person was actually the father of her child. Joe then killed her father and Beth's daughter brutally died by freezing in the woods.
While the Black Mirror episode "San Junipero" is actually hopeful and happy, it's definitely an exception. Every other episode of the popular Netflix show is disturbing, unforgettable, and a statement on how technology can harm people. "White Christmas" is memorable thanks to Jon Hamm's strong performance and the fact that it turns the festive cheer of the holiday season on its head.
How Does Black Mirror's "White Christmas" End?
The Black Mirror "White Christmas" ending is even more disturbing than the three stories that were shared. The cabin becomes the house where Beth's dad lived. Viewers find out that Joe and Matt are cookies. This is a moment that rivals any good movie plot twist. And they are both in terrible, dire situations now. Matt doesn't get charged for Harry being murdered because he has cooperated but the people in his life block him forever and he is considered a sex offender. Now that Joe's clone has talked about so many gory details, the actual Joe can be charged.
Joe's cookie will live 1,000 years every minute. The creepy ending of Black Mirror's "White Christmas" episode plays the song "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" by Wizzard. This is an echo of the scene when Joe murdered Beth's dad.
This ending is as shocking as the season 6 Black Mirror episode "Demon 27" and proves why Black Mirror will always have the ability to stun viewers. It's awful to think that people could be "blocked" and then that's it, their lives are ruined forever. Black Mirror has always taken a pessimistic look at technology. While "White Christmas" takes an intense and exaggerated look at blocking, texting, social media, and Internet behavior in general, it's easy to see how things can go wrong fast.