🤐 SPOILER ALERT 🤐

There’s nothing Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker loves more than a good surprise. 

Since its premiere in 2011, the anthology series has built a complex shared universe full of unpredictability. Whether it’s in outer space or an alternate reality, the show includes plenty of new and cryptic Easter eggs for its characters and viewers  to unearth. After four years, the series is finally back with Season 6, now streaming on Netflix. “I’ve always felt that Black Mirror should feature stories that are entirely distinct from one another, and keep surprising people — and myself — or else what’s the point?” the writer, creator and executive producer told Tudum last September on set of the new season.

Although Season 6 takes a more frightening turn than past seasons, Brooker connects the Black Mirror universe by hiding Easter eggs that reference previous episodes. Curious about which subtle winks you might’ve missed while watching this new season? Let’s dive into each episode.

Streamberry show titles 

In the season opener, as Joan (Annie Murphy) and her fiancé Krish (Avi Nash) scroll through Streamberry for something to watch, the fictional shows that pop up are references to past Black Mirror episodes: The Callow Years (Season 1, Episode 1,“The National Anthem”), Sea of Tranquility (a fictional show referenced in several Black Mirror episodes), Finding Ritman (2018’s standalone interactive film, “Bandersnatch”), Junipero Rising (Season 3, Episode 4, “San Junipero”), Space Fleet (Season 4, Episode 1, “USS Callister”), Hot Shot (Season 1, Episode 2, “Fifteen Million Merits”), Mad Mind (“Bandersnatch”) and Loch Henry: Truth Will Out (Season 6, Episode 2, “Loch Henry”).

Smithereen notification 

Joan’s coworker Sandy (Ayo Edebiri) is downing a glass of wine at the bar when she receives a text message. “Have you seen this Joan Is Awful show on Streamberry?” her friend texts. Beneath the message is a notification from Smithereen, which is a social media website featured in Season 5, Episode 2, “Smithereens.” 

“Anyone Who Knows What Love Is” by Irma Thomas 

When Joan first spots her ex Mac (Rob Delaney), in the cocktail bar, “Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)” by Irma Thomas is playing in the background. If this song sounds familiar to you, it might be because it’s also been featured in other Black Mirror episodes. The song can be heard in “Fifteen Million Merits,” Season 2, Episode 4, “White Christmas,” Season 3, Episode 5, “Men Against Fire,” Season 4, Episode 3, “Crocodile” and Season 5, Episode 3, “Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too.”

“Nosedive” reference on Smithereen

As Mac is scrolling through his Smithereen feed while on the toilet, he skips past a dessert photo from Lacie Pound, Bryce Dallas Howard’s character in Season 3’s first episode, “Nosedive.” It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Lacie would be active on this website, as her episode is all about her obsession with pleasing others — both online and offline — in order to score a higher rating.

“The Entire History of You” article in newspaper 

In the newspaper that Joan is reading, there’s a sidebar story titled, “Grains Going Out of Style.” The article is about the memory grain from Season 1, Episode 3, “The Entire History of You.” In that episode, “grain” technology is used to record people’s audiovisual senses so they can rewatch their memories later. 

Joan’s lawyer works at Skillane Legal 

Desperate for help, Joan seeks legal help from Skillane Legal, which is a reference to Victoria Skillane, the protagonist at the center of Season 2’s second episode, “White Bear.” In that episode, a woman wakes up with no memory of who she is and is followed by people recording her with their phones. Later on, it’s revealed that her name is Victoria Skillane and she and her fiancé had tortured and murdered a young girl — all of which they recorded. As punishment, Victoria’s memory is erased and she must live that same day repeatedly.

Black Mirror theme at Streamberry 

 In a crucial scene at the Streamberry headquarters, we hear sound bites from Black Mirror’s glitchy title sequence.

Michael Smart newspaper mention 

While gathering clues about the Iain Adair murders, Davis (Samuel Blenkin) and Pia (Myha’la Herrold) dig through a box of items and come across a newspaper with coverage about the killings. On the front page is a story headlined “Smart in Trouble.” This points to the Conservative politician Michael Smart (David Shields), who makes an appearance later on in this season’s “Demon 79” episode.

Davis’ laptop stickers 

If you look closely, you’ll notice that Davis’ laptop isn’t decorated with just any stickers. They’re all references to previous Black Mirror episodes and include Waldo, the blue CGI bear from Season 2, Episode 3, “The Waldo Moment,” the “Arkangel” (Season 4, Episode 2) logo and the “White Bear” glyph.

The Callow Years poster 

While Davis and Pia are meeting with Historik Productions to pitch their documentary, we see a poster for The Callow Years hanging in the background. The dramatized adaptation is about Prime Minister Michael Callow (Rory Kinnear) from the series’ pilot, “The National Anthem.” When a beloved member of the royal family is kidnapped, Prime Minister Callow must perform a lewd act with a pig on national television in order to save the girl.

Callow update in the Scottish Daily Mail 

During a news montage about the Iain Adair case, headlines about the McCardles (key figures in the crimes) flash on screen. On the front page of the Scottish Daily Mail, there’s a teaser banner with the headline: “Whatever Happened to Michael Callow? Now He Runs a Zoo!”

“San Junipero” documentary

Late in the episode, there’s a mention of a documentary called Euthanasia: Inside Project Junipero. The title of the doc refers to Black Mirror’s Season 3 episode “San Junipero,” in which elderly people can choose to live in a simulated reality after death. 

“White Bear” glyph 

Viewers can spot a “White Bear” glyph painted on a wall of David’s (Josh Hartnett) house.

Sea of Tranquility reference on TV 

As young paparazzo Bo (Zazie Beetz) waits for her drink at a coffee shop, a TV shows breaking news about actor Justin Camley, a former Sea of Tranquility star. This fictional show has been referenced several times in the Black Mirror universe, including the episodes “The National Anthem,” “Nosedive,” “Smithereens” and “Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too.”

“White Bear” glyph appears on talisman 

The sinister symbol makes two appearances in this episode. First, it’s visible upside down on the talisman that Nida (Anjana Vasan) finds in her work basement during lunch. The second time we see the glyph is later in the episode when it’s shown upright as Michael Smart’s campaign logo. 

Robot dogs from “Metalhead” 

Nida has visions of the future that include the robot dogs from Season 4, Episode 5, “Metalhead,” which is about robot dogs who hunt humans after the collapse of society.

Black Mirror Season 6 is now streaming on Netflix.

Let’s Break Down the Visual Effects of Black Mirror Season 6Have you ever wondered how a nuclear blast is created on-screen? Wonder no more!